2026 World Cup to have 48 teams, 3 16 team groups?

Yes

 

Saw on twitter someone said if it’s the same as the past few tournaments it will be around Oct 2025.

 

Not that I was planning to shell out for a USA group stage match but 2 in LA and one in Seattle makes that an easy decision.

More I look at this… the East region also makes it hard to attend more than 3-4 matches in a one week span. My goal is to pack a suitcase and see as many games as I can in a week. Thought I might be able to do 5 or 6. Might have to cross Miami off and pick the best game in Atlanta and then head north.

 

Give me tickets in at least one game for each of Miami and Atlanta, I'll be content.

 

I might go to every game in Houston and try to go to a non Mexico game in mexico as well

 

Are they going to put out at some point where the winner and 2nd place team in each group will play in the knockout rounds? I have no interest in going to LA for a US group game so hoping to make a knockout one.

 

I will be doing everything I can to avoid the cringefest that is the usmnt

 

I imagine it’s still in those color code grouped cities.
Also 8 3rd place teams so not just 1 vs 2 for 2026.

 

sounds like they are waiting on that phase of it to force the cities to bid against each other for the premier teams

https://sports.yahoo.com/world-cup-...metlife-final-opener-locations-205256647.html

 

Sounds like we won't know for sure until December of 2025. I would hope once we get to the knockout stage teams don't just stay in their region. Would be completely idiotic for all US games to only be on the west coast.

 

I don’t think teams can be de can happen with how the bracket will work and 3rd place teams being in

edit: to clarify, I don’t think there is a way they can guarantee the US would be in any particular location in the knockout round

But I hope they do play in LA or Seattle again because fuck all you WC match-having cities.

 

Think you’re significantly closer to any WC host cities than Spontaneous and I

 

DC is the 6th largest metro area in the country and is consistently one of the top soccer markets. DC got an opening round Nations League match against Cuba in 2019. DC hasn’t gotten any other competitive match since 2011, I think (2015 including Baltimore)

Columbus is the 32nd largest metro area in the country and routinely gets premium WCQs and other CONCACAF matches.

 

I was not suggesting Ohio should have a host city, simply pointing out that you were saying that while quoting someone significantly further from a host city than you

 

was DC not getting a match just a consequence of FedEx being as shithole?

 

Yes and no - DC abandoned FedEx as a venue, and supported Baltimore/M&T’s bid

 

It’s not till the R16, but Philadelphia is hosting a match on July 4 and I’ll be surprised if the 1st place team in the U.S. group isn’t scheduled to play there if they win R32 match.

 

This will be FIFAs finest hour in service to the game and fans for sure.

 

Why wouldn’t you include Baltimore if you include them in your metro area?

 

Baltimore is its own metro area (20th largest in the country).

 

It’s included in the DC metro that ranks 6th though

 

no it isn’t

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_statistical_area

 

You right, I was thinking of this one (which is third)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington–Baltimore_combined_statistical_area

Carry on

 

did LA agree to sideline renovations or did FIFA drop that complaint?

farther but may try to go to any game out there , best June/July weather out of the hosts cities to make a trip out of it

 

I believe they’re doing the renovations. Still puzzles me for how much they spent on building it they couldn’t have just done this originally.

 

99% sure Infantino is on my flight from KC to LA. First class. Wearing an orange Barca jersey with a sports coat and some giant white beats. But wouldn’t he always fly private?