Football (Soccer) Thread

[Grey Fox]

Understandable.  Double elimination until they get down to 16 would still be an interesting alternative.

Let's not mistake FIFA for an organisation that actually gives a damn about quality and competitiveness. While I personally think it is a good thing for exposure that more national teams get a chance in a World Cup, it does make the WC a bit more bland.
Denmark arguably has a strong national team, but is staying at home next summer. The camel through the eye of a needle is quite harsh in UEFA qualifiers. Even the Euros competition is a bit bland because almost anyone qualifies with a whopping 32 teams competing. But most know that it will come down to Germany, the Iberian countries or Croatia at some point. Or France, if they can be bothered. Soccer really isn't that competitive, because there's been dominance from a few countries since 1930. Could Mexico win the World Cup? No. Norway? Definitely not. Sweden had a very strong 1994 tournament. 

I see Norway's mostly playing on the east coast (Boston). We did that in 1994 too, and the summer heat almost knocked our players out.

In late june, it still possible to still be in the teens. There is hope.

[Duque de Bragança]

Can Trump and his FIFA lackey "save" the day? 

World Cup Pride Match to Feature Two Countries That Prosecute Gays
PUBLISHED
DEC 08, 2025 AT 11:07 AM EST
UPDATED
DEC 08, 2025 AT 11:08 AM EST

Jesus Mesa

A World Cup match hosted in Seattle in the summer of 2026 and billed as a celebration of LGBTQ+ pride will feature Egypt and Iran—two nations where homosexuality is all but illegal and queer communities face severe repression.

SeattleFWC26, the local organizing committee, emphasized that the Pride Match designation is independent and "not affiliated with or endorsed by FIFA," according to its website.
Newsweek reached out to the Seattle FWC26 committee for comment on Monday.
Why It Matters
The Group G fixture, set for June 26 at Lumen Field, was designated a "Pride Match" by Seattle's local organizing committee well before the tournament draw. Timed to align with the city's official Pride weekend, the event is intended to promote inclusion and visibility within the global football community.
Local organizers have partnered with artists across Washington state to create LGBTQ-themed public artwork that will be displayed throughout the city during the match.
What To Know

As the World Cup draw unfolded and match assignments were finalized, none of the host cities—including Seattle—knew in advance which countries they would be staging. But once the schedule confirmed that Egypt and Iran would meet in Seattle's designated Pride Match, the pairing quickly drew international attention.
Both governments criminalize same-sex relationships: in Iran, homosexuality can be punishable by death, while in Egypt, LGBTQ+ individuals are frequently targeted under public morality laws and prosecuted for "debauchery."
The match presents a complex scenario for Seattle organizers, who have set up a Pride Match Advisory Committee (PMAC) to "shape the communications, community activations, and cultural programming" for the festivities. Yet the PMAC remains confident.

A fan waves a Pride flag before the game between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers at Lumen Field on June 03, 2023 in Seattle, Washington....Read More
"The Pride Match has been scheduled to celebrate and elevate Pride events in Seattle and across the country, and it was planned well in advance," a spokesperson for the Pride Match Advisory Committee (PMAC) said in a statement to Outsports. "It is a Host City–led expression of Seattle and Washington State's commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone belongs—players, fans, residents, and visitors alike."
The matchup presents an early test for FIFA. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, another country with draconian laws against same-sex relationships, the soccer governing body faced international criticism for threatening to sanction players who wore the rainbow-colored "OneLove" armbands.
Several European teams, including England and Wales, dropped plans to wear the bands after FIFA warned that players could be penalized on the field. Others, like Germany, protested by covering their mouths during the team photos before their matches.

What People Are Saying
Hedda McLendon, Senior Vice President of Legacy at SeattleFWC26, to Outsports: "We're working with small businesses so the region's LGBTQ+-owned enterprises are ready to benefit from the tournament's unprecedented visitor surge."
Eric Wahl, member of the Seattle PMAC and brother of late journalist Grant Wahl, on social media: "The match-up of two countries where it is illegal to be gay is actually a 'good thing' for the Pride Match".

What Happens Next

FIFA has not yet commented on the Seattle Pride Match, nor have the football federations of Egypt or Iran. It is too early to say whether players or officials from either side will participate in or acknowledge the Pride-focused aspects of the event.

https://www.newsweek.com/sports/world-cup-pride-match-iran-egypt-seattle-11174210

[Josquius]

That's pretty cool. Authentic real US shining through the Trump