International Soccer

[Yankee151]

It's worse when you see him flip over, lawd

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[Snorky's Shame]

2026 FIFA World Cup Allocations:

Asia: 8 + 1 playoff
Africa: 9 + 1 playoff
North and Central America: 6 + 1 playoff
South America: 6 + 1 playoff
Oceania: 1 + 1 playoff
Europe: 16
Host confederation: 1 playoff

The inter-confederation playoffs will be structured like the NFL playoffs with the six team tournament to take place in the host country in November preceding the World Cup. Two teams will qualify from this tournament. Also looks like the Confederations Cup is gone.

Congrats to New Zealand for qualifying for the next 5 World Cups.

 

[goblue96]

So, the host isn't guaranteed a slot?!?!? What is the point of hosting then if you don't AQ?

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Host's spot is taken from the confederation's total. It's not a stand-alone spot anymore.

 

[goblue96]

Host's spot is taken from the confederation's total. It's not a stand-alone spot anymore.

Ok, so if/when the US hosts in 2026, CONCACAF 7 & 8 would enter the playoff.

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Ok, so if/when the US hosts in 2026, CONCACAF 7 & 8 would enter the playoff.

Technically 6 & 7 because it would be top 5 and the US who automatically qualify.

I didn't think of that but holy crap that's dumb.

 

[silverwheels]

FIFA and the NCAA refuse to bow down on who can be more stupid.

 

[Hachiko]

Scotland have an atrocious defense. Forever in the shadow of England.

 

[fsuprime]

Great final 10m to watch tho
Commies deserved a tie

 

[Yankee151]

Iran have qualified for Russia as well now. The Japan/Australia/Saudi bracket is still tight

 

[Snorky's Shame]

I think it finishes:

1. Japan
2. Saudi Arabia
3. Australia

Wouldn't be shocked either if South Korea falls into the playoff spot. They host Iran and go to Uzbekistan in their last two games. I don't think Iran will play a weakened team because of the rivalry that exists between the two.

It's possible that Australia, South Korea and the United States could be playing for one spot.

 

[DeadMan]

CONCACAF's playoff game is against Asia now?

 

[Snorky's Shame]

CONCACAF's playoff game is against Asia now?

Yeah. OFC v CONMEBOL is the other one.

As for what's going on with South Korea, Uli Steilike is their Juergen Klinsmann. It's the same shit.

 

[Yankee151]

Given the US and Australia's luck in WC draws, having to face each other to even get in would just be more of the same

 

[goblue96]

Given the US and Australia's luck in WC draws, having to face each other to even get in would just be more of the same

This is why we need a 48-team World Cup!!!!!

It's a crime that the US AND Australia have to qualify to get in!!!!!

 

[kella]

So video review is here, and honestly, I like it. Great reviews and decisions in the Confed cup so far.

 

[Yankee151]

I forgot Yuri Zhirkov still existed

 

[bruin]

MEXICO IN HELL

 

[goblue96]

Good.

 

[kella]

This game has been great doe

 

[goblue96]

Who is this announcer? He sounds like a Mexican Gus Johnson.

 

[Karl Hungus]

 

[adchester]

Alphonso Davies scores his 3rd goal in two games at the Gold Cup. Got damn

 

[NML]

Is that the 16 year old? My god

When was the last time Canada got out of the group stage? 09?

I'm sure they'll go into the last game just needing a point against Honduras and will lose 4-0

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Two changes to the ACN:

1) Now a 24 team tournament
2) Tournament moves from January to June. Good luck playing the tournament in North Africa but at least European clubs won't lose their playing in the middle of the season anymore.

 

[Hachiko]

Spoiler: mfw when JAMAICA moN!

 

[Hachiko]

 

[bruin]

Lmao. Hammered hombre in the back cheesin so hard he doesn't even care.

Vamos!

 

[adchester]

So Rafa Marquez just got sanctioned for being part of a drug trafficking ring

https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/08/09/rafa-marquez-mexico-drug-trafficking

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Big weekend of qualifiers coming up:

Spain - Italy
Uruguay - Argentina
Saudi Arabia - Japan
South Korea - Iran
Japan - Australia
Uzbekistan - South Korea
United States - Costa Rica
Colombia - Brazil
Tunisia - DR Congo (home and home)
Nigeria - Cameroon (home and home)

A lot of nations going to qualify in the next few days.

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Japan qualify for World Cup with a 2-0 win over Australia. Saudi Arabia and Australia tied for the 2nd automatic spot with Saudi Arabia +2 on goal difference.

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Does anyone want to qualify from Asia?

Saudi Arabia blew their chance on Tuesday, Uzbekistan lost to China and South Korea drew at home to Iran despite being a man up most of the second half. The final day in group A is nuts:

Iran - Qualified, have not allowed a goal in this round (9 games)
South Korea - 14, +1
Syria - 12, +1
Uzbekistan - 12, -1
China - 9, -3
Qatar - Qualified for 2022 World Cup

Schedule (all games at 11 ET on 9/5):

Uzbekistan - South Korea
Iran - Syria
Qatar - China

 

[Yankee151]

Rooting for China to sneak in and grab 3rd place

 

[kella]

 

[Yankee151]

I'm surprised they aren't good enough to make WCs consistently yet. Guess they will next time around with more slots and 4 more years of their domestic league being okayish

 

[Snorky's Shame]

I'd imagine China will consistently qualify from 2026 and beyond. Australia, Japan and Portugal became consistent qualifiers in the 32 team era.

 

[Hachiko]

 

[doh]

Rooting for China to sneak in and grab 3rd place

Rooting for China over Syria?!?!

Disaster yesterday for Dutch to give up those two late goals. Actually a 1-0 loss at France would've been a good result and 2-0 OK with Sweden losing but those two extra goals in a 2nd place that might come down to GD is huge.

 

[Snorky's Shame]

I wonder how Iran plays this regarding their game vs. Syria. If it's straight up, Syria has no shot. If they experiment Syria would still need to win in Tehran and hope Uzbekistan win narrowly vs. South Korea. The Koreans are a mess right now I don't have any confidence in them getting points in Tashkent. I think Uzbekistan finally qualifies.

It be interesting how Japan plays their game with Saudi Arabia knowing that their opponents will know how many goals they need to win by since the Australia-Thailand game will not be played simultaneously.

It's imperative that the United States not finish fourth and have to face a trip to Seoul, Riyadh, Sydney or Tashkent.

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Meanwhile in South America it's a mess between 2nd and 8th.

Colombia - 25, +3
Uruguay - 24, +9
Chile - 23, +2
Argentina - 23, +1
Peru - 21, 0
Paraguay - 21, -5
Ecuador - 20, +1

Uruguay should be okay since they're the only team that plays both Bolivia and Venezuela. Ecuador-Peru is a virtual elimination game on Tuesday.

Also pertinent to this is New Zealand 6-1 over the Solomon Islands in the first leg of the OFC playoff. Look on the bright side New Zealand, you'll be qualifying regularly from 2026 and beyond.

EDIT: Check out Bolivia's goal last night vs. Peru. Haven't seen a chip like that in a long time.

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Doesn't look like the United States will be playing Ghana in a 4th straight World Cup. The Black Stars need a miracle to qualify at this point.

Nigeria looks like they could walk through the toughest group in African qualifying. They just beat Cameroon 4-0.

 

[NML]

Anyone watching the England/Slovenia game?

I'm always amazed how fucking ugly Hamsik is

And lol England

 

[DanishDonut0]

This might be the best I've seen Denmark play since '98. I like to think my presence in the capital and Lord Bendtner back on the bench are the the main reasons. Eriksen and Delaney (fellow American citizen) absolutely wrecking havoc. I'll spam highlights when there are some quality videos out there. Armenia's goal was also worth seeing.

 

[adchester]

Anyone watching the England/Slovenia game?

I'm always amazed how fucking ugly Hamsik is

And lol England

 

[kella]

His haircut does him 0 favors

 

[chibob]

Anyone watching the England/Slovenia game?

I'm always amazed how fucking ugly Hamsik is

And lol England

lol indeed

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Australia win but only 2-1. All Saudi Arabia need to do now is win and they qualify.

Australia, South Korea and the United States fighting for one spot is still a possibility.

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Congrats to Syria for snatching a playoff place from Uzbekistan in the last minute.

 

[Snorky's Shame]

Asian qualifying is over:

Qualified: Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea
Playoff: Syria v Australia

 

[Yankee151]

This is basically Aussie soccer

http://www.theonion.com/article/scientists-baffled-by-mans-incredible-ability-to-f-19422