World Soccer XXX: We Have Men Too!

[Jimjamesak]

The percent going to the players decreases after two years.

I think the change of number of contracts (there will still be some) is going to go a long ways towards keeping the WNT fresh and competitive.

It only decreases to 80%, still way too high of a number.

The only contracts remaining are the 16 current ones and they expire at the end of the year (and won’t be renewed). It’ll be interesting to see what the roster looks like for World Cup Qualifying/CONCACAF W Championship.

With the Men’s World Cup going to 48 and the Women’s World Cup going to 32 (there’s going to be terrible games in Australia and New Zealand next year) it’ll take something crazy for either team to miss a World Cup.

Edit: In fairness, the 48 team Men’s World Cup is going to have some terrible games too. CONCACAF is getting 6 teams, Asia is getting 8.

[SonofSouthie]

Europa League. Decent tournament and ranked below the Champions League for European clubs. Championship match today was in Seville, Spain in the middle of a heat wave where match time temp hit 93. Odd sorta match where one team is in 11th place in the Bundesliga and the other team is from a league rated lower than the MLS. I've never seen a match with 2 teams taking the worst corners ever; either too long, too short, or completely out of the 6 yard box. Anywho Frankfort beat the Glasgow team that wears blue(Fk the gers)1-1, 5-4 on shots from the spot. 8.6mil Euros to the winner plus money for various stages in the tourney and qualify for the CL next year slotted directly into the group stage.

[mookie1995]

Europa League. Decent tournament and ranked below the Champions League for European clubs. Championship match today was in Seville, Spain in the middle of a heat wave where match time temp hit 93. Odd sorta match where one team is in 11th place in the Bundesliga and the other team is from a league rated lower than the MLS. I've never seen a match with 2 teams taking the worst corners ever; either too long, too short, or completely out of the 6 yard box. Anywho Frankfort beat the Glasgow team that wears blue(Fk the gers)1-1, 5-4 on shots from the spot. 8.6mil Euros to the winner plus money for various stages in the tourney and qualify for the CL next year slotted directly into the group stage.

No need for Fk here. We’re allowed to spell ****

[Spartanforlife4]

It only decreases to 80%, still way too high of a number.

The only contracts remaining are the 16 current ones and they expire at the end of the year (and won’t be renewed). It’ll be interesting to see what the roster looks like for World Cup Qualifying/CONCACAF W Championship.

With the Men’s World Cup going to 48 and the Women’s World Cup going to 32 (there’s going to be terrible games in Australia and New Zealand next year) it’ll take something crazy for either team to miss a World Cup.

Edit: In fairness, the 48 team Men’s World Cup is going to have some terrible games too. CONCACAF is getting 6 teams, Asia is getting 8.

Some of the magic is going to be lost in 2026. Sure, 2/3 of the teams will still be getting three games, but the format seems perfect as of now with 32. Going to three team groups and possibly getting rid of draws is going to be weird. I would’ve rather they gone to eight groups of five, but as I recall they were worried about fitting that many games in succinctly.

[JF_Gophers]

Men's world cup really should only be about 8 teams. The rest are just filler.

[SonofSouthie]

No need for Fk here. We’re allowed to spell ****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phSxxVJCZsc

[Jimjamesak]

World Cup Referees announced.

Female referees have been selected for the first time which is… interesting. Frappert from France, Yama****a from Japan, and Mukansanga from Rwanda.

Ismail Elfath is the US referee with Armando Villareal as a VAR, a bit of a shocking pick over Jair Marrufo. Corey Parker, Kyle Atkins, and Kathryn Nesbitt as ARs (Nesbitt as one of the females).

The use of female referees feels very much like a PR stunt rather than being appointed on merit. Nesbitt is a good example of being appointed on merit, she’s a regular in MLS, she was at the Gold Cup, and was a regular in CONCACAF WCQ. Frappert kind of has a case, she did a few WCQ matches and CL Group stage matches but she’s not a high ranking UEFA referee. Yama****a and Mukansanga have even less of a resume. Pretty good comment from a referee watcher sums it up:

And now, perhaps, an impolitic comment on the appointment of female referees. It's 100% a PR move. The women selected in the "referee" category were not designated for a single "top" men's qualifier. They were not, to the best of my knowledge, appointed to major (or any?) top-level continental club knockout matches. Frappart has the Super Cup, some second tier qualifiers, and UCL group stage matches--there are at least 10 male referees who are clearly ahead of her in UEFA, if not 20-25. From a pure fairness question related to performance, it doesn't pass the smell test. And then there's the issue of her being the second French referee when Cerro Grande and Gil Manzano can't get into list. These appointments just don't pass any reasonable objective test. I am all for female referees refereeing alongside men in men's competition when the spot is earned. Penso has earned hers in MLS. Frappart hers in Ligue 1. Etc., etc. But plucking a mid-tier Ligue 1 referee into the men's World Cup doesn't meet that standard. It doesn't come close. And Frappart is the best known referee of the three.

[Spartanforlife4]

2026 stadiums are being announced June 16. Looking at the wiki list, the Midwest is likely getting shut out unless they throw Cincy or KC a bone. Wouldn’t be surprised to see LA get both Sofi and the Rose Bowl, even if they just use the Rose Bowl for the final.

[RaceBoarder]

World Cup Referees announced.

Female referees have been selected for the first time which is… interesting. Frappert from France, Yama****a from Japan, and Mukansanga from Rwanda.

Ismail Elfath is the US referee with Armando Villareal as a VAR, a bit of a shocking pick over Jair Marrufo. Corey Parker, Kyle Atkins, and Kathryn Nesbitt as ARs (Nesbitt as one of the females).

The use of female referees feels very much like a PR stunt rather than being appointed on merit. Nesbitt is a good example of being appointed on merit, she’s a regular in MLS, she was at the Gold Cup, and was a regular in CONCACAF WCQ. Frappert kind of has a case, she did a few WCQ matches and CL Group stage matches but she’s not a high ranking UEFA referee. Yama****a and Mukansanga have even less of a resume. Pretty good comment from a referee watcher sums it up:

If we're talking about appointment based upon merit, why does CAF have ANY representatives?

[Jimjamesak]

If we're talking about appointment based upon merit, why does CAF have ANY representatives?

If we’re talking on that level then why take any referees outside of UEFA and CONMEBOL? Because a World Cup needs referees from around the world. It that respect, there’s a far cry between someone who’s refereeing their continental finals and major qualification matches (plus appearances at FIFA youth tournaments) like Victor Gomes (2022 AFCON Final) or Said Martinez (2021 Gold Cup and 2022 CCL Finals) and a “did a few group stage and lesser qualifying matches” referee like Frappert.

I guess FIFA is desperately hoping for a dead rubber on the third match round so they can have an all female crew as another distraction to every s—-ty thing about this World Cup.

[Jimjamesak]

In the UEFA Women's Champions League Final, Lyon up 3-1 on "have only lost one game in all competitions all season" Barcelona.

[Jimjamesak]

2026 stadiums are being announced June 16. Looking at the wiki list, the Midwest is likely getting shut out unless they throw Cincy or KC a bone. Wouldn’t be surprised to see LA get both Sofi and the Rose Bowl, even if they just use the Rose Bowl for the final.

Chicago and Minneapolis didn't want to bribe FIFA so they were left off the short list. KC (thanks Hunt family!) will likely be a host city.

[Jimjamesak]

This Women's Champions League Final is absolutely destroying the whole BS "the Women's game is different and better" notion with OL players flopping to the ground on every slight touch.

[Spartanforlife4]

Chicago and Minneapolis didn't want to bribe FIFA so they were left off the short list. KC (thanks Hunt family!) will likely be a host city.

Surprised Cleveland got the axe while Cincy is still in the running given Cleveland gets a lot of USMNT/WNT and CONCACAF games.

[Jimjamesak]

Surprised Cleveland got the axe while Cincy is still in the running given Cleveland gets a lot of USMNT/WNT and CONCACAF games.

Cincy has an MLS team, Cleveland doesn't.