2022 FIFA World Cup Official Thread

[Phantom255x]

Hey guys, just wanted to start this thread in advance. WC starts in 5 days.

It's still a complete joke FIFA allowed Qatar to host this. I mean also, look at some of the restrictions they have in place (and there's obviously a lot of other ones too):



On a side note, my Dad's en route to India and he's stopping in Doha Airport (Qatar) just for a layover, and he said there were a lot of soccer fans it seemed waiting at Logan and on the flight lol.

When my family went to India last fall we took the same route and there were definitely a lot of World Cup advertisements in the airport and flight. Even the pre-flight video was soccer-based. Funny enough though usually when a country hosts the WC they put their own players on the posters but Qatar didn't, they had players from France, Portugal, Germany, Brazil, etc. on them haha

[Amonkey]

I am ready! Been looking forward to it for years. I agree that Qatar was a horrible choice and I hope the human rights abuse doesn't get swept under the rug. With that said, as much as FIFA screws up, it is still the greatest tournament of the world.

As a Brazilian, I look forward to rooting for my Brazil. I'll be rooting for team USA as they have a legit chance of making some noise. Married to a French woman, I'll reluctant root for France.

[Phantom255x]

Ecuador up 1-0 pretty quickly.

It's only been about 20 minutes but dang, Qatar may be one of the worst soccer teams I've seen 

And admittedly I've never heard of a single Qatar player before today

[Moranis]

Didn't watch but I heard Qatar had some solid looks and came close a few times

[ozgod]

Didn't watch but I heard Qatar had some solid looks and came close a few times

I saw the replay this morning, they looked overawed by the occasion. They only had 5 shots the whole game and only 2 on target. Not a good look to have half the stadium leave after halftime when they were down 2-0, I guess they weren't expecting any Brady-like comebacks 

England playing Iran now, then the USA playing Wales around 11 Eastern

[ozgod]

Maguire hits the post on a header off an England corner…will they regret that miss?

[ozgod]

And it doesn’t matter…great cross into the box from Luke Shaw and The teenager Bellingham heads it in from point blank range. England 1-0 at the 34th minute

[ozgod]

England have won this 3-0 at halftime it’s all over

[Moranis]

Didn't watch but I heard Qatar had some solid looks and came close a few times

I saw the replay this morning, they looked overawed by the occasion. They only had 5 shots the whole game and only 2 on target. Not a good look to have half the stadium leave after halftime when they were down 2-0, I guess they weren't expecting any Brady-like comebacks 

England playing Iran now, then the USA playing Wales around 11 Eastern

the US and Wales is at 2 eastern.  Senegal vs. Netherlands is at 11.

[ozgod]

Didn't watch but I heard Qatar had some solid looks and came close a few times

I saw the replay this morning, they looked overawed by the occasion. They only had 5 shots the whole game and only 2 on target. Not a good look to have half the stadium leave after halftime when they were down 2-0, I guess they weren't expecting any Brady-like comebacks 

England playing Iran now, then the USA playing Wales around 11 Eastern

the US and Wales is at 2 eastern.  Senegal vs. Netherlands is at 11.

Perfect will have time for lunch 

England 5-1 now, doing the US a favor if goal difference becomes a factor

[Phantom255x]

Didn't watch but I heard Qatar had some solid looks and came close a few times

I saw the replay this morning, they looked overawed by the occasion. They only had 5 shots the whole game and only 2 on target. Not a good look to have half the stadium leave after halftime when they were down 2-0, I guess they weren't expecting any Brady-like comebacks 

England playing Iran now, then the USA playing Wales around 11 Eastern

FWIW my family was at Doha Airport for a layover last year (October) and my Dad was a week ago too. In all their advertisements and posters there and in the planes, they showcased players for most teams (France, Senegal, Brazil, etc.) but none of their own teams which was very weird lol. Usually host countries have some of their own players advertised but not Qatar. And I definitely couldn't name a single Qatar player until the game yesterday lol

[Amonkey]

Excited. Although I am Brazilian, it's easy to get on team USA bandwagon. Today I am going to a watch party at North Station. Should be fun. Team USA needs a win against Wales then face what looks to be a strong England team.

[Moranis]

Didn't watch but I heard Qatar had some solid looks and came close a few times

I saw the replay this morning, they looked overawed by the occasion. They only had 5 shots the whole game and only 2 on target. Not a good look to have half the stadium leave after halftime when they were down 2-0, I guess they weren't expecting any Brady-like comebacks 

England playing Iran now, then the USA playing Wales around 11 Eastern

the US and Wales is at 2 eastern.  Senegal vs. Netherlands is at 11.

Perfect will have time for lunch 

England 5-1 now, doing the US a favor if goal difference becomes a factor

If goal differential is a factor between Iran and the US then things have gone wrong for the US.  goal differential between US and England though could matter and England with a +4 after game 1 is not helpful.

[Kuberski33]

Unless Iran is really bad - and I don't think they are - England likely wins the group after a result like that. Today is huge for the U.S. They need 3 points.

[ozgod]

Didn't watch but I heard Qatar had some solid looks and came close a few times

I saw the replay this morning, they looked overawed by the occasion. They only had 5 shots the whole game and only 2 on target. Not a good look to have half the stadium leave after halftime when they were down 2-0, I guess they weren't expecting any Brady-like comebacks 

England playing Iran now, then the USA playing Wales around 11 Eastern

the US and Wales is at 2 eastern.  Senegal vs. Netherlands is at 11.

Perfect will have time for lunch 

England 5-1 now, doing the US a favor if goal difference becomes a factor

If goal differential is a factor between Iran and the US then things have gone wrong for the US.  goal differential between US and England though could matter and England with a +4 after game 1 is not helpful.

I'm thinking of a scenario where England top the group unbeaten, the US draw with Wales and Iran, and Wales draw with Iran. That would leave all 3 teams on 2 points. I can't recall if the rules favor head to head or GD, I think it's GD but I could be wrong. But I would fancy our chances to beat Iran after watching them get dissected today, obviously England have class on the flanks but Iran looked very slow and ponderous. That way we would take GD out of the equation and might get away with a draw against Wales