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.

[PaulWinch again]

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.

Agree entirely. I’m not a fan of expanding it particularly, but balancing out the regional representation is key to it being interesting. Would adding three European teams instead of Curacao, Panama, and New Zealand make it a higher quality tournament? Almost certainly. Would it be a better World Cup in terms of what it should - I stress should - be there to do? No.

[Toronto Villa]

Tunisia manager booted after last nights loss.

[Sexual Ealing]

Tunisia manager booted after last nights loss.

Good opportunity for Robbie Keane to take over his boyhood nation.

[Dave]

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.

Agree entirely. I’m not a fan of expanding it particularly, but balancing out the regional representation is key to it being interesting. Would adding three European teams instead of Curacao, Panama, and New Zealand make it a higher quality tournament? Almost certainly. Would it be a better World Cup in terms of what it should - I stress should - be there to do? No.

The equivalent argument can easily be made to the European club competition. Would it be a more competitive Champions League next season if they found a way to stop the national champions of Belgium and Ukraine from competing, and instead stuck AC Milan and Chelsea in there? Probably.

Would some viewers across the world prefer it if if were just the top five from England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy every year and screw the rest? Again, probably.

Would it make it better. Absolutely not.

[Dogtanian]

Wonder if they will make him ride the team plane home.

[PeterWithesShin]

The water breaks can be frustrating when they aren't needed but imo it's fairer that that they are in every game rather than just those that are needed.

[Dogtanian]

The water breaks can be frustrating when they aren't needed but imo it's fairer that that they are in every game rather than just those that are needed.

I do think they shouldn't be allowed to coach or do team talks in them though.

Stick the 'water' over the other side and blast the coaches with a water cannon if they try and get near them.

[cdbearsfan]

I've no issue with the water breaks. It's really hot and, as PWS says, better that they have them every game than some. Seems like an absolutely nothing thing that really annoys Boomers.

[PeterWithesShin]

What should happen is that FIFA officals take the drinks out to the players in the center circle. No coaching that way.