***Official 2026 World Cup Thread***

[BCClone]

If no more were issued it’d be about 2% of games.

The charge is dead and the game is good

And teams can still play defense if they try

kenpom.substack.com

This year there have been a total of four flopping technicals in D-I vs D-I action.

So basically slightly above 0% of games.

The techs in basketball for flopping were getting called heavily when first put in, it’s why you don’t see it as much.

 

[Clonehomer]

Not this World Cup. Been great. Seen my share of 0-0 games in the past with stoppages every 30 seconds on a foul. Boring.

I'm exaggerating though, just pissed on our showing and venting with stupid posts. Budweiser having something to do with it.

Yes, but now that the US is out you can enjoy seeing the top teams in the world go head to head. The WC is over for the US, but there’s still a lot of amazing games to go.

 

[cyatheart]

Just athletically the US isn't close yet. Just compare our national team to the best nba, mlb, or nfl athletes. It's just not there yet. I don't know how you get the really elite athletes in the US to play soccer when there are so many other choices, maybe some day.

 

[deadeyededric]

Some people like checkers and some like chess.

 

[cyfanbr]

Lol! I don't think I'm the one who feels called out in this exchange.

That’s it? What a let down. Anyhow, enjoy going around telling other people all the things that you hate. As I said before, let those feelings out. It’s no good to keep them bottled up.

 

[Althetuna]

The US being mediocre is a big part of the problem. That last World Cup Final was as exciting as any football game I've ever seen. When the goods teams play its a way different game.

Agree. This match never felt close. There was no tension. No anticipation.

Last night, England v Mexico was unbelievably good.

 

[awd4cy]

I love the red and yellow cards are so weak crowd yet they like a sport where you can tackle a guy, but not a certain way or you will get ejected and sit out the rest of the game.

 

[Hoggins]

The US being mediocre is a big part of the problem. That last World Cup Final was as exciting as any football game I've ever seen. When the goods teams play its a way different game.

And that’s largely the problem with the MLS. Quality is terrible and unwatchable IMO. European leagues are much more watchable

 

[deadeyededric]

Just athletically the US isn't close yet. Just compare our national team to the best nba, mlb, or nfl athletes. It's just not there yet. I don't know how you get the really elite athletes in the US to play soccer when there are so many other choices, maybe some day.

I think its still skill we lack in. At least we have guys that can dribble now.

 

[cyfanbr]

Don’t get angry

What the heck man?!?! I’m trying to help him workout his issues and let his emotions out and you’re trying to ruin all my hard work?!?

 

[awd4cy]

The US being mediocre is a big part of the problem. That last World Cup Final was as exciting as any football game I've ever seen. When the goods teams play its a way different game.

Agreed.

 

[harimad]

$2,400 a year per kid? What are you even paying for? That’s over 30k minimum for a team. That’s crazy.

In the Midwest there's this thing called winter so if they're training during that season, they're paying for indoor training space.

 

[deadeyededric]

And that’s largely the problem with the MLS. Quality is terrible and unwatchable IMO. European leagues are much more watchable

And frankly I want our best national team players good enough to be in Premier League and La Liga. Having the MLS as probably the 8-9th best league in the world puts us in a tough spot.

 

[BryceC]

Baseball looked at their sport and realized one of the killers was the dead time between pitches so more action would happen. Every pitch has a chance for some big action. Baseball figured out how to keep the attention span of the audience. Soccer needs to find something like that if they want to keep the average viewer watching.

The last time a baseball game had more viewers than the US/Bosnia game was the 2004 World Series.

 

[BCClone]

The last time a baseball game had more viewers than the US/Bosnia game was the 2004 World Series.

I agree that baseball is boring. They have made an effort to kill dead time was my statement.

 

[AppleCornCy]

The last time a baseball game had more viewers than the US/Bosnia game was the 2004 World Series.

We need more fans to care outside of the national team to really grow the sport.

 

[Clonehomer]

Just athletically the US isn't close yet. Just compare our national team to the best nba, mlb, or nfl athletes. It's just not there yet. I don't know how you get the really elite athletes in the US to play soccer when there are so many other choices, maybe some day.

I’m not sure today was about athleticism. This was about skill level. Belgium was crisp on all their passes and we gave the ball away too much. People always talk about what if LeBron played soccer. But it’s more than just size and speed. Those top players look like they’re dancing with the ball. You need to be able to make that first move and the body that makes a great football or basketball player isn’t necessarily equate to that.

 

[harimad]

Just athletically the US isn't close yet. Just compare our national team to the best nba, mlb, or nfl athletes. It's just not there yet. I don't know how you get the really elite athletes in the US to play soccer when there are so many other choices, maybe some day.

Not really. One of the things that USMNT can traditionally hang its hat on is superior conditioning. It's all that kept them in some games against superior competition in previous cycles. The 2010 WC last second win vs Algeria is a great example of that.

 

[BryceC]

The techs in basketball for flopping were getting called heavily when first put in, it’s why you don’t see it as much.

Oh, so guys just stopped flopping after that first go? Now the game is entirely cleaned up and it just never needs called again? Okay.

 

[deadeyededric]

We need more fans to care outside of the national team to really grow the sport.

Gotta find a way to get it out of the suburbs. Our best athletes aren't playing it for the most part.