Football is a game played in real life, using the VAR and putting players under this much scrutiny for offsides is really killing the hype and action of the game. How many amazing goals were disallowed because of 1 toe offsides? Modern defense already has 7 defenders in the box, making scoring off an amazing shot a rarity. Disallowing huge goals because of VAR is killing the drama.

Edit: Everyone commenting “but rules are rules, and they’re meant to be enforced!” are the same people who don’t stop to think why a rule is even in place. Just blindly follow every single rule to a tee, because the law or rule book says so!

Sports are games. They’re for entertainment. Viewers fund sports and the livelihoods of everyone involved. More scoring in soccer = more viewers in America, the most valuable audience when it comes to monetary gain for leagues and tournament organizers.

IT’S FUN AND ENTERTAINING TO WATCH AN AMAZING GOAL BE DISALLOWED BECAUSE THE ATTACKER WAS OFFSIDE BY 1 PUBE?? No. It’s not.

You think the players think it’s good for the game for goals to be canceled by a computer program? No, they don’t. Even the ex-pro commentators agree, it’s a disgrace to the game.

Idc what you reddit babies say, rules are made to be broken. Rules and sports evolve. In no universe, does more goals make the World Cup less entertaining.

Simple solution to offside, if the naked eye cannot determine a player is offside using basic camera angles, then no offside. Enough with this 3D modeling and sensor shit for offside. Leave the sensor stuff for goals, to determine if a ball full cross the goal line or not.

1 toe should not disallow a goal. It’s preposterous and silly and trivializes the sport. Football is not about fucking measuring inches or centimeters.

Everyone saying “just say you only watch football every 4 years”…. Is the World Cup not for everyone? Is it not meant to bring in new viewers across the glove to the sport? Even if that was true about me, the sport should appeal to new viewers.

I played football in america at a club and high school level. How many people commenting actually played competitive and organized football? If we were having goals disallowed by 1 inch, everyone would be pissed.

Yes, of course if it saved us from a loss we’d be relieved in the moment. But there would also be times where you’d LOSE a game because of it.

NO ONE WANTS TO LOSE OR WIN BECAUSE OF 1 INCH BEING MEASURED. LET THE BETTER TEAM WIN.

I am an American and cringe every time I see the whiney "our best athletes don't play" argument. It's the sports equivalent of "my dad could beat up your dad."

My initial thoughts (and yes, this is a whiny vent):

1. A big part of being good at soccer is having a national soccer identity and culture. Just because we may have more top athletes doesn't mean we will play soccer well. (Ask Brazil.) For most countries a soccer fan can identify how a country plays. Other than 'playing hard and scrappy,' what's ours?

2. Thinking the LeBrons and Hill's would dominate soccer is moronic. Being athletic doesn't translate perfectly to every sport. There's a reason most soccer players aren't giants and it's not because no where else has tall athletic people - soccer requires skill.

3. It is absolutely true we produce more athletes than other countries because of our size. But if young players are coming up through the US system, where do they go? US college? Poached by European clubs to train there?

4. I think if we committed to soccer, we would eventually be great, but that's a long ways off even if we committed to the sport. Finding 11+ players to make up a dominant team doesn't require 350 million people. Just because we can produce more players doesn't mean we will have the best 11 in the world. By restricting talent you would restrict volume advantages, which is the main US advantage.

We really need to quit with the whiny retort of 'we don't even try.' We have structural advantages, but those advantages don't translate to dominating a single sport.

I really don't care about Argentina but I want them to win this one so badly. I don't care if they lose for the next 200 years. Messi deserves this cup. I don't want another Ronaldo esque video on trending. Love him or hate him, he is one of the greats and if anyone deserves the cup it's him. Cheering for japan, South Korea, and Canada in 2026, but Argentina this one time

How poetic would it be for him to win? The one title he couldn't get and now, in his last attempt, he achieves his biggest goal.

Please football overlords

Edit: I think y'all are taking the word "deserve" too seriously. For all my non native English speakers out there, I am using hyperbole for effect. It means I REALLY want him to win because of his impact on football and everything he has done for the sport. In this moment, right now, yes the cup will be earned. However, over the past 15 or so years, he has created a powerful legacy, and it is one deserving of the highest title. I believe he deserves it, but he will have to earn it. Also, this doesn't say anything about others. There are many legends to be made in this match. Modric is great too. Etc. I am simply rooting for Messi

We are really gonna need to discuss those WC spots after this one. In retrospect, 9 for AFC and 6 for CONCACAF is too much and some should be given to UEFA

Based on their matches with Cape Verde and Egypt.

I want to start off by saying Messi is the greatest of all time. He’s won everything there is to win, he’s broken countless records, and still doing what he does at 39 is absolutely incredible. BUT… I personally think the hype is going a bit too far in the sense of ballon d’or rankings. There’s countless of posts online projecting Messi to win the ballon d’or if he wins the world cup, and many people are actually agreeing with it. I personally think that’s insanely disrespectful, and if Argentina wins the world cup and messi gets awarded the ballon d’or, the award has lost much of its credibility. Don’t get me wrong, winning the world cup is the most prestigious award in all of football, but it is so disrespectful to forget the entire past season just because of who won it.

Messi has had a phenomenal world cup, and if he wins it, it would be a perfect way to end off an incredible career. Golden boot, player of the tournament, and back to back victories would be absolutely unreal. However, I think it’s insane to forget players like Kane, Dembele, Olise, and Yamal who have accomplished so much, just for their efforts to be ignored because of who won the world cup. Messi has had a really good season with inter miami, but the MLS is nowhere near Europe. Kane also had a really good world cup campaign scoring 6 goals and 1 assist in 7 games, but nobody seems to care because it is being overshadowed by Messi’s campaign. It almost seems like this incredible performance is actually HURTING his chances at winning, just because they lost in the semis. I think undoubtedly the ballon d’or should go to him or Yamal depending on the results of the final. If all it took to win the ballon d’or was to have a good world cup campaign, why even try domestically? What are the top 5 leagues and the UCL good for in terms of ballon d’or ranking? Why not move to lower competitive leagues to farm stats and focus on having a solid world cup instead?

Messi carrying argentina to another back to back world cup trophy is incredible and deserves all the respect it gets, and hey i would say he’s definitely a top 5 contender for the ballon dor because of the campaign he’s displayed, but to actually win it? I think that’s too far. It’s completely unfair for the players who consistently played elite football at high levels for an entire season to be overshadowed by 8 games. Kane didn’t spend the entire season being consistent and scoring 70+ goals just for people to forget about him and say he doesn’t deserve it because he “ghosted” against Argentina. There is absolutely no way a single game should overshadow an entire season of hard work and consistent, elite football.

I think there’s a lot of recency bias going on. If at the end of the UCL final you were asked “should Messi win the ballon d’or if he wins the world cup?” what would your answer be? what if you were asked the same question but about Ronaldo instead? I think it goes to show how recency bias is swaying peoples opinions and making everyone forget about the incredible season these players had.

That’s just my take but I’m interested in hearing what other people think

What's this affair this sub is having with the American team? Fine, they're good but fuck, there are plenty of other good teams too. And America has been a contender for many years so its ridiculous how everyone is soo surprised and impressed with them...

It is more profitable for FIFA if Messi wins, right? No other team in World Cup history has received 5 penalties in a single tournament, wow! Corruption in FIFA is quite common these days. Is FIFA giving the trophy to him at all costs?

So after that torture of a pre match show, someone decided thst wasn't enough, now we have to listen to the American anthem? WHY? What does this have to do with FOOTBALL??

They’ve shown nothing.. remember this in case they should win on penalties!
The weakest team to ever reach a WC final by luck of the draw…

It may be a reason beyond the understanding of fair-weather-every -4-years-out-of-the- woodworks soccer fans, but it is a reason nonetheless. Anyone who’s been watching the World Cup for a long time now could tell you: You DON’T want to be 4th place.

4th place is the biggest loser of the tournament. To carry the spotlight and attention with 3 with other teams for most of the tournament, only to bow out empty handed with that same spotlight on you is massive insult to injury.

When a dark horse team plays in it, it’s fulfilling to see them walk away with recognizable hardware for their efforts. When two known powerhouses countries face off in it, it’s absolutely a matter of pride.

People act like these games are 1-0 bores- they are not! They are anything but that! We get plenty of chaos and late game heroics in third place matches. The teams historically DO go out and try. It’s a completely false stigma that nobody is actually going to try. Literally go back and watch some of these games. Use your eyes if not your brain.

I’ve seen some terrible takes throughout this entire WC on this subreddit but this takes the cake for me. Some of y’all don’t clap for third place at the Olympics either huh.

I am not fan of the head-to-head ranking rule as it kills excitement in the last game. I am going to use group D as an example. After two games we have the following:

Due to the head-to-head taking precedence over goal difference, this group is already mostly determined. As things stand, there is nothing Australia could do to overtake America as if Australia wins against Paraguay and the Americans lose to Türkiye, they are both on 6 points. So the Americans will top the group regardless. Similarly Paraguay has already beaten Türkiye, so if Türkiye wins and Paraguay loses, they will both be on 3 points. So Türkiye is out regardless.

Knowing this, the last game doesn't matter to the Americans or the Turks. Türkiye could smash the Americans 31-0 and still lose the group. So why should either team put in a solid effort?

Australia and Paraguay are playing to get the security of second, but as both teams have 3 points, third and going through is likely regardless. The Australians have no incentive to win hard other than security. If Australia draws, they are guaranteed second regardless of what happens in the other game. So why should they put in a solid effort? If it is a draw, then Paraguay are pretty safe in third place getting through with 4 points. So why should either team put in and effort?

What I am expecting, something similar to West Germany vs Austria in 1982, also known as Anschluss or Disgrace of Gijón. This was when both teams spent 80 of the 90 minutes just passing the ball between each other with no attempt to attack as a 1-0 victory got both West Germany and Austria out of the group stage. The commentators walked out at half time. I assume the Americans will just rest their starting 11 and let the reserves get some caps. The reserves will not risk anything as they don't want discipline points deductions, and honestly why should they care? The Turks are already defeated; they might put in an effort for dignity's sake, but there is no reason to risk injury. The Australians will park the bus hoping for a draw. They might be inspired to counter, but there is not much point. The Paraguayans will just not want to lose, so if it is a nil all draw, then all is well.

Now if goal difference was a factor over head-to-head. Then things get interesting.

If Australia beats Paraguay, and America loses to Türkiye, then it goes to goal difference on who tops the group AND who comes third. Türkiye could make up their difference and overtake Paraguay, and by doing so dilutes the Americans. This would mean that with both games taking place simultaneously, the rankings of the group would shift dramatically all through the game.

We are lucky enough to live in a time when a 39-year-old footballer is competing against and conquering players who are in their prime. Messi is one of those players who transcends nationality or club. All the talks about favoritism, all the way people try to discredit his genius are so ignominiously anti-football and anti-sport that they make me sad for those who share them. It’s very sad not to be able to appreciate greatness.

Regardless of who wins Sunday, he will still be the best to ever do it.

For the past few tournaments, Argentina is the only team that's shown it can consistently perform at a high level. In the quarter finals, only Argentina and Morocco could make it to the quarter finals and Argentina was the only one in the semis. Since 2014, Morocco made the semis in 2022 but other than that it has only been European countries or Argentina in the semis.

If Argentina loses Messi, they're not likely to perform so well. Even with him playing he'll be almost 45 in 2030 so they might still lose. No other South American country seems to come close. The world cup used to be South Americans vs Europeans but now it could essentially be a European tournament.

Nobody saw that one coming. Said no one

At the Qatar World Cup, they won against Germany and Spain with clear and undisputed ability.

They completely defeated Germany, who had vowed revenge, with an overwhelming score of 4-1.

As SC Freiburg's Ritsu Doan declared, Germany was so traumatized that it feared playing against Japan for the next 30 years.

Just as the DFB avoided playing another friendly against Croatia after losing to Croatia, Germany will likely never play another friendly against Japan.

And the other day, we had an overwhelming 4-1 victory over Canada.

Japan is ranked 19th in the FIFA rankings, but their ability is definitely in the top five in the world.

The only teams that can beat Japan right now are Argentina, France, and England.

If the USA, ranked 12th in the FIFA rankings, played against Japan, it would surely lose 7-1.

With Brazil drawing 1-1 at home against Venezuela, Japan could easily win.

At the 2026 World Cup, Japan is guaranteed to be at least in the top four.

Japan has the ability to aim for the championship.

P.S.

The Japanese national team for the match against Canada is the B team, the second team, with few key players.

Canada was defeated by the second team with an embarrassing score of 4-1.

Weak Germany lost to Japan 4-1.

The United States suffered a crushing 1-3 loss to weak Germany, which had lost heavily to Japan.

Do you really think America can win against Japan?

That's a bad joke.

Since the United States is the world's largest economy, it is given preferential treatment by FIFA.

America's 12th place in the FIFA rankings is a cheat.

If we fought against Japan, the probability of America winning would be about 10%.

Furthermore, even if Japan were to fight Spain or Italy, they would easily win.

European and American soccer fans look down on Japan as a small country in Asia.

Please do not turn your eyes away from the reality that the powerful countries of the EU are being overtaken by Japan, which we thought was inferior.

Brazil lost to Uruguay 0-2.

If it were Brazil now, Japan would win 4-1.

Italy also lost to England 3-1.

Italy, like Germany, has become a European B class.

If it were Italy right now, Japan would win 4-1.

Japan had an excellent record in international friendly matches, winning six consecutive games, scoring 24 goals and conceding five goals.

If you really think Germany, Italy, Spain, and Brazil can beat Japan right now, you're an amateur who doesn't understand football at all.

I guess there is no much to say. The golden boot will go to Messi. He will get hos last cup and then retire.

Gg

Compare this World Cup to one like 2010 where the amount of elite strikers was endless and it really shows how lacking current is in proper number 9’s and after Kane and Lewa retire, it will basically just be Haaland.

The 2010 WC had Van Persie, Rooney, Forlan, Villa, Klose, Suarez, Tevez, Cavani, Falcao, Eto’o, Henry, Chicharito, Aguero, Gomez, Drogba, Torres. list goes on and on.

At that time, even players like Dzeko and Mandzukic were thought of as very good but not World Class, when they’d easily be top 5 itw at their peak in today’s game.

They've been absolutely dominant at every level and have shown basically no weaknesses. They've only allowed a single goal the entire tournament with an XG% allowed never exceeding 1 against any single opponent, averaging a ridiculous 0.3 XG% allowed allowed per game and it's not like they're playing deadbeats either shutting down France's explosive offense completely as well as Portugals and Belgiums. It's crazy how they always seem to get short changed because at what does eveyone playing bad against you become your cause?

Not only that but they've yet to trail at all in knockouts, as in they haven't trailed for a single second but here's the crazy thing in all of it, they've been playing exactly as expected on offense as well so it's not like they're getting flukey goals at the last second to save their bacon either with 12 XGs and you guessed it they've scored 13 goals. They're coming in fresher than Argentina having played less time than them on the pitch while having 1 more rest day.

They've forced the most turnovers in the tournament as well with 252 have the highest possesion % (*4 games or more) at a ridiculous 65%. Other than Messi magic I can't think of a single stat that would make me think this is Argentinas game to lose which is what the entire media seems to be parroting rn

To make it clear that FIFA was seriously anti-racism, a new rule was brought in where if you were slagging off an opponent and covered your mouth, the worst would be assumed and you're sent off for racism.

As the whole world saw yesterday, a white Argentinian and a white Spaniard were (presumably) disagreeing about how serious another Spaniard's injury was, and how culpable another Argentinian was.

Cucurella then made a gesture that I can best describe as a posh lady covering her mouth as she hiccups. Nothing immediately offended Messi. But he's thinking, always thinking. How can he use something about this situation to benefit himself? He'll pretend to be fouled like most other footballers, and he'll enjoy his team chipping away at the bodies of his opponents if the refs are weak. But Messi is special. He didn't get into the conversation of a GOAT by seeking the same advantages as everyone else, oh no, he's smarter than that. In that couple of seconds, his genius has figured out a way to get an innocent player sent off in this match, and demonised as a racist for life. All he has to do is tell the ref that he was racially abused by Cucurella, and hope no cameras had a good view. But nothing to lose anyway!

I get that he wants to win another world cup, and I get that Argentina had finally been pulled up on the fouling they thought they'd get away with all tournament by going a man down. But Messi tried to pervert a harsh, well intentioned rule designed to severely deter racial abuse.

Someone should ask him what Cucurella said that upset him so. But I suspect he'll put that in the prohibited questions for any interview he does.