World Cup 2026

[Pross]

Well I'm assuming whoever wins will be bullied by Trump and Infantino to hand the trophy over to Trump anyway and tell him how he's the true winner.

 

[Pblakeney]

Yep, as much as FIFA will highlight a few small nation successes, it’s currently 5 European countries and Morocco in the QF.
Argentina should get in tonight.
Then either Switzerland or Colombia.

You can see why winning the euros is probably harder than WC as there really aren’t any easy groups.

Kudos to Denmark (who didn't qualify) and Greece.

 

[laurentian]

During this whole sorry affair over the past couple of days, I can't help but ponder the following:

The main thrust of US dissatisfaction with the original issue is that the red card as somehow unwarranted (see Trump's speech on it not being foul play, for instance) but the red card itself has not been rescinded. It's the punishment for the red card (i.e. a match ban for the next match in the competition that usually/always is applied across the game from the World Cup to West Northants Under 14 boys division 3) that has been deferred. The deferral of the punishment is, in itself, recognition that the red card stands. I understand that there is provision in the FIFA rule book to say that FIFA reserve the right to do defer the sanction (and there's probably a good reason for them having that right) but what citeria do they judge that by? What was so different about Balogan's card to any of the other red cards issued in the competition? If it were unfairly given by the ref, then surely FIFA would just rescind the card as happens in the Premier League a few times a season. Again, the card stands but it's just the punishment that has been deferred. What criteria were used to invoke Article 27(?) or whatever it was in this case?

What is the process for, say, England to get such a deferral for Quansah's (fully deserved) red card? Who needs to phone whom? How do they start the process?

I guess it's stating the bleeding obvious but, without explanation of the above from FIFA, the whole thing is bent.

 

[Beebo]

I guess it's stating the bleeding obvious but, without explanation of the above from FIFA, the whole thing is bent.

The same questions have been asked about the FIFA peace prize.
Who made the decision, on what basis, who else was considered, etc etc.
and to no ones surprise, there has been no clarification.

 

[First Aspect]

During this whole sorry affair over the past couple of days, I can't help but ponder the following:

The main thrust of US dissatisfaction with the original issue is that the red card as somehow unwarranted (see Trump's speech on it not being foul play, for instance) but the red card itself has not been rescinded. It's the punishment for the red card (i.e. a match ban for the next match in the competition that usually/always is applied across the game from the World Cup to West Northants Under 14 boys division 3) that has been deferred. The deferral of the punishment is, in itself, recognition that the red card stands. I understand that there is provision in the FIFA rule book to say that FIFA reserve the right to do defer the sanction (and there's probably a good reason for them having that right) but what citeria do they judge that by? What was so different about Balogan's card to any of the other red cards issued in the competition? If it were unfairly given by the ref, then surely FIFA would just rescind the card as happens in the Premier League a few times a season. Again, the card stands but it's just the punishment that has been deferred. What criteria were used to invoke Article 27(?) or whatever it was in this case?

What is the process for, say, England to get such a deferral for Quansah's (fully deserved) red card? Who needs to phone whom? How do they start the process?

I guess it's stating the bleeding obvious but, without explanation of the above from FIFA, the whole thing is bent.

The process to get a red card rescinded is to firstly have world cup.l hosting rights, secondly ensure you are not in uefa, thirdly ensure you have a lot of cash available and fourthly have Infantino's personal mobile.

To my mind the only times this could happen was yesterday, the next time Russia or China get it, or possibly Saudi Arabia. Should any of their players get sent off. I think it's relatively unlikely that North Korea would ever get the tournament, but they'd be another candidate.

 

[laurentian]

The process to get a red card rescinded is to firstly have world cup.l hosting rights, secondly ensure you are not in uefa, thirdly ensure you have a lot of cash available and fourthly have Infantino's personal mobile.

To my mind the only times this could happen was yesterday, the next time Russia or China get it, or possibly Saudi Arabia. Should any of their players get sent off. I think it's relatively unlikely that North Korea would ever get the tournament, but they'd be another candidate.

Yebbut

If the red card HAD been rescinded, there may have been a bit of a discussion about whether or not that was the correct decision based on TV evidence and that would have been that, but the red card HAS NOT been rescinded. It seems to me that rescinding the card would have been a way more painless route for FIFA (I take your broader point)

 

[Pross]

What was so different about Balogan's card to any of the other red cards issued in the competition?

It was given to Donald's boys best hope of winning the next match

 

[First Aspect]

Yebbut

If the red card HAD been rescinded, there may have been a bit of a discussion about whether or not that was the correct decision based on TV evidence and that would have been that, but the red card HAS NOT been rescinded. It seems to me that rescinding the card would have been a way more painless route for FIFA (I take your broader point)

There is no mechanism for rescinding it. So they have achieved the same thing in a different way. He won't ever serve a longer ban than he otherwise would for another similar offence I don't think. "Similar" is the get out of jail free card.

And if he does, and misses a domestic cup game for Monaco, who will really care?

I also suspect the "suspension" will be relevant only to FIFA sanctioned events. So it's utterly meaningless if the US do t participate in any more of them.

Happily, I think it all backfired spectacularly, and will be fairly costly for FIFA now that all three hosts have lost in the round of 17. (See what I did there?)

 

[briantrumpet]

Good article about why FIFA don’t care about UEFA and the bigger teams.

FIFA voting is one country one vote. So all they have to do is effectively bribe the smaller and poor countries to vote and they can ignore the bigger more powerful ones.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgmmmgemd8o

It's the equivalent of the US Senate, where Mitch McConnell represents about a 10th of Adam Schiff's equivalent population, but whose vote carries exactly the same weight in Senate.

 

[matticus]

So it turns out Trump was merely assuaging his own guilt:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2ly0kx05jdo

But Folarin Balogun only represents the USA because of a quirk of his birth.

And the irony is the nation's prized striker is the type of person President Donald Trump says should not be eligible for citizenship under his hardline immigration agenda.
...
Balogun, 24, is a product of Arsenal's youth academy and could have pledged his allegiance to England or Nigeria.
...
Having appeared for the US and England at Under-18 level, he was at the heart of Lee Carsley's England Under-21 plans - scoring seven goals in 13 appearances as they geared up for the 2023 Under-21 European Championship.

 

[Pblakeney]

So it turns out Trump was merely assuaging his own guilt:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2ly0kx05jdo

But Folarin Balogun only represents the USA because of a quirk of his birth.

And the irony is the nation's prized striker is the type of person President Donald Trump says should not be eligible for citizenship under his hardline immigration agenda.
...
Balogun, 24, is a product of Arsenal's youth academy and could have pledged his allegiance to England or Nigeria.
...
Having appeared for the US and England at Under-18 level, he was at the heart of Lee Carsley's England Under-21 plans - scoring seven goals in 13 appearances as they geared up for the 2023 Under-21 European Championship.

That would have had him really conflicted.
If he understood it.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

 

[AuroraSaab]

Egypt vs Argentina. Crikey

 

[Beebo]

Argentina should get in tonight

Can I revisit my previous prediction.

 

[Beebo]

Can I revisit my previous prediction.

I’m changing again now!