~Soccer Thread~

[utee94]

Not that Canada deserves it, but whenever we play the Central American countries, I wish we'd let our supporters force us to use armed guards.

Or dissolve the continental confederations?

I'd like to see us abandon CONCACAF and join UEFA.

[Brutus Buckeye]

The 2021 US Open Cup has been cancelled. The winner gets a Champion's League bid, which will have to be awarded another way, tbd.

2021 Concacaf League is just underway, where the four semifinalists get a Champions League bid. It is mostly for the Central American and Caribbean teams, although the Canadian Premier League champion also gets a bid. This year it was Forge FC out of Hamilton Ontario, and they actually won a game in the opening round, knocking off El Salvador's Clausura champion, who is called FAS. They'd have to win two more games in order to get a champion's league bid. Up next is Independiente, which is the top team out of Panama. Both legs in late September (21-23, 28-30).

The Canadian Championship is another way that they can nab a Champion's League bid. The Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS were defeated in the opening round by nearby Pacific (CPL) out of Victoria, BC. So now Montreal and Toronto are the only remaining obstacles between the CPL and a Champion's League bid. Quarterfinals on Sept 15. Toronto will play York, which is Toronto's CPL team. Montreal Impact will play the Halifax Wanderers. Forge FC gets Valour out of Winnipeg. Pacific gets the Calgary Cavalry.

Mexico's 2022 Champion's League quartet has already been determined. Champions: Leon, Cruz Azul. Runners up: UNAM, Santos Laguna.

The only other spot that has already been decided is Calvary out of Haiti, who won the Caribbean Tournament. The only other "Caribbean" team that can still get in is actually in Suriname, which is technically in South America, but competes as a member of North America's Caribbean zone, for whatever reason. They have a similar Concacaf League situation as Forge FC, in that they'd have to win the next two rounds in order to nab a Champion's League bid. They had an opening round bye, and get Olimpia, which is the top team out of Honduras, right out of the gate.

And of course on Sept 15th is the second leg of the 2021 Champion's Legue semifinals, at which point the final USA team Philadelphia will likely bow out, already in a 2-0. Pretty high probability of an all Mexican final, which would suck.

[ELA]

I'd like to see us abandon CONCACAF and join UEFA.

On one hand yes, but on the other hand, travel disadvantage.  I put forth my plan for a World Cup qualifier that is a 3 year process, and dissolves the confederations.

[utee94]

On one hand yes, but on the other hand, travel disadvantage.  I put forth my plan for a World Cup qualifier that is a 3 year process, and dissolves the confederations.

We're the USA, we can manage the travel.

Not that abandoning CONCACAF is likely, but I'd say it's more likely than dissolving the confederations.  Those organizations exist on graft and corruption and I don't see them ever changing or relinquishing power.

[ELA]

We're the USA, we can manage the travel.

Not that abandoning CONCACAF is likely, but I'd say it's more likely than dissolving the confederations.  Those organizations exist on graft and corruption and I don't see them ever changing or relinquishing power.

Oh agreed, that will never happen

[ELA]

Big yikes.

I figured the summer momentum might at least make it past Labor Day week.

Way to not even qualify for the final two 32 team fields.  They'll likely never miss again considering they are hosting 2026, and it's 48 teams going forward, but Christ this is awful.

[ELA]

Damn, glad I DVRd the second half

[utee94]

Well, yeah!

[rolltidefan]

wcq window 2. need minimum 6 points here. sucks pulisic and reyna are both out. good to see mckinnie back, hopefully he can stay focused this time. and maybe pepi and antonee robinson can solidify the 2 weakest spots on our roster.

jamaica tonight. predictions? i'll go 2-nil usa.

[ELA]

wcq window 2. need minimum 6 points here. sucks pulisic and reyna are both out. good to see mckinnie back, hopefully he can stay focused this time. and maybe pepi and antonee robinson can solidify the 2 weakest spots on our roster.

jamaica tonight. predictions? i'll go 2-nil usa.

This Jamaican group hasn't looked as good as the last two cycles.  Need the home W today.  Agreed on the 6 points.  We open window 2 at Jamaica and then vs. Mexico, so don't want to enter November in must win situations.

[ELA]

Nice start considering the ref was in way over his head, and it should have been 11 on 10 the whole game; and 11 on 9 for over half of it.

[rolltidefan]

agreed. that's probably the most complete game we've played in 3 years. just looked pretty solid to really good from start to finish.

those missed calls were bad. real bad.

[ELA]

agreed. that's probably the most complete game we've played in 3 years. just looked pretty solid to really good from start to finish.

those missed calls were bad. real bad.

The second one was at least close.  The first one wasn't

[ELA]

Apparently Greg Berhalter thinks a team that didn't qualify for the WC last cycle, can qualify with a B squad this time?