OFFICIAL 2026 US/Canada/Mexico World Cup Thread

[Omaha 680]

And Mexican fans just can't help themselves with the p-word chant in a big game. FIFA is supposed to stop the match and give warnings and ultimately suspend the match if the fans dont stop. I doubt fifa have the balls to actually do it.

[Omaha 680]

To the Belgians:

Hearing the outrage communicated in a thick French accent does make it that much more delicious.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The whining by the Belgian federation and coach is a bit ridiculous. I'm trying to be fair and think how I would react if De Bruyne or Lukaku had received a similar red in their round of 32 game and then had it suspended today. Yes I would be disappointed because Belgium's chance of victory would increase, but I think I would recognize that the foul was not egregious or sportsmanship related and maybe was not even a yellow.

The Belgians are harping on integrity of the game issues with the suspended punishment. That's very soft. Having a gift of a very poor call rescinded and thereby needing to actually beat your full strength opponent is not an integrity issue. I hope Balogun scores 3 goals.

To the Belgians:

Side note: Haaland beating Brazil all by himself was fun.

Agreed. I love Haaland.

[Omaha 680]

The whining by the Belgian federation and coach is a bit ridiculous. I'm trying to be fair and think how I would react if De Bruyne or Lukaku had received a similar red in their round of 32 game and then had it suspended today. Yes I would be disappointed because Belgium's chance of victory would increase, but I think I would recognize that the foul was not egregious or sportsmanship related and maybe was not even a yellow.

The Belgians are harping on integrity of the game issues with the suspended punishment. That's very soft. Having a gift of a very poor call rescinded and thereby needing to actually beat your full strength opponent is not an integrity issue. I hope Balogun scores 3 goals.

Side note: Haaland beating Brazil all by himself was fun.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Great news.

[dabrockster]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49277378/usmnt-folarin-balogun-red-card-suspended-belgium

Yeeesssssssss!!!!!

[Omaha 680]

Balogun available vs Belgium!!!

[tooblue]

Such a fun match—sad it had to end.

[Jeff Lebowski]

That was fun. I wish Cape Verde had pulled it off

[falafel]

Here is the biggest problem with the red card rule: it is absurdly punitive. Send a guy to the bench? Fine. But play down one person the rest of the game.? That is just stupid.

Well, its meant to be for really egregious fouls and that want to heavily deter, like a flagrant 2 in the NBA which is ejection. I know that's not the same as a red card, but basketball isn't the same as soccer. I played competitive soccer at a high level (for Utah in the 90s) for 15 years and personally I only ever received 1 red card.

[Jeff Lebowski]

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[Jeff Lebowski]

Here is the biggest problem with the red card rule: it is absurdly punitive. Send a guy to the bench? Fine. But play down one person the rest of the game.? That is just stupid.

[Donuthole]

In EPL I guess the line is more of a buffer, like 6 inches wide, so it is not as nitpicky. I would be happy with it being about a 1ft for the automated system.

In term of what you are suggesting I don't think that would be easier. As the AR I am lined up with that 2nd to last defender. If someone were running past and just their foot was trailing in like with the defender it would be ever harder than it is now to call. Now if I see their shoulder or head or torso past the defender I can make that call. It seems like watching for overlap would be harder as I try and keep track of the action.

I'm just thinking more for the VAR reviews it would be easier to tell if someone is offside or not.

[BigPiney]

I think the rule needs to be changed to be something similar to what the line of scrimmage pass attempt rule is in football, i.e. that if any part of your body is in line with any part of the defender, it is onside. That seems easier to arbitrate than the current rule.

In EPL I guess the line is more of a buffer, like 6 inches wide, so it is not as nitpicky. I would be happy with it being about a 1ft for the automated system.

In term of what you are suggesting I don't think that would be easier. As the AR I am lined up with that 2nd to last defender. If someone were running past and just their foot was trailing in like with the defender it would be ever harder than it is now to call. Now if I see their shoulder or head or torso past the defender I can make that call. It seems like watching for overlap would be harder as I try and keep track of the action.

[Donuthole]

I have mixed feelings about VAR. I think it has been a net positive. The ability to verify penalties alone is worth it. In the pre-VAR era those game altering calls were missed far too often even in the World Cup. It is a double-edged sword for cards. In our first match VAR reviewed an initial card on Tim Ream and reversed it on VAR to give the card to the Paraguayan who dove; that is an incredible use of the technology and should be done far more often. But the debacle last night is the other edge of that sword.

For VAR review of offside, I am sympathetic to those who hate it. I too think it is somewhat nonsensical to call back a goal for a toe offside because the "offside" player in that position has no advantage. However, the reason VAR was brought in was because the offside call itself is so hard to judge. So we bring VAR in and we all agree the line is nothing over, not even a toe. It will disallow goals where there was no advantage gained by the scorer's initial position, but it is an objective line no one can argue with. The minute we try to couple any kind of lenience/judgement with VAR on offside calls, we are right back where we were before VAR with complaints of subjectivity.

I think the rule needs to be changed to be something similar to what the line of scrimmage pass attempt rule is in football, i.e. that if any part of your body is in line with any part of the defender, it is onside. That seems easier to arbitrate than the current rule.