With respect, only an American would think that the competition ceases to be interesting just because the US loses. This is already shaping up to be a really interesting WC with or without the US.

Political leaders intervening to give their countries an advantage is what makes it boring. Tilting the scales in favour of a country where you are trying to grow the sport may make financial sense in the short term but it makes for a more boring sport overall. Look at the the historically great teams like Brazil and Argentina, it's not like they have the success they do because FIFA decided that would be the most entertaining outcome. It's not wrestling.

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bhupy 4 hours ago | parent [-]

> With respect, only an American would think that the competition ceases to be interesting just because the US loses

With respect to you, I'm a lifelong football fan.

And read more carefully, the argument I am making is not that the competition ceases to be interesting because the US loses. The argument I am making is that the competition ceases to be interesting because the US doesn't get to field its best squad on account of a highly controversial on-field decision (itself downstream of a mis-application of VAR).

Let the chips fall where they may, should the USA lose after this, at least they got to make their best attempt at it. That's all I want as a spectator.

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ViewTrick1002 32 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

> The argument I am making is that the competition ceases to be interesting because the US doesn't get to field its best squad on account of a highly controversial on-field decision (itself downstream of a mis-application of VAR).

I don’t see much controversy. It is a clear red. Being suspended is the risk you face when challenging that hard.

You play with the team you have in the game. Players get injured, suspended or has previous yellows that would leads to a suspension if another is gotten.

That’s all part of the game.

	▲	bhupy 16 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		> I don’t see much controversy. It is a clear red. You're entitled to believe it was a red, but it is objectively controversial. It's not just about what you believe, but what about others might believe. If there are enough people that disagree with you, then it is by definition controversial. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7415223/2026/07/01/folarin-... > You play with the team you have in the game. Players get injured, suspended or has previous yellows that would leads to a suspension if another is gotten. > That’s all part of the game. Correct, and players can get re-instated (as happend with Cristiano Ronaldo in the very same tournament) by FIFA per Article 27. That is also part of the game. The Belgians now need to man up and play the game with a full squad rather than whine about not getting an easy fixture. Seriously just take a step back and take stock of what we are arguing here; it's not as though Belgium are being given a disadvantage, it is simply that they are being asked to play against the full squad. It is rather pathetic to complain about that.

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drivingmenuts 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Let the chips fall where they may, should the USA lose after this, at least they got to make their best attempt at it.

Well, that, and a President who interferes where he has no fucking business whatsoever and a governing body who kowtows to that same President.

This is just flat out cheating. But hey, fuck the rules, right? 'Cause our team got to compete.