419 replies to this topic

[UDeMan]

Yes, the beautiful game. Diving, bribing officials, match fixing, Fifa taking bribes from rich countries.

The most annoying thing is the added extra time. We come from sports that have a set clock. Hockey, basketball, football, all based on a set time. Buzzer rings and the game is over. Some of these games have 10 minutes of extra time added and the ref let's it go even longer. Lots of chance for manipulation.

I still love watching it.

[lanforod]

The extra time thing has always annoyed and confused me.

[Victoria Watcher]

You'll never guess who missed USA's only penalty shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The U.S. Women’s Soccer team has crashed out of the 2023 World Cup following a lengthy penalty shoot-out loss against rivals Sweden.

 

This is the earliest Team US has been eliminated from a World Cup.

 

The epic penalty shootout ended 5-4 to Sweden, who will progress to the Quarter Final where they will face Japan.

 

https://deadline.com...den-1235455946/

 

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 August 2023 - 03:54 AM.

[Mike K.]

There’s a World Cup on right now?

What the heck.

[AllseeingEye]

The quality of the football is actually good, and entertaining to watch at least the games I have seen. Is there a better good world football news story than Morocco, both men and women? I'm a die mannschaft supporter all the way (unless they play Canada) but you have to feel good for Morocco. It gets a bit tiresome seeing the same half dozen national squads dominate Olympic or WC competitions time and again.

[m3m]

It’s a great tournament so far. Totally up for grabs with some big teams out:
- USA - #1 world rank
- Germany - #2
- Canada -#7
- Brazil - #8

Agree about Morocco. Would love to see them beat France

[Victoria Watcher]

England was probably lucky to win today.  Stupid red card that one player took.  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 August 2023 - 06:30 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

[Victoria Watcher]

The organization announced this week that it will unveil the match schedule for the games during a special live broadcast on Feb. 4.

 

“The broadcast will also reveal the location of the tournament’s opening matches in Canada, Mexico and the USA, the group stage locations for each host country’s national team and the venue for the eagerly awaited FIFA World Cup final,” FIFA said in a news release issued Thursday.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 January 2024 - 07:47 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Can a mod update this to 2026 World Cup?

[Mike K.]

Yup, is a general title ok?

[Victoria Watcher]

It’ll do.

[AllseeingEye]

Canada currently world ranked # 48 probably about right after the somewhat tepid performance in the last WC; Australia has moved up to # 25 - good for the Socceroos - not sure how Morocco ranks behind the US in light of the fantastic performance in Qatar by the Atlas Lions, but there you have it:

 

https://www.fifa.com...rld-ranking/men

[Victoria Watcher]

Does B.C. Ferries take reservations more than two years out?

 

Fans across the province will find out today what games will be played and when at B.C. Place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The announcement of what games will go where in the U.S./Canada/Mexico hosted tournament will be televised live at noon on TSN and CTV from Miami.

 

Although the teams won’t be decided until after the qualifying process, simply knowing that a top-placer from a European group, or from South America, has been drawn for Vancouver could mean the expectation of the likes of England, Germany, Italy, Brazil or Argentina playing in this province. Also to be announced today is where the quarter-finals, semifinals and final will be played and whether Canada will play its games at B.C. Place or BMO Field in Toronto.

 

Ten games will be hosted in total between Vancouver and Toronto. It is estimated it will cost between $240 million and $260 million to host five games at B.C. Place with costs expected to be split between the three levels of government.

 

Greater Victoria was among 52 training-base options across the continent presented to FIFA in the official bid book put forward by the U.S./Canada/Mexico United Bid, which in 2018 won the right to host the 2026 World Cup.

 

“It’s a huge advantage for the Island having Vancouver and Seattle as host cities for games, and the chance to have a Brazil or Germany based here for training camp or exhibitions,” said Keith Wells, executive director of the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission. “We will have more clarity [today].”

 

 

https://www.timescol...e-today-8206832

[Victoria Watcher]

 

 

 

Canada's opener will be in Toronto.  Games #2 and #3 will be in Vancouver.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 February 2024 - 12:23 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Drake crashed the announcement.

 

[Victoria Watcher]

Kim Kardashian made the announcment that the first USA game is in LA.

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 February 2024 - 12:32 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

 

 

The US team will play just in Seattle and LA for their first 3 guaranteed games.

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 February 2024 - 12:40 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Vancouver and Toronto each get a first playoff round game each.  Vancouver gets 1 in each of the first two playoff rounds.

 

Miami gets the bronze medal game.

 

 

Dallas to host 9 FIFA World Cup matches - well deserved - that stadium is probably best in North America and among best in world. Wonder which game will be the last that they host …

 

New York / New Jesey gets the final.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 February 2024 - 12:52 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The newly appointed CEO and general secretary of Canada Soccer has provided an update on the governing body's finances and the news isn't good.

 

Kevin Blue, who took up his post on March 14, says the governing body's budget for fiscal 2024 shows a $4-million operating deficit on total expenses of $30 million.

 

"While it is common for non-profit sports organizations to operate at surpluses or deficits depending on annual circumstances, the current level of Canada Soccer’s operating deficit is not sustainable and cannot continue in the future," he wrote in a social media post Saturday.

 

Canada Soccer has yet to divulge its 2023 financial picture, which is expected at its annual general meeting in Montreal in early May.

 

Blue said Canada Soccer must boost annual revenues by between $10 million and $12 million "to robustly fund its programs and serve its stakeholders — from grassroots up to the national teams."

 

"We need to establish a better financial engine for soccer in Canada so our sport can benefit from upcoming opportunities," he wrote.

 

An increase in player fees is one of his proposed solutions. Blue said he has put forward two possible plans to increase rates, which he notes have not changed since 2017.

 

The first aligns fees with the Consumer Price Index.

 

"We are discussing a tune-up of the player levy for CPI along with a proportional adjustment of membership affiliation fees," Blue said.

 

Those membership fees come from provincial organizations and Canada's MLS teams.

 

 

 

https://www.tsn.ca/s...-woes-1.2097280

 

 

I don't quite understand how some kid playing youth soccer has to fund the national team consisting entirely of pro players.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 31 March 2024 - 02:11 AM.