First match in less than a week. Russia vs. Saudi Arabia

Sucks USA isn’t in it

All matches on Fox or FS1 and Fox Sports App. Full schedule with TV options: https://foxsports.calreply.net/fifa-world-cup

And because it’s FIFA: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44396127

[Edited on June 9, 2018 at 12:53 AM. Reason : image]

6/9/2018 12:45:38 AM

[Edited on June 11, 2018 at 2:03 PM. Reason : ]

6/11/2018 2:01:27 PM

Can we talk about all the games here or just the final

6/11/2018 3:47:59 PM

No USA and no Italy...I don't know who to root for. Anything I should consider? (Note: I don't care about cheering for a team that might win, I want to cheer for a team whose fans deserve a win)

6/11/2018 4:24:39 PM

^Cheer for Iceland then. They stunned the world in the Euros two years ago by beating England. Their entire country only has a population of like 500,000 and most of their team only plays football as a second job, yet they have more heart and motivation than lots of countries.

[Edited on June 12, 2018 at 9:28 AM. Reason : Denamrk]

6/12/2018 9:27:23 AM

I am pulling for Belgium or Argentina

But as long as Spain, Brazil, or Germany doesn't win I will be happy.

6/12/2018 10:10:28 AM

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/world-cup-quiz/

6/12/2018 10:12:30 AM

I'm just glad the US isn't in it, so everyone doesn't pretend to give a shit about soccer this year and blow up all my social media feeds with this shit.

6/12/2018 10:53:30 AM

I'm so happy that you're so glad

6/12/2018 11:25:16 AM

THREEE LIONS ON THE SHIIRRTT! JULES RIMET STILL GLEAMING!!!!!!!

6/12/2018 12:14:08 PM

"person who hates when people like things" is a top 5 worst kind of person.

6/12/2018 12:20:37 PM

Belgium is my darkhorse pick.

6/12/2018 1:36:42 PM

Belgium is really good and has the talent to go all the way. I don't think they are a darkhorse. That being said:

Quote :

"But as long as Spain, Brazil, or Germany doesn't win I will be happy."

6/12/2018 1:46:48 PM

Well yes, not darkhorse but still not the big name countries.

I also think Egypt gets to the knockouts. MOOOOOOOOO

6/12/2018 1:54:45 PM

Quote :

"Cheer for Iceland then. They stunned the world in the Euros two years ago by beating England. Their entire country only has a population of like 500,000 and most of their team only plays football as a second job, yet they have more heart and motivation than lots of countries."

I'm sold! Thanks for the suggestion. I can't picture them beating Argentina but I will root for them to do so.

6/12/2018 2:57:03 PM

what time is the final

6/12/2018 6:06:07 PM

World Cup 2026

The first 48 team World Cup too. I already know I'm going to take the entire month off and travel the country watching soccer.

6/13/2018 7:02:59 AM

Spain is PISSED.

6/13/2018 8:10:15 AM

so how is it going to work in 2026, will Canada, Mexico and the US all get automatic bids?

6/13/2018 8:49:05 AM

With the expanded 48 teams, i would imagine yes?

6/13/2018 9:04:23 AM

Quote :

" I can't picture them beating Argentina but I will root for them to do so."

That is what everyone said in 2016 too. But a big part of their win was England's ego. And I say that as an England fan.

6/13/2018 9:23:41 AM

How does that work, do they subtract 3 spots from CONCACAF qualifying. How many spots was CONCACAF adding in the expanded field?

6/13/2018 9:59:05 AM

Quote :

"Spain is PISSED."

Yes, I am.

6/13/2018 12:21:27 PM

need a .gif of the Saudi and Putin after that 3rd goal

6/14/2018 12:33:48 PM

I keep hearing that 2026 might consist of 3-team groups, which sounds like a recipe for last day match fixing. Two out of three teams in the group meeting for the final game knowing exactly what result is needed to advance is guaranteed to result in boring-ass nil-nil draws during the last match.


Anyone have a source to confirm/deny this?

6/14/2018 7:43:09 PM

That’s what I’ve heard. I don’t understand the expansion to 48 honestly, you’re telling me that a full quarter of the worlds nations are competitive enough for this tourney. Christ, KSA got embarrassed by a not good Russian team. Should be kept at 32 teams. Obviously the 16 extra TV games will line FIFAs wallets so that’s the reason.

6/14/2018 9:04:21 PM

^^ https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=1/news=fifa-council-unanimously-decides-on-expansion-of-the-fifa-world-cuptm--2863100.html

Quote :

"The FIFA Council has unanimously decided in favour of expanding the FIFA World Cup™ to a 48-team competition as of the 2026 edition. World football’s supervisory and strategic body held its third meeting at the Home of FIFA in Zurich on 9 and 10 January, and decided on a new tournament format with the 48 national teams split into 16 groups of three. The top two teams from each group will then advance to a 32-team knockout stage."

[Edited on June 15, 2018 at 12:08 AM. Reason : b]

6/15/2018 12:07:37 AM

^man, that's a disaster waiting to happen.

Final game match collusion is pretty much guaranteed in that format. It's the reason why Fifa originally made the last group games (under a 4 team group format) all play at the same time to begin with. You also pretty much gaurantee situations where all 3 teams end with a 3-way tie and equal on points. Just all around terrible.

6/15/2018 2:53:14 AM

^ But hey now FIFA can claim how transparent and open they are with their corruption!

6/15/2018 8:00:00 AM

[Edited on June 15, 2018 at 9:52 AM. Reason : ]

6/15/2018 9:51:12 AM

the one after the 3rd goal was the best

6/15/2018 10:30:23 AM

Rob Green in goal for Spain.

6/15/2018 2:45:23 PM

I miss Diego Costa

6/15/2018 3:29:03 PM

Ronaldo.

6/15/2018 3:53:55 PM

Amazing match

6/15/2018 4:18:02 PM

Absolutely incredible match

6/15/2018 5:20:40 PM

Before the day started, I thought Morocco had a decent shot at advancing out of the group if Portugal (who I'm not high on) underperformed. Not anymore. That Iran vs Morocco match was brutal to watch. Offensive players running into each other, players whiffing wide open balls, horrible break-away opportunities squandered by taking across the body shots instead of making the easy pass across the box, and a terrible dive on defense toward your own keeper resulting in an own goal. The technical gap between that game and the proficiency between Portugal (who I still don't consider a deep contender) vs Spain is unreal. Spain gifted Ronaldo with two fouls that he was sure to convert, and had an unlikely David de Gea howler. If Spain can contain their locker room issues and get out of their own way, they can make a deep run. Portugal made the most of their opportunities, though, I'll give them that.

6/15/2018 6:33:59 PM

I love the VAR refs going full kit wanker

6/16/2018 9:29:37 AM

Will say this world cup is showing the sports world how replay review is done. Takes like 5 seconds



[Edited on June 16, 2018 at 9:45 AM. Reason : V]

6/16/2018 9:44:03 AM

I still have my doubts on VAR but I will say they have used it effectively so far.

Great World Cup so far though. Outside of Morocco v Iran (I believe all Iran matches will be like this and I can't blame them). Although the expansion to 48 teams is looking more ridiculous after Russia v Saudi and Morocco v Iran. 32 teams and 8 groups of 4 is just a consistent and logical format. Gotta make more money though I guess.

6/16/2018 10:17:59 AM

Messi being Messi.

Also, I think the union of Alexi Lalas and Julie Foudy would bring about the apocalypse.

6/16/2018 11:21:03 AM

Iceland and Peru are my boys.

6/16/2018 11:52:32 AM

fuck peru, even if I don't have teams to root for I still have teams to root against

and fuck the CHeaters (Portugal)

6/16/2018 12:12:30 PM

Peru is willing themselves to a loss

6/16/2018 1:29:08 PM

[Edited on June 16, 2018 at 1:33 PM. Reason : Double post]

6/16/2018 1:33:04 PM

Devastatingly unfair scoreline. Peru miles better...

6/16/2018 1:39:32 PM

Hahahaha, fucking Peru. I feel like you could double the size of the goal and they still couldn't finish.

6/16/2018 1:44:38 PM

Well damn, Iceland!

6/16/2018 5:12:19 PM

Mexico taking it to Germany

6/17/2018 11:36:19 AM

Landycakes is dead to me

6/17/2018 11:50:32 AM