we may never have a day like yesterday again.
To what we have today?
First group stage is 16 groups of 3. Play two games. Top two advance to a second group stage of 32.
The linked Guardian article from yesterday has the latest conjecture. I suggest reading the whole article but here is an excerpt:
World Cup organisers are increasingly open to discarding the new three-team group format for the 2026 tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada. It comes after concerns that too many dead rubbers in the last round of matches could dilute the expanded, 48-team event.
Although Fifa’s official position remains unaltered, multiple sources say there have been “informal talks” and “corridor chats” in Doha about the benefits of going with 12 groups of four teams rather than 16 groups of three.
This year that worked really well. The big teams got byes for the first group stage. The minnows played an entire group stage and the top two from each group were added to what would be the equivalent of the pot 4 teams for the main tournament.
It sounds a bit like second class citizens, but it actually worked out really well. The play-in tournament was in the same location the week before the main event. The games between the minnows were intense and competitive. And the momentum they gained led to some interesting upsets in the main tournament.
I wouldn’t be upset with a minnows play-in tournament for pot 4 teams.
If Xhaka doesn't pick up a red card it will be a small miracle
Edit: loved that nit tug.
Xhaka redemption arc in full swing (of the nuts)
Top of the Prem!
That handball is one of those things. Just another ho hum item on a list with way worse shit on it.