***Official 2026 World Cup Thread***
- Thread starter ISU3PtLand
- Start date
With that kind of proximity, you'll probably be touching more than one.
I watched the last 1/3 of the match at my gym. Egypt was in complete control when I began watching. It was like Argentina turned on a switch and decided they wanted to show up. Egypt completely folded down the stretch.
I barely watch soccer but matches like these have been great to watch.
I barely watch soccer but matches like these have been great to watch.
Thought this was a pretty good watch. Tim & Landon did a good job discussing last night and the future. They don't sound too optimistic about what is going to happen with the USMNT in 2030.
I didn't give this a listen, these are just a few random thoughts of my own. I seem to remember hearing USMNT was one of the youngest teams at the World Cup. Obviously a double-edged sword: either it means they're young and have every potential to get much, much better as they get more experience; or they're young and this is what USMNT is going to be for the next 2-3 cycles.
Pulisic... all I have to say is "what a letdown". Supposed to be the greatest American talent ever put on the pitch, and yet he's nowhere close to being with Donovan and Dempsey on the Mount Rushmore because he never shows up when USMNT needs him.
Tim Howard’s been shitting on this group of USA players for years. I put zero stock into anything he has to say, as he clearly does not like this particular core.
Loves to talk as if we don’t remember him sucking ass in goal for all those WC qualifiers in 2018 where we failed to qualify.
Or maybe he is right? I'm not an expert enough to know but maybe it is the truth and people tend to get butthurt about that sometimes.
I was gonna say the same thing, once he became a pundit he found his niche just being overly critical of everything while also forgetting that he was **** most of his career.
Meh. He’s hyper critical and it’s particularly clear it’s been a personal distaste for this group for a long time.
I disagree. You need good athleticism to be an elite soccer player. You need excellent foot-eye coordination, agility, speed, endurance. Those are all athletic traits. Like any sport, to truly excel you need more than just athleticism, but the baseline is being a great athlete.
You can’t just pick any kid off the street, give them unlimited coaching and resources and turn them into an elite soccer player.
Also women's golf, 43 women cleared $1M in earnings on the LPGA in 2025.
Not listening to 80 mins of a show with those two but it depends on what people are talking about when being optimistic.
The US has zero chance of actually winning a World Cup until the top end talent improves, if that’s the goal you’re going to be disappointed. With the expansion of the WC I expect similar results to this year for 2030 with ideally winning or at least being much more competitive in the round of 16. The talent and development will continue to improve, the commitment to coaching should continue to improve and I think people can see that the passion has never been better.
Something that often is overlooked is while the US has been getting better the rest of the world hasn’t been sitting idly by just watching, they have also been improving and most importantly creating depth.
The US always had a massive hole at center back it’s just with the easy home country schedule and easier completion with the expansion we didn’t play a single team with a top tier attack till Belgium and were exposed
Sure you need those traits but most can be taught. The point is you don’t need elite size or speed to be a world class soccer player, technique and skill beats all that. Just playing professionally your speed, endurance and agility will already have a good baseline.
You could 100% could turn a kid that had the right drive and determination to be an elite soccer player with those resources. Europe is littered with those kinds of guys that just worked harder than anyone else. You don’t top end size or speed to deliver. Hell if you lack endurance congrats your a 65-70min sub that comes on and just scores
Yep, and the best women’s golfer is American. We have by far and away the best women’s soccer and basketball programs. Softball too. Our women’s volleyball team has medaled in every Olympics but 2 since 1984. We dominate women’s sand volleyball.
If the desire was there culturally, we’d dominate men’s soccer too. Or at the very least be one of the best programs in the world.
Honestly, the only sport America isn’t elite at, and at least matches other countries’ interest in, is tennis.
TBH, I wouldn't be able to tell you which team was winning or losing while watching women's sand/beach volleyball
Just don't look beyond #1.
Thailand - 2
South Korea - 3, 7, 10, 14, 16
England - 4, 5
China - 6
Japan - 8, 15
Australia - 9, 11
New Zealand - 12
Mexico - 13
Yeah, anyone from a previous generation ripping on the current one needs to look at themselves in the mirror. The USMNT has never been very good.
