WORLD CUP 2026 Thread

[DwightShrute]

Yup

I don't get all the controversy. I mean, I do but I don't. Seems like its overblown only because of Trump.

Many people didn't think it was a red card, including the broadcasters.

Trump said he asked him to review the call. He never told him what to do.

the FIFA President (Gianni Infantino) does not have the formal power to directly reverse a red card decision. That authority lies with FIFA's independent judicial bodies, primarily the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. Apparently the committee was already reviewing it before Trump called.

Lastly, we all knew FIFA is corrupt. They have been for years. Just saying.

[lakerboy]

Fifa is the most corrupt sports organization on earth. It's not even close. Blatter calling them out was next level funny.

[franz555]

I don't get all the controversy. I mean, I do but I don't. Seems like its overblown only because of Trump.

Many people didn't think it was a red card, including the broadcasters.

Trump said he asked him to review the call. He never told him what to do.

the FIFA President (Gianni Infantino) does not have the formal power to directly reverse a red card decision. That authority lies with FIFA's independent judicial bodies, primarily the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. Apparently the committee was already reviewing it before Trump called.

Lastly, we all knew FIFA is corrupt. They have been for years. Just saying.

I dont know where to begin, its all so corrupt from so many angles. As i said yesterday , i believe the referees original call of a yellow card was the correct call for that foul. It was the VAR booth that requested he look at a possible upgrade to a red card. NOT THE REFEREE. So lets start there..... Trump blasted that official publicly , calling him a terrible referee with a history of bad calls and dubious character. He used so many superlatives to diminish a good mans reputation , all of which had ZERO to do with the referee ( remember his call was yellow ). Since Trump loves to sue people for speaking out against him , a good lawyer should have little problem proving reckless regard in Trumps comments . and liable suits of Character assassination should be the lead story.
If a president can call the FIFA president 3 times to have him address your concerns ahead of a key game , where do we go from here. Should every card red or yellow now be reviewed for possible reversal ? As the English coach stated " how do we get our player back from his red card , should Kane call Mr Trump " How does all this work.
FIFA has lost all credibility among the World Cup participants. This has nothing to do with whether or not i , or anyone , feel Balogun shouldnt have gotten a red card. He did, and THE RULE FOR ALL states that he must sit out a minimum of 1 game.
That means that the rules set out by FIFA mean shit. Believe me , this issue wont fade away.

Also , The FIFA Disciplinary committee stated that it upheld the red card decision. There was no such review being done.

[Optional]

Trump was classless getting involved at all, but really it shouldn't matter what he says.

It was FIFA who should have ignored it. It's really only FIFA who is corrupt in this matter.

Agree that this wont be forgotten fast. Would be good if it saw the president of FIFA sacked to help world soccer credibility.

But imagine what would have happened if USA won the game? There would have been a lot of pressure in Belgium to launch legal action over it I bet. And the US team would have had to wear the flack. I wanted to see USA go further but best for everyone they didn't I guess.

[DwightShrute]

I dont know where to begin, its all so corrupt from so many angles. As i said yesterday , i believe the referees original call of a yellow card was the correct call for that foul. It was the VAR booth that requested he look at a possible upgrade to a red card. NOT THE REFEREE. So lets start there..... Trump blasted that official publicly , calling him a terrible referee with a history of bad calls and dubious character. He used so many superlatives to diminish a good mans reputation , all of which had ZERO to do with the referee ( remember his call was yellow ). Since Trump loves to sue people for speaking out against him , a good lawyer should have little problem proving reckless regard in Trumps comments . and liable suits of Character assassination should be the lead story.
If a president can call the FIFA president 3 times to have him address your concerns ahead of a key game , where do we go from here. Should every card red or yellow now be reviewed for possible reversal ? As the English coach stated " how do we get our player back from his red card , should Kane call Mr Trump " How does all this work.
FIFA has lost all credibility among the World Cup participants. This has nothing to do with whether or not i , or anyone , feel Balogun shouldnt have gotten a red card. He did, and THE RULE FOR ALL states that he must sit out a minimum of 1 game.
That means that the rules set out by FIFA mean shit. Believe me , this issue wont fade away.

Also , The FIFA Disciplinary committee stated that it upheld the red card decision. There was no such review being done.

• The red card occurred on July 1, 2026 (U.S. vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina).
• Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino shortly afterward (reported as July 2).
• The committee’s decision was announced on July 5, allowing Balogun to play on July 6.

Seems totally reasonable.

In 1962, Brazil’s Garrincha had his red card reviewed (rules were different then — no automatic ban), and he was cleared to play in the final.

Suspending part of Cristiano Ronaldo’s ban before the 2022 World Cup so he could serve it in a friendly.

FIFA insists the committee acted independently based on evidence and circumstances.

I will maintain that if it happened to any other player on any other team and a president or PM of that country asked FIFA to look into it, no one would really care. It would hardly be mentioned. Or at minimum, they wouldn't care to the level that pretend to care now. The only reason they care so much now is because of their hatred of Trump.

Trump has always been outspoken. Some like that, some hate it. To me, this whole thing isn't a big deal. It was a foul. A yellow card. Not a red. FIFA simply corrected a wrong. That's a good thing. I would say the same thing if was another country. The fact that Trump interjected shouldn't take away from the result. But of course it does. Anything Trump says is polarizing and triggering to many people.

[k13]

People forget all the arrests in 2015 fifa corruption scandals... This is as dumb as no one believed nba referees were fixing games.

Fifa is the worst in the world.
No organization can top it.

Makes it easier for betting.

[k13]

For me Messi is the most clutch sportsman up there with Jordan

That's why he lost 90% of the tournaments he's been in and always on stacked teams

Clutch....lol
Losing every CL with Barcelona/PSG for ten years straight.
Losing every WC till they have to gift him one.
Losing every Copa in a row till they had to fix one for him.

Winning 2-3 times out of 20 don't make you clutch.

[k13]

This never happens in other sports..oh wait..the Spurs and Cavs blew a 30 point lead to the Knicks in 10 minutes .

Knicks were allowed to win Championship
"Knicks" in the world cup are not allowed to win.

[k13]

Argentina isn't winning this tournament but they love drama. They were available for+3500 to win it all.

Live they were that high?
Wow. Hard to believe.

[slayer14]

https://youtube.com/shorts/tP--De_BXnU?is=zJpbBPCFf8WmN0cO

[franz555]

WC Record : 35 - 28 ( + 4.46 units )
Tue : 1 - 0 (+ .95 unit )


Thu July 9 : France vs Morocco : 4pm

France -1 @ 2.05 ( 1 unit )

[franz555]

And then there were 8

[slayer14]

Why these quarter finals played during the day?

[k13]

Why these quarter finals played during the day?

Only Argentina play late so they don't get hot.....

[slayer14]

France vs Morocco game, all officials and ref will be from Argentina.

https://youtube.com/shorts/d2_Ve6fRWFQ?is=20O5KAFlwr9ZOKl6

[franz555]

Love it...... On You go England

https://youtu.be/PSS9CQWGVq8?list=RDPSS9CQWGVq8

[k13]

• "The lack of respect they showed us throughout this tournament."
• "Sadly, the corruption, the referees, they don't allow people to enjoy football."
• "I think the cup is fixed for Brazil."
• "Hopefully, the refs and VAR will have nothing to do with it and Peru will be able to compete... but I see it as difficult."

These are all real quotes from Messi...

[franz555]

WC Record : 35 - 28 ( + 4.46 units )
Tue : 1 - 0 (+ .95 unit )


Thu July 9 : France vs Morocco : 4pm

France -1 @ 2.05 ( 1 unit )

Adding :

Fri July 10th @ 3pm est

Spain vs Belgium

Spain @ 1.70 ( 2 units )

[k13]

Messi has 13 penalty shots in the last 12 world cup games.

[franz555]

Messi has 13 penalty shots in the last 12 world cup games.

Hmmm...... Sounds familiar

[ChuckyTheGoat]

GL, Franz. Interesting per usual:
1) FRA has an unusually good group of attacking players. Only one ball to go around. I do wonder if Morocco can use that.
2) SPA is sneaky-good. Still haven't conceded.
3) ARG has come thru BB 3-2 classics. Logic would say Messi is too old. But they keep winning.

Enjoy the games, boys.

[Tanko]

WC Record : 35 - 28 ( + 4.46 units )
Tue : 1 - 0 (+ .95 unit )


Thu July 9 : France vs Morocco : 4pm

France -1 @ 2.05 ( 1 unit )

Thanks for the France and Spain plays Franz.
Hope you're doing well. We've been at the beach for a few days chilling and haven't kept up much.

[stevenash]

Fifa accused of World Cup ‘fix’ after Egypt’s controversial defeat to Argentina - Yahoo Sports

[lakerboy]

Live they were that high?
Wow. Hard to believe.

Yes they were at DK. At 2-1 they dropped to +1750 and were+670 at 2-2. I still maintain they will not win it.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Fifa accused of World Cup ‘fix’ after Egypt’s controversial defeat to Argentina - Yahoo Sports

The amount of Time/Distance after the turnover is massive. Holy shit, maybe they can go back and over-turn the Maradona Hand of God goal.

[franz555]

Thanks for the France and Spain plays Franz.
Hope you're doing well. We've been at the beach for a few days chilling and haven't kept up much.

Nothing like it. Your only priority is building sand castles with your Granddaughter.

Welcome back !

Lets get some

[franz555]

The amount of Time/Distance after the turnover is massive. Holy shit, maybe they can go back and over-turn the Maradona Hand of God goal.

Feel the same way

How far back do we rewind to find a " Foul in the build up ". It was a questionable foul at best and it occurred at the opposite end of the pitch.

[Kami40]

Good energy to Everyone
Morrocco
Over 2.5 Good Luck

[k13]

There's a foul on every goal of you want to go back 1-2 mins lol

[johnnyvegas13]

Any chance France loses tmr ??

[slayer14]

For me Messi up there with Michael Jordon as the greatest sportsman of all time

[k13]

Any chance France loses tmr ??

Yes because it would kill my long term future.
So definitely a chance.

One favorite has to lose.

[franz555]

WC Record : 35 - 28 ( + 4.46 units )

Pending :

Thu July 9 : France vs Morocco : 4pm

France -1 @ 2.05 ( 1 unit )


Fri July 10 : Spain vs Belgium: 3pm

Spain @ 1.70 ( 2 units )

[franz555]

Allez la France

[k13]

Not even confident in France winning.