Other Games - 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup Edition (+ warm-up matches): Villa-watch

[Somniloquism]

It definitely wasn't noticed in the Swiss game, (although I did think the player was level in the original picture anyway with just his arm being beyond the defender).

[Toronto Villa]

VVD perfectly articulating without calling out the obvious what we are all thinking about the “hydration breaks”

https://xcancel.com/bbcsport/status/2066464465273630843?s=46

[Dogtanian]

So the Canadians won't let Partey into the country on account of his pending sex offences trials, but in the US they're happy for him to come in and be given access to female students.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7355591/2026/06/14/thomas-partey-bryant-university-safeguarding-world-cup/

"...the Ghana midfielder was filmed interacting with children during a community event on Saturday at Bryant University..."

"The Athletic was told by one university official, upon condition of anonymity... that Partey’s status had been considered when deciding whether to host Ghana but it was decided the team could be kept in a bubble as the team bus would drop them off in an enclosed building and he would not come into contact with students."

[TopDeck113]

Curacao qualified by playing teams ranked between 71st and 189th. They didn’t qualify by developing and being good enough to beat anyone near the top 48 in the world.

Haiti - 83rd, Saint Lucia - 166th, Aruba - 189th, Barbados 179th, Jamaica - 71st, Trinidad and Tobago - 102nd, and Bermuda - 167th.

Saying that warrants competing in a World Cup is laughable.

Their path to qualification was also greatly helped by the fact that the three hosts are CONCACAF countries. 

[cdbearsfan]

Curacao qualified by playing teams ranked between 71st and 189th. They didn’t qualify by developing and being good enough to beat anyone near the top 48 in the world.

Haiti - 83rd, Saint Lucia - 166th, Aruba - 189th, Barbados 179th, Jamaica - 71st, Trinidad and Tobago - 102nd, and Bermuda - 167th.

Saying that warrants competing in a World Cup is laughable.

It's a World Cup, not every continent is going to have equal strength. It would be dull as fuck if half the teams were European. The balance is about right, IMO.

[Dogtanian]

Their path to qualification was also greatly helped by the fact that the three hosts are CONCACAF countries.

I didn't think of that, but yep that would make a big difference with two teams you would expect to qualify, plus Canada who would be competitive, removed from the process.

Another downside to multiple host nations. Maybe they should structure it so the hosts only get automatic qualification if their team is below a certain level.