FIFA World Cup 2026
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4 members have voted
June 11th, 2026 at 2:35:47 AM
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I bet on a repeat final: France-Argentina
This time around, the winner is… FRANCE (+500)
Side bet for big money: USA (+3000+)
This time around, the winner is… FRANCE (+500)
Side bet for big money: USA (+3000+)
June 11th, 2026 at 7:09:31 AM
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The EV for my bet on Spain is no worse than $0 if they don't go out early, due to a bonus bet offer based on each goal scored each game. Of course they have to win it all for me to make money, and for that matter the bonus bets have to win so that I play for free or similar
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
June 11th, 2026 at 8:20:56 AM
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I am rooting for Curaçao 🇨🇼🇨🇼🇨🇼🇨🇼🇨🇼
June 11th, 2026 at 9:52:13 AM
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For those not paying attention, the format is different this year. In the past, there were 32 teams, and each group of four produced two advancing teams. This year, there are 48 teams, and 12 groups of 4. In addition to the 12 winners and 12 runner-ups, this tournament will advance 8 of the 12 third-place finishers, bringing the total to 32 teams advancing to the knockout stage. The competition for the 8 third-place teams will be fierce.
The US has refused to admit the top-rated African referee, banned 15 Iranian coaches from entering the country, prevented the Iranian team from staying in Arizona, and canceled the country's ticket allocation. Hundreds of UK citizens are showing up at airports to find out their previously approved visas have been held up.
The US has refused to admit the top-rated African referee, banned 15 Iranian coaches from entering the country, prevented the Iranian team from staying in Arizona, and canceled the country's ticket allocation. Hundreds of UK citizens are showing up at airports to find out their previously approved visas have been held up.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 12th, 2026 at 5:49:07 PM
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They could not sell out CANADA’s opening game in Toronto. The stadium only held 40+ thousand. I guess there weren’t enough Bosnia-Herzegovina fans willing to spend the over $1000 a ticket to get in. Once in, however, you could get a beer and cheeseburger for around $50.
The head of FIFA actually said…. ‘But it’s still cheaper than an NBA Finals game’!
The head of FIFA actually said…. ‘But it’s still cheaper than an NBA Finals game’!
June 12th, 2026 at 8:53:32 PM
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Mrs. smooth just won her first Kalshi “prediction”: $20 bought on the USA, returned $40.20.
Better return than gambling in Nevada!
Better return than gambling in Nevada!
June 15th, 2026 at 4:12:14 AM
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I’ve surprised myself by enjoying the World Cup on TV. Previously I couldn’t get anything out of watching soccer, but recently decided to try it again, not least of all because I’m now betting on it. I’d even say soccer is quite essential for online bettors.
The first thing I did was try to learn the rules better, and tackled the offsides rule first. Finally understanding* that rule improved my appreciation of the game immediately, it gives you something to follow besides just watching the kicking back and forth like it was tennis or something. Then how corners are a scoring opportunity was another step [I’m frequently betting on corners over/under]
And by golly I realized some other things. There are no time-outs to encourage the rabid and panting advertisers, out of their mind wanting to cram in another ad! At least for the W.C. the ads are minimal till halftime when you need a break anyway. I have to tell you what is allowed for MLB with obnoxious 30 second ads crammed in as soon as there is a slight pause has about ruined it for me. Correct me if I’m wrong, but there also doesn’t seem to be the constant interruption of second guessing the officials with a review of some video.
The bottom line here is I’m finding soccer, at least the W.C., to be the sport that is returning the idea of the Pastime, a word I’m seeing in relation to sports less and less. I’m hearing GenY and GenZ are almost totally only watching highlights, never a whole game. Baseball on TV used to be wonderful for being a Pastime of course, and that is pretty ruined now. I can mimic it if I record it, but you can hardly think grabbing the remote all the time to get rid of what you don’t like is full relaxation. I keep mentioning maybe the W.C. is not typical soccer TV, but for me now it at least is really fitting the bill.
*
The first thing I did was try to learn the rules better, and tackled the offsides rule first. Finally understanding* that rule improved my appreciation of the game immediately, it gives you something to follow besides just watching the kicking back and forth like it was tennis or something. Then how corners are a scoring opportunity was another step [I’m frequently betting on corners over/under]
And by golly I realized some other things. There are no time-outs to encourage the rabid and panting advertisers, out of their mind wanting to cram in another ad! At least for the W.C. the ads are minimal till halftime when you need a break anyway. I have to tell you what is allowed for MLB with obnoxious 30 second ads crammed in as soon as there is a slight pause has about ruined it for me. Correct me if I’m wrong, but there also doesn’t seem to be the constant interruption of second guessing the officials with a review of some video.
The bottom line here is I’m finding soccer, at least the W.C., to be the sport that is returning the idea of the Pastime, a word I’m seeing in relation to sports less and less. I’m hearing GenY and GenZ are almost totally only watching highlights, never a whole game. Baseball on TV used to be wonderful for being a Pastime of course, and that is pretty ruined now. I can mimic it if I record it, but you can hardly think grabbing the remote all the time to get rid of what you don’t like is full relaxation. I keep mentioning maybe the W.C. is not typical soccer TV, but for me now it at least is really fitting the bill.
*
the offsides rule is writtn is a way to make it confounding, but the bottom line is that you can’t approach the goalie directly without the ball. You have to stay in front of the otherwise last man of the defense, the team often making a line for this. You are allowed to pass him or this line in anticipation of the ball coming into the zone as it is kicked, however. The wording for this is more complicated due to perhaps another player standing in for the goalie in some moment, I think. BTW I don’t consider myself an expert on soccer now LOL
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
June 15th, 2026 at 12:03:05 PM
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Poor Spain was under a tremendous disadvantage owing to my need for goals to be scored
0:0 tie
0:0 tie
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
June 15th, 2026 at 1:53:48 PM
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Holy crap! I hope the Mrs. didn't bet on Spain!
What an incredible upset. I've never even heard of Cape Verde!
What an incredible upset. I've never even heard of Cape Verde!
June 15th, 2026 at 2:16:52 PM
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In previous World Cups, there were 96 First Round Games. This tournament has 144. More games should result in more upsets.
I start to pay attention with the knockout round.
I start to pay attention with the knockout round.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 15th, 2026 at 6:14:01 PM
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Quote: odiousgambitPoor Spain was under a tremendous disadvantage owing to my need for goals to be scored
0:0 tie
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I had the same bet…. LOL!
Less than 1/2 of the Cape Verde players…. are from Cape Verde.
Checked on one of the rosters. A bunch of pretty good players.
Jashari
Ndoye
Okafor
Amduni
Amenda
Emboloo
Rodriguez
Vargas
Xhaka
Zakaria
Go Switzerland!
June 15th, 2026 at 7:54:55 PM
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The player who scored two goals for the US today grew up in England and played for their Under-21 team. He holds birthright citizenship in the US only because airline officials decided his mother was too pregnant to fly home after a US vacation.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 16th, 2026 at 12:35:29 PM
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Anybody tired of hundreds of Soccer fan videos on Youtube of foreigners discovering the United States and how wonderful it is here. They go on and on about the huge portions of food in restaurants and how gigantic Walmart is and free refills of soft drinks and how big our personal pickup trucks are and so many citizens openly carrying firearms. And how women can walk in parks here alone and not be killed or worse. Don't they have TVs where they live, do they think all the stuff they see about the US was a lie. Of course it's great why do you think everybody wants to come here.\
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_GKyVMLUvOg
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_GKyVMLUvOg
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
June 16th, 2026 at 1:06:13 PM
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Quote: EvenBobAnybody tired of hundreds of Soccer fan videos on Youtube of foreigners discovering the United States and how wonderful it is here. They go on and on about the huge portions of food in restaurants and how gigantic Walmart is and free refills of soft drinks and how big our personal pickup trucks are and so many citizens openly carrying firearms. And how women can walk in parks here alone and not be killed or worse. Don't they have TVs where they live, do they think all the stuff they see about the US was a lie. Of course it's great why do you think everybody wants to come here.\
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_GKyVMLUvOg
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This just shows how YouTube's algorithms are tuned for someone's particular interests.
My feed shows nothing like that: just how Vegas is simultaneously great and also doomed, video game history, and currently everything about the Backrooms movie (including parodies).
If I look at YouTube while signed out, it's all about Mr. Beast and Tik Tok-style videos.
June 16th, 2026 at 1:25:21 PM
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The soccer purists now have their panties in a twist over the ads shown during the three minute "hydration breaks" at the exact midway point of each half (around the 22nd minute and 67th minute) of every match.
The foreign fans here in Boston have-no lie-bought out all the beer in the liquor stores and bars. Barkeeps say business is even better than any St. Patrick's Day. We even passed a new law allowing open containers in public and bars open until 3AM. It's been pretty raucous here!
The foreign fans here in Boston have-no lie-bought out all the beer in the liquor stores and bars. Barkeeps say business is even better than any St. Patrick's Day. We even passed a new law allowing open containers in public and bars open until 3AM. It's been pretty raucous here!
June 16th, 2026 at 1:34:27 PM
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Quote: GenoDRPhThe soccer purists now have their panties in a twist over the ads shown during the three minute "hydration breaks" at the exact midway point of each half (around the 22nd minute and 67th minute) of every match.
The foreign fans here in Boston have-no lie-bought out all the beer in the liquor stores and bars. Barkeeps say business is even better than any St. Patrick's Day. We even passed a new law allowing open containers in public and bars open until 3AM. It's been pretty raucous here!
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It's not about the commercials, it's about the breaks themselves. What's next? Five-minute hydration breaks every ten miles of a marathon?
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 16th, 2026 at 1:44:05 PM
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Quote: billryanQuote: GenoDRPhThe soccer purists now have their panties in a twist over the ads shown during the three minute "hydration breaks" at the exact midway point of each half (around the 22nd minute and 67th minute) of every match.
The foreign fans here in Boston have-no lie-bought out all the beer in the liquor stores and bars. Barkeeps say business is even better than any St. Patrick's Day. We even passed a new law allowing open containers in public and bars open until 3AM. It's been pretty raucous here!
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It's not about the commercials, it's about the breaks themselves. What's next? Five-minute hydration breaks every ten miles of a marathon?
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Well, in long distance running, there are hydration stations throughout the course, even LD events on a 400 meter track. Same with triathlon and even open water swimming.
Nothing wrong with more concern about athlete welfare.
June 16th, 2026 at 2:07:06 PM
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Quote: truthtellaQuote: EvenBobAnybody tired of hundreds of Soccer fan videos on Youtube of foreigners discovering the United States and how wonderful it is here. They go on and on about the huge portions of food in restaurants and how gigantic Walmart is and free refills of soft drinks and how big our personal pickup trucks are and so many citizens openly carrying firearms. And how women can walk in parks here alone and not be killed or worse. Don't they have TVs where they live, do they think all the stuff they see about the US was a lie. Of course it's great why do you think everybody wants to come here.
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You people live in your own fucking dreamworld don't you? Turn off your youtube history and you will see what the world actually thinks of you.
To state the obvious: no one respects you, no one likes you, you just got your ass kicked in yet another war, and your country is full of people like you who would be in mental homes dribbling quietly if the US had a functioning social welfare system.
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Baghdad Bob, where you been
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
June 16th, 2026 at 3:25:44 PM
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Quote: EvenBobAnybody tired of hundreds of Soccer fan videos on Youtube of foreigners discovering the United States and how wonderful it is here. They go on and on about the huge portions of food in restaurants and how gigantic Walmart is and free refills of soft drinks and how big our personal pickup trucks are and so many citizens openly carrying firearms. And how women can walk in parks here alone and not be killed or worse. Don't they have TVs where they live, do they think all the stuff they see about the US was a lie. Of course it's great why do you think everybody wants to come here.\
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_GKyVMLUvOg
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I'd rather they admire us from afar.
And regarding women walking alone in parks here without getting killed- were they admiring or complaining about that fact?
June 17th, 2026 at 3:47:36 AM
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That's right! It has nothing to do with cramming in a commercial! However, how much would anyone like to bet that this becomes a permanent feature, even when the game is played on a chilly day. No takers for even money on the no, I'm thinking.Quote: GenoDRPh
Well, in long distance running, there are hydration stations throughout the course, even LD events on a 400 meter track. Same with triathlon and even open water swimming.
Nothing wrong with more concern about athlete welfare.
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the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
June 17th, 2026 at 4:58:44 AM
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Hydrating breaks used to be taken at the ref's discretion on days that met certain criteria. Now they have effectively changed the game from two halves to four quarters. As only FIFA games have the mandatory break, they've essentially changed FIFA tournaments from every other soccer tourney on the planet.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 17th, 2026 at 12:07:55 PM
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Soccer is generally annoying to me, except during the World Cup, when it’s tolerable.
But Messi truly makes the sport exciting for me.
Did Pelé have the same effect on people in the 1970s?
But Messi truly makes the sport exciting for me.
Did Pelé have the same effect on people in the 1970s?
June 17th, 2026 at 12:24:06 PM
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Quote: smoothgrhSoccer is generally annoying to me, except during the World Cup, when it’s tolerable.
But Messi truly makes the sport exciting for me.
Did Pelé have the same effect on people in the 1970s?
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I'd imagine yes.Pele had books written about him,was somewhat of a pop culture figure and government minister. I don't recall any soccer player that still is mentioned in the public consciousness. Modern media and press have-righfully and deservedly so-elevated Messi in ways Pele wasn't.
That being said, a hat trick at age 38 is one for the ages!
June 17th, 2026 at 1:46:03 PM
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In 1971, the New York Cosmos played at Hofstra Stadium, a field that sat about 1,000 fans. When they signed Pele the next year, they moved to a decrepit WPA stadium in NYC that held about 8,000. Then they moved to Giants Stadium and regularly sold out the stadium.
Pele's first game was shown on national TV, and he starred in a major movie.
Pele's first game was shown on national TV, and he starred in a major movie.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 17th, 2026 at 2:01:59 PM
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Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: smoothgrhSoccer is generally annoying to me, except during the World Cup, when it’s tolerable.
But Messi truly makes the sport exciting for me.
Did Pelé have the same effect on people in the 1970s?
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I'd imagine yes.Pele had books written about him,was somewhat of a pop culture figure and government minister. I don't recall any soccer player that still is mentioned in the public consciousness. Modern media and press have-righfully and deservedly so-elevated Messi in ways Pele wasn't.
That being said, a hat trick at age 38 is one for the ages!
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Beckham I'd say is at least as much of a pop culture icon. No idea how the two would compare as soccer players.
June 17th, 2026 at 2:28:12 PM
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Thousands and thousands of Europeans are experiencing America for the first time because of these soccer games and they are seeing that they were lied to by the media in their country. The United States Is nothing like they were told it was and they are being blown away. These soccer tournaments are the best thing to happen to the United States publicity wise that's ever happened. And what's with the Yellow School Bus thing, people are actually running after them because they didn't believe they actually existed. Every day hundreds of new videos show up in social media of people whose minds are blown by how great this country is.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
June 17th, 2026 at 4:08:48 PM
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Quote: billryanIn previous World Cups, there were 96 First Round Games. This tournament has 144. More games should result in more upsets.
I start to pay attention with the knockout round.
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I will start to pay attention when it is over.
You can't know everything, but you can know anything.
June 17th, 2026 at 5:34:08 PM
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I biked up to AT&T stadium (Dallas Stadium for these games) before the Japan-Netherlands game and it was a blast seeing the Dutch double bus go right past me, then I was in the middle of 1,000 fans following it. But I still can't get into soccer. Too many ties, and not enough scoring attempts...plus the fake injuries.
Hockey >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> soccer
Hockey >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> soccer
June 17th, 2026 at 11:24:43 PM
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Are the people discovering what America is really like all young'ins? The World Cup was here in 1994! There was a pinball machine of it as proof!
As far as yellow school buses, Lawrence from the Lost in the Pond YouTube series says he used to think yellow school busses were a movie trope, like a 555 phone number.
As far as yellow school buses, Lawrence from the Lost in the Pond YouTube series says he used to think yellow school busses were a movie trope, like a 555 phone number.
June 17th, 2026 at 11:25:35 PM
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Holy crap. 1994 was 32 years ago!
June 18th, 2026 at 2:10:00 AM
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Quote: smoothgrhHoly crap. 1994 was 32 years ago!
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32 years ago, also in June. The OJ Simpson era, not WC 1994 era. ABC interrupted a WC match to broadcast live the “Chase of OJ”. OJ was running to nowhere for a sinister reason. For most Americans there was no World Cup. There was only the “OJ Saga”.
Of course no Messi, no Ronaldo back then. Few Americans knew who Pelé the GOAT was back then…
Last edited by: toolyp on Jun 18, 2026
June 18th, 2026 at 6:09:56 AM
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Quote: toolypQuote: smoothgrhHoly crap. 1994 was 32 years ago!
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32 years ago, also in June. The OJ Simpson era, not WC 1994 era. ABC interrupted a WC match to broadcast live the “Chase of OJ”. OJ was running to nowhere for a sinister reason. For most Americans there was no World Cup. There was only the “OJ Saga”.
Ofcourse no Messi, no Ronaldo back then. Few Americans knew who Pelé the GOAT was back then…
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The OJ chase interrupted coverage of the Knicks-Rockets NBA finals Game 5 on CBS.
In the 1970s, Pelé and Ali were said to be the two most popular athletes in the world, but few Americans saw Pelé until he joined the Cosmos, well past his prime. His arrival sparked a soccer boom that saw the NASL expand to more than double its size and the Cosmos sell out 76,000-seat Giants Stadium. on a regular basis.
While some people,mostly immigrants, followed the WC, it wasn't televised in the US in the 1970s. One WC final was broadcast in the States on Christmas Day, months after it was played.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 18th, 2026 at 7:56:01 AM
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Was with some people last night and someone said they tried to watch a game and it was 'so boring' again. This was generally agreed upon. I didn't hear the usual complaints about players 'taking a dive' . I have to admit that still bothers me, to see someone putting on a show to try to improve the chances of a penalty , but I guess it's something you have to accept as part of the game, like it or not. Like fighting in hockey,
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
June 18th, 2026 at 8:22:02 AM
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Quote: odiousgambitWas with some people last night and someone said they tried to watch a game and it was 'so boring' again. This was generally agreed upon. I didn't hear the usual complaints about players 'taking a dive' . I have to admit that still bothers me, to see someone putting on a show to try to improve the chances of a penalty , but I guess it's something you have to accept as part of the game, like it or not. Like fighting in hockey,
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The main reason soccer has never caught in these United States: it is 'so boring' again,,and again… for all neutrals. Kissinger was one rare exception. poor scoring is why soccer is boring. The sport is 90% emotion. The fans dont give a damn about the the show. They only care about the result. The big fans, the ultras, will take a 1-0 win beforehand without the game being played.
The largest army of fans in USA is the Mexican population living north of Rio Grande. There are some more Anglos now because of Messi. but the bubble will burst after Messi retires completely. Right now he is a retiree from the Grande European football (Barcelona, Paris).
The unsurmountable obstacle for successful football/soccer in USA: ‘Johnny come late’. There are the three established sports in the States: football, basketball, baseball. They have well entrenched seasons: fall-winter football, winter-spring basketball, spring-summer-fall baseball. Soccer has only a small window in summer like this WC 2026. The weather is oppressive. It is as bad as in the dead of winter. The Kissingers of the world can’t change the calendar to make room for soccer. And for what? for a 'so boring' game?
June 18th, 2026 at 8:49:13 AM
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Soccer is not a sport. It's so boring that they have to play drum war music during the game to keep the fans awake. Now they take water breaks (and keep the clock running). Why don't you just, I don't know switch out the lines like in hockey? Sorry to anyone offended that I compared a real sport to a recess activity.
June 18th, 2026 at 9:40:20 AM
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I'm not a soccer fan, but I've attended a few matches, and years ago I worked security for several visiting Latin American teams. The fans are passionate and the energy level is something to absorb and enjoy. It doesn't translate to television unless you are in a packed place.
Tucson spent a lot of money upgrading a soccer complex, anticipating hosting a World Cup team. The luck of the drawer gave us Iran.
My sister got her sons involved in soccer, hoping to keep them away from football. I grew up playing football, basketball, and baseball.
They played soccer, wrestling, and lacrosse.
Tucson spent a lot of money upgrading a soccer complex, anticipating hosting a World Cup team. The luck of the drawer gave us Iran.
My sister got her sons involved in soccer, hoping to keep them away from football. I grew up playing football, basketball, and baseball.
They played soccer, wrestling, and lacrosse.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 18th, 2026 at 10:33:18 AM
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I have nephews who played soccer, definitely schools and parents wanted the alternative. I noticed these young relatives didn't seem to pick up much interest in soccer, and I don't think I'm wrong to say plenty didn't.Quote: billryan
My sister got her sons involved in soccer, hoping to keep them away from football. I grew up playing football, basketball, and baseball.
They played soccer, wrestling, and lacrosse.
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I don't know why, so I'll guess while having attended few of their games at all
* the girls who would be interested in the boys who played sports, probably picked those athletes of the traditional type to go gaga over. I don't remember seeing cheerleaders
* for this and other reasons maybe they wanted to play football and mom insisted not, with dad not really resisting, thinking of his bad knees. They just weren't all that happy with this choice foisted on them? again , I don't know
* I didn't know much about soccer back then sure enough, but I noticed in the lower age groups anyway the game was made less strenuous [never saw them play in high school]. One nephew was held back with some others and never went into the other team's half of the field. If the ball was kicked to him, he didn't take off with it but just kicked it and he was done. So it was boring for him as well as anybody who came to watch him play.
* this may have been related to another factor. When you see a game and a player is going down the field at speed keeping the ball just ahead of him and under control, that is a very skilled player. I think few ever get that skilled till maybe they've played for years. Lots of kids probably quit before playing in high school. Maybe just one nephew I knew played in high school. Don't know how good he was, and I probably would have heard if he got skilled.
maybe more kids get into soccer than I know, could be sampling error
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
June 18th, 2026 at 10:59:11 AM
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I’ve typed this here before. I think.
The biggest problem with soccer is the offside rule. It is the only sport where a defender intentionally tries to let the opponent beat them to the goal. Entire defensive strategies are designed to fool your opponent into thinking he’s ‘onside’ when he is an inch or two offiside.
The second is the flopping. Saw a guy just get the slightest nudge in the back. Fell down. And GRABBED HIS HEAD.
I’d want that guy ejected.
Third is lack of a reward for good play. Too many times a series of good passes leads you to…pass the ball back to your midfielder with no attack on goal.
I do watch soccer, by the way.
The biggest problem with soccer is the offside rule. It is the only sport where a defender intentionally tries to let the opponent beat them to the goal. Entire defensive strategies are designed to fool your opponent into thinking he’s ‘onside’ when he is an inch or two offiside.
The second is the flopping. Saw a guy just get the slightest nudge in the back. Fell down. And GRABBED HIS HEAD.
I’d want that guy ejected.
Third is lack of a reward for good play. Too many times a series of good passes leads you to…pass the ball back to your midfielder with no attack on goal.
I do watch soccer, by the way.
June 18th, 2026 at 11:42:17 AM
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When I was in college, I attended many indoor soccer games. When the Arrows first played at the Nassau Coliseum, they'd get good crowds but after a while, it went south.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 18th, 2026 at 12:31:00 PM
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Quote: smoothgrhAs far as yellow school buses, Lawrence from the Lost in the Pond YouTube series says he used to think yellow school busses were a movie trope, like a 555 phone number.
This yellow school bus stuff is really something. Seeing them literally scream when they see a yellow school bus, it's real it's real. And they go chasing after it.. They have nothing like it in Europe apparently and they really thought it was a fantasy created for the movies. I rode one from 1960 to 1966 and they still look exactly the same.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
June 18th, 2026 at 12:39:13 PM
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Quote: wurstbungerQuote: toolyp
The main reason soccer has never caught in these United States: it is 'so boring' again,,and again… for all neutrals. Kissinger was one rare exception. poor scoring is why soccer is boring. The sport is 90% emotion. The fans dont give a damn about the the show. They only care about the result. The big fans, the ultras, will take a 1-0 win beforehand without the game being played.
Yeah i'm sure the other 98% of the planet is wrong, and you, a man from a country whose president literally just shat himself in public, are right.
I will listen and learn from people in a country with a homicide rate which would embarass a bad african nation and a healthcare system that lets people rot to death from cancer through pure greed and stupidity. I am sure you have studied soccer with the same nuanced and sophistiocated cultural understanding you people exhibit when commenting on...er...anything at all.
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With the growing worldwide popularity of baseball, basketball, and American football, is soccer as popular today as it was forty years ago?
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 18th, 2026 at 12:56:50 PM
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Quote: billryanQuote: wurstbungerQuote: toolyp
The main reason soccer has never caught in these United States: it is 'so boring' again,,and again… for all neutrals. Kissinger was one rare exception. poor scoring is why soccer is boring. The sport is 90% emotion. The fans dont give a damn about the the show. They only care about the result. The big fans, the ultras, will take a 1-0 win beforehand without the game being played.
Yeah i'm sure the other 98% of the planet is wrong, and you, a man from a country whose president literally just shat himself in public, are right.
I will listen and learn from people in a country with a homicide rate which would embarass a bad african nation and a healthcare system that lets people rot to death from cancer through pure greed and stupidity. I am sure you have studied soccer with the same nuanced and sophistiocated cultural understanding you people exhibit when commenting on...er...anything at all.
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With the growing worldwide popularity of baseball, basketball, and American football, is soccer as popular today as it was forty years ago?
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Around the world it is.
June 18th, 2026 at 1:29:26 PM
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Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: billryanQuote: wurstbungerQuote: toolyp
The main reason soccer has never caught in these United States: it is 'so boring' again,,and again… for all neutrals. Kissinger was one rare exception. poor scoring is why soccer is boring. The sport is 90% emotion. The fans dont give a damn about the the show. They only care about the result. The big fans, the ultras, will take a 1-0 win beforehand without the game being played.
Yeah i'm sure the other 98% of the planet is wrong, and you, a man from a country whose president literally just shat himself in public, are right.
I will listen and learn from people in a country with a homicide rate which would embarass a bad african nation and a healthcare system that lets people rot to death from cancer through pure greed and stupidity. I am sure you have studied soccer with the same nuanced and sophistiocated cultural understanding you people exhibit when commenting on...er...anything at all.
link to original post
With the growing worldwide popularity of baseball, basketball, and American football, is soccer as popular today as it was forty years ago?
link to original post
Around the world it is.
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This is an interesting question.
To defend US sports they have made significant roads into international development in recent decades. They monetize their domestic audience much more effectively than soccer does.
But soccer is hugely popular in raw population terms, like you wouldn't believe. 1 billion follow it regularly using the most conservative estimates. In terms of sheer numbers no us sport is even close to it. Only basketball could ever plausibly become even a rival to it.
It isn't really hard to see why: soccer requires a ball. US sports require equipment. In developing countries that gives it a huge advantage. Soccer is also instantly understandable. Finally it has major international competitions and for some reason us sports do not. It is similar to why you always see simple games introduced in vegas based on pre-existing forms of gambling.
In short football isn't better or worse than other sports: it is just more accessible.
June 18th, 2026 at 2:15:53 PM
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Americans complain about the slow pace of soccer, but kids in Cuba and Puerto Rico are taking up soccer instead of the slower-paced baseball.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
June 18th, 2026 at 4:16:06 PM
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Quote: billryanAmericans complain about the slow pace of soccer, but kids in Cuba and Puerto Rico are taking up soccer instead of the slower-paced baseball.
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Baseball isn't supposed to have a pace. It's a journey through 33 outs, and your goal is to get to the end of your journey with more runs than the opponent. This is why purists such as myself hate the idea of a clock having any role in baseball. The only ones who like the pitch clock are the ones who want to see baseball be more like basketball, and the surgeons who do Tommy John surgery.
Soccer isn't so much the pace, but the monotony. Every time you look at the screen it's the same things going on. In baseball every configuration of baserunners you play different, whether you have 0, 1, or 2 outs you play different, where you are in the game and what the score is calls for different strategies for both offense and defense. It is as complex as poker.
June 19th, 2026 at 9:20:36 AM
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Quote: smoothgrhHoly crap. 1994 was 32 years ago!
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1994 was only 32 years ago. I remember it like yesterday. That was the year I got my first programming job in Gaming.
You can't know everything, but you can know anything.
June 19th, 2026 at 9:23:47 AM
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Quote: billryanAmericans complain about the slow pace of soccer, but kids in Cuba and Puerto Rico are taking up soccer instead of the slower-paced baseball.
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Soccer is popular because it is a very affordable game for kids to play. Not much equipment is needed so almost everybody can play it.
You can't know everything, but you can know anything.
June 19th, 2026 at 9:58:10 AM
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Quote: DRichQuote: billryanAmericans complain about the slow pace of soccer, but kids in Cuba and Puerto Rico are taking up soccer instead of the slower-paced baseball.
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Soccer is popular because it is a very affordable game for kids to play. Not much equipment is needed so almost everybody can play it.
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It was pushed very heavily when I was a kid (70s) as well as was flag football (no we did not pronounce the 'l'.) Mostly because it was considered "safe," and unisex. There is only one thing boys do in a soccer game that is not recommended for girls (chest trap).
I think some of the revulsion towards it in the US is from that history, it was seen as feminized, like European Sitzpinkler carrying purses, and an unrequested substitute for football and baseball and the sports we enjoyed watching and considered masculine. We don't do that here!
June 19th, 2026 at 10:31:44 AM
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Lacrosse was big in some areas, and still has a presence, because Gridiron Football was banned for high school sports for a while, New York state comes to mind. Soccer benefited too? Doesn't seem like it to me
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
June 19th, 2026 at 11:06:22 AM
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Lacrosse is huge on Long Island, and is one of the easiest ways to get an athletic scholarship. It's a spring sport, and most of the players also play fall football. When I was watching the Duke-Notre Dame lacrosse game, almost every player on both teams was from Long Island or Central New York.
The growth of high school soccer in NY has been mainly because of the growing Latin population.
The growth of high school soccer in NY has been mainly because of the growing Latin population.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
