2026 World Cup Thread. | The Boneyard

2026 World Cup Thread.

ZooCougar

ZooCougar

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The USA is hosting. We have a guaranteed berth. We have an exceptionally talented young squad albeit with some opportunities. This is a VERY appealing job.

Our Federation has a bottomless pit of money. And the motivation to make a deep run will be at an all time high.

Gregg is out of contract and the word is he wants to move on.

Given all the above we have the resources to hire whoever we want.

Who is your dream manager? Who in world football has proven they can take a young team for a cycle and make them into a group of killers? Time to think big.

Let’s hope the Fed doesn’t trot out Curtin, Marsch or Vermes. Definitely not Tata.

Go big. The biggest.
 
We will end up with Jesse Marsch assuming he gets sacked and can't find a Championship level gig or better.

I would like a cosch known for positionless football because that is what our squad is set up for.

It's really a catch-22. Do we play traditional hold up with a #9 who doesn't exist or do we play an overlapping slashing style with players who are not technically proficient enough to play that against top teams.

One thing In do want to see is more direct play like the old Leicester City teams. Let Reyna or Weah or whomever make middle runs from midfield.
 
....so find a world class Mahrez and flash in the pan generational guy like Jamie Vardy? Got it
 
I want Jesse to be very successful in the prem or Europe. We need to develop more coaches who can make the jump and not grab the first to coach the NT
 
LIuconn said:
....so find a world class Mahrez and flash in the pan generational guy like Jamie Vardy? Got it
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Tell me again how we scored our only two group goals? Got it.
 
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SubbaBub said:
We will end up with Jesse Marsch assuming he gets sacked and can't find a Championship level gig or better.

I would like a cosch known for positionless football because that is what our squad is set up for.

It's really a catch-22. Do we play traditional hold up with a #9 who doesn't exist or do we play an overlapping slashing style with players who are not technically proficient enough to play that against top teams.

One thing In do want to see is more direct play like the old Leicester City teams. Let Reyna or Weah or whomever make middle runs from midfield.
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Marsch is a more of a cheerleader type. And he has always been at odds with the Federation over god knows what.
 
ZooCougar said:
Marsch is a more of a cheerleader type. And he has always been at odds with the Federation over god knows what.
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Probably for ignoring him all these years. Bradley lasted a month in the EPL. Marsch will likely have other opportunities in top leagues if he finishes mid table this season even ifnhe gets sacked next season. Leeds is sitting 15 right now, which I think is precarious but not horrible considering he lost his two best players.

I don't necessarily want him for USMNT, but GGG has maxed out. Going into the next cycle many players (perhaps rightfully) will be too comfortable their spots are secure. Not the best case when you know you need the squad to level up. Some of these guys are peaking skill wise and perhaps professionally.
 
Why and how did we come to the place where we have to share hosting with the rest of North America?
 
John said:
Why and how did we come to the place where we have to share hosting with the rest of North America?
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Aa a hedge to the rampant corruption that brought us Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

Rather than the 3 nations competing against each other and losing. They decided to submit a 3 nation bid, though the US is thr clear lead host. Only 10 or so games will be played in Mex/Can and mostly by Mexico and Canada.

It also allowed FIFA to expand the tournament to 48 teams, which means more $$$ for FIFA and they like money.
 
I don't want Marsch. Leipzig was good before he took over, sucked when he managed there, then got good again after he got sacked. We need an international coach.
 
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UConn990411 said:
Why are we assuming Marsch gets sacked?
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Everyone gets sacked unless your name is Ferguson. He's an American coach sitting 15th with a team that thinks it should be playing UEFA football. He will get sacked this year or next. Certainly before 2026.
 
Fascinated to see what the format will be with 48 teams - don't love the early rumors of 16 groups of 3 with the top 2 moving on into a round of 32. In regard to the MNT coach, all I can say is that no manager should be in charge for more than 1 WC cycle.
 
SubbaBub said:
Probably for ignoring him all these years. Bradley lasted a month in the EPL. Marsch will likely have other opportunities in top leagues if he finishes mid table this season even ifnhe gets sacked next season. Leeds is sitting 15 right now, which I think is precarious but not horrible considering he lost his two best players.

I don't necessarily want him for USMNT, but GGG has maxed out. Going into the next cycle many players (perhaps rightfully) will be too comfortable their spots are secure. Not the best case when you know you need the squad to level up. Some of these guys are peaking skill wise and perhaps professionally.
Expand ...

I just think Marsch will get outfoxed like Berhalter did on Saturday. He’s also one of those emotional leaders.

I want the guy that wins the match before the ball is kicked.
 
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ZooCougar said:
I hate the 48 team format. It’s perfect the way it is.
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UEFA are about to ruin the Champions League as well and already bloated the Euros. It's become money over quality.
 
It was vital for the US to qualify for the 2024 Olympics. Will be interesting to see who the over 23s will be
 
LIuconn said:
It was vital for the US to qualify for the 2024 Olympics. Will be interesting to see who the over 23s will be
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Do we want to win or develop players? I say develop and I would put McKennie in the group with Musah to figure their stuff out. The third would be someone super excited to play in the Olympics or fill some hole in the roster. The odds of someone emerging to challenge MMA is low. I'd rather see more kids get a chance. I think Steffan would probably feel insulted, and I want to see the young keepers get a chance. I don't see either Steffan or Johnson as a threat to Turner right now. You'll want a young GK on the squad in 2026.
 
Here is my question, Hosts are automatically qualified. Are US, Mexico and Canada all three auto qualified? If so, how is that at all fair to CONCACAF?
 
HuskyHawk said:
Here is my question, Hosts are automatically qualified. Are US, Mexico and Canada all three auto qualified? If so, how is that at all fair to CONCACAF?
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The expectation is that all three will qualify automatically. There will still be 3.5 spots remaining for the rest of CONCACAF (which is the number in the current format). I think it evens out because the remaining countries don't have to deal with the U.S. or Mexico.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Here is my question, Hosts are automatically qualified. Are US, Mexico and Canada all three auto qualified? If so, how is that at all fair to CONCACAF?
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There's gonna be at least 3 more spots.
 
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shizzle787 said:
The expectation is that all three will qualify automatically. There will still be 3.5 spots remaining for the rest of CONCACAF (which is the number in the current format). I think it evens out because the remaining countries don't have to deal with the U.S. or Mexico.
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Waquoit said:
There's gonna be at least 3 more spots.
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So 6 teams instead of 4? I suppose that's great news for Panama, etc. Or is it more just due to expansion?
 
HuskyHawk said:
So 6 teams instead of 4? I suppose that's great news for Panama, etc. Or is it more just due to expansion?
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Due to more expansion. There are actually 6.5 spots - 3 hosts = 3.5 spots remaining for the rest of CONCACAF. The fourth team in qualifying would go into the inter-confederation playoffs.
 
shizzle787 said:
Due to more expansion. There are actually 6.5 spots - 3 hosts = 3.5 spots remaining for the rest of CONCACAF. The fourth team in qualifying would go into the inter-confederation playoffs.
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Well we have no excuse for ever missing a WC again if that's the case. There aren't 6 good teams in CONCACAF.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Well we have no excuse for ever missing a WC again if that's the case. There aren't 6 good teams in CONCACAF.
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That's kind of the point. FIFA expanded the WC for votes- from Africa, N. America, Asia, and Oceania. Oceania now gets 1.5 spots so New Zealand will qualify almost every time by default.
 
US, Mexico, and Canada were qualifying anyway in an expanded field. Expansion is being driven be three things.

1. Money
2. Access for more countries. There are more soccer playing nations now. Heck, there are more countries now.
3. Support for the current FIFA leadership from nations that want a chance at making the WC they usually don't come close, which is most nations. FIFA votes are one per country.
 
SubbaBub said:
US, Mexico, and Canada were qualifying anyway in an expanded field. Expansion is being driven be three things.

1. Money
2. Access for more countries. There are more soccer playing nations now. Heck, there are more countries now.
3. Support for the current FIFA leadership from nations that want a chance at making the WC they usually don't come close, which is most nations. FIFA votes are one per country.
Expand ...
This is all good though, right? Being the most popular sport in the world, spread the wealth a bit more...You've got your Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, Italy...they're like the P2 of soccer. Speaking of which, what is going on with the Azzurri?
 
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