***Official 2026 World Cup Thread***

[ISUTex]

It's been fun to watch and I don't usually watch soccer. I just wish they'd tweak their rules a little. I don't mind the offside rule, but the red cards are stupid. I feel like it should be either like targeting in FB where you are kicked out, but someone subs in for you or a power play in hockey where if the other team scores, you go back to full strength. Then after the game, they should have review every red card and determine if any further suspension is needed...whether that's a game, multiple games or just a half. And a big part of that debate should be intent.

Agree. Maybe a penalty box for red cards and a power play. And red cards should only be punches or kicks to the face/neck or groin/ribs, or clotheslining. Maybe a line of scrimmage. And using hands and throwing the ball should be legal. Offsides is only if you cross the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. Yes, snap the ball from the middle of the field after it goes out of bounds. Get rid of the goal. Have a "goal line". Maybe reshape the goal into a goal post that players can kick the ball through for half a point if they don't think they can get past the goal line. Players can carry the ball and advance towards the goal line. Also, players can throw the ball down field to teammates. Defenders can tackle the ball carrier, which forms a new line of scrimmage. Then snap the ball into play. Maybe put pads on the players so they can really drill each other every play. Helmets could work.

 

[ISUTex]

It's been fun to watch and I don't usually watch soccer. I just wish they'd tweak their rules a little. I don't mind the offside rule, but the red cards are stupid. I feel like it should be either like targeting in FB where you are kicked out, but someone subs in for you or a power play in hockey where if the other team scores, you go back to full strength. Then after the game, they should have review every red card and determine if any further suspension is needed...whether that's a game, multiple games or just a half. And a big part of that debate should be intent.

But seriously. I've been watching more soccer then I've ever watched. The rules annoy me too. I wish they would tweak the same things you are suggesting. If not? Oh well. I won't watch again until 2030 anyway.

 

[Clonehomer]

It's been fun to watch and I don't usually watch soccer. I just wish they'd tweak their rules a little. I don't mind the offside rule, but the red cards are stupid. I feel like it should be either like targeting in FB where you are kicked out, but someone subs in for you or a power play in hockey where if the other team scores, you go back to full strength. Then after the game, they should have review every red card and determine if any further suspension is needed...whether that's a game, multiple games or just a half. And a big part of that debate should be intent.

I think red cards should be reserved for only stopping an obvious goal scoring opportunity and dangerous contact not related to an attempt to make a play on the ball. Getting your cleats up when tackling must be punished, but as you said, going down a man for the rest of the game seems harsh on a bang bang play. Maybe that’s a yellow then, I don’t know.

 

[NATEizKING]

Adios Amigos

 

[NATEizKING]

I think red cards should be reserved for only stopping an obvious goal scoring opportunity and dangerous contact not related to an attempt to make a play on the ball. Getting your cleats up when tackling must be punished, but as you said, going down a man for the rest of the game seems harsh on a bang bang play. Maybe that’s a yellow then, I don’t know.

Cleat was only up because his leg got stuck on top of the ball, unfortunate circumstance.

 

[harimad]

The red card is there for the safety of the players. If the risks of slide tackling weren’t so great, you’d see horrific injuries from contact to planted legs. I’ve got few issues with red cards.

The writhing needs to stop though. I’d love to see an injury box for that. Ten seconds off the field for every second of writhing. To protect injured players of course. I bet that would put a stop to diving real quick.

 

[Tailg8er]

As a non-soccer fan, I've also enjoyed watching this World Cup. In addition to the gripes of others, why the heck do they do timing the way they do? Just stop/start the clock like every other sport, instead we have stoppage time added to each half, with additional time added on top of that in some cases.

 

[3TrueFans]

As a non-soccer fan, I've also enjoyed watching this World Cup. In addition to the gripes of others, why the heck do they do timing the way they do? Just stop/start the clock like every other sport, instead we have stoppage time added to each half, with additional time added on top of that in some cases.

If they stop the clock more then adding more commercial breaks is right behind.

 

[Letterkenny]

If they stop the clock more then adding more commercial breaks is right behind.

Maybe. I do love the die hard soccer fans claiming that one of the things that makes it superior to basketball or American football is the constant action and no timeouts other than half time. Maybe the TV broadcast doesn't cut out, but every free kick or penalty kick is a 2-3 minute break just to get everyone lined up. Some corner kicks take 1-2 minutes it seems. Some penalties take a full minute or two to sort out. There is constant stoppage of play.

 

[clonedude]

If they stop the clock more then adding more commercial breaks is right behind.

Yeah, it blows my mind how any college or pro football fan can be complaining about these hydration breaks as just being commercial breaks. But many are.

The average college football game lasts 3 hours and 24 minutes, but there is only between 11 and 18 minutes of actual gameplay action. That is insane. I had to look that up after the last ISU game I went to because I couldn’t believe how much of the time there is that NOTHING is happening.

 

[enisthemenace]

Man. All these people, especially Europeans, ******** about this Balogun deal is getting to the point where I hope he scores a least two goals just out of spite.

 

[cydnote]

Not a soccer fan but am enjoying this in the same vein as the Olympics. Rules are the rules so play by them rather than change the game. My only change would be to make the accumulated stoppage time part of the scoreboard, Maybe there is some strategy to not doing that but I haven't figured out what it would be. Play on

 

[harimad]

If they stop the clock more then adding more commercial breaks is right behind.

Yep. And I like the way they do timing now. If you notice, the refs generally let the clock go as long as a team is attacking. You want the match to end? Get the ball away from them and clear it.

 

[dafarmer]

Feeling that Belgium wins tonite, every thing politics gets into turns bad.

 

[cykadelic2]

Great read on the Balogun reinstatement process:

Trump’s call to Infantino and plot to ‘free’ Balogun that sparked a huge World Cup controversy

The intervention by the U.S. president was a bizarre twist in a story that will reverberate throughout this summer and beyond

www.nytimes.com

 

[clonechemist]

Yeah, it blows my mind how any college or pro football fan can be complaining about these hydration breaks as just being commercial breaks. But many are.

The average college football game lasts 3 hours and 24 minutes, but there is only between 11 and 18 minutes of actual gameplay action. That is insane. I had to look that up after the last ISU game I went to because I couldn’t believe how much of the time there is that NOTHING is happening.

College football is insane - I truly can’t even watch a whole game (aside from Iowa State). Even the NFL does it much better, with a shorter half time and shorter commercial breaks

 

[clonechemist]

Maybe. I do love the die hard soccer fans claiming that one of the things that makes it superior to basketball or American football is the constant action and no timeouts other than half time. Maybe the TV broadcast doesn't cut out, but every free kick or penalty kick is a 2-3 minute break just to get everyone lined up. Some corner kicks take 1-2 minutes it seems. Some penalties take a full minute or two to sort out. There is constant stoppage of play.

Your timescales seem waaaaay off here

A quick google search says there’s an average of 13 minutes and 25 seconds of free kick ‘delay’ per pro soccer match, and that comes from an average of 33 free kicks awarded.

That comes out to an average of 24.4 seconds delayed per free kick

Compare that to 3-4 minute commercial breaks for college football games - sometimes with only 1 play in between two breaks!!!! That’s the worst….

 

[BryceC]

College football is insane - I truly can’t even watch a whole game (aside from Iowa State). Even the NFL does it much better, with a shorter half time and shorter commercial breaks

I’ve given up on CFB because outside of Iowa state. The games are frequently twice as long as soccer games.

 

[harimad]

College football is insane - I truly can’t even watch a whole game (aside from Iowa State). Even the NFL does it much better, with a shorter half time and shorter commercial breaks

It’s getting to the point where even the ISU games are difficult to get through.

 

[Frak]

But seriously. I've been watching more soccer then I've ever watched. The rules annoy me too. I wish they would tweak the same things you are suggesting. If not? Oh well. I won't watch again until 2030 anyway.

Yeah me either. I get watching MLS if you have a local team, but we don’t. I considered picking a premier league team but they are usually at odd times and I waste enough time watching sports over the year.

I don’t really want to tell the euros how to change their game as a novice, but I just always have a problem with punishment not fitting the crime. Same with targeting. It should be more about intent than letter of the law. Balogan should have gotten a yellow and that would have been the end of it.