World Cup 2026 Archives - Sibling Rivalry

Sometimes More is Better: Defending FIFA’s 48-team World Cup

Hal Phillips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:04:08 +0000

Few folks would dare express public admiration for FIFA. Only newly beholden soccer association officials carrying suitcases full cash do that. In fact, open disdain for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association may be the only thing that unites proper fans in all 211 member nations. However, in its unquenchable lust for revenue, FIFA has [...]

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Belgium traps USMNT in Waffle House of Horrors

Hal Phillips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:05:26 +0000

Monday night’s USMNT exit was gutting, but we shouldn’t be too surprised. We knew Tim Ream, for all his qualities, was playing on borrowed time. We knew there a howler coming from such an inexperienced keeper. And we knew there would be massive karmic fallout from Dear Leader’s vainglorious meddling. But I wasn’t expecting the [...]

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US-Belgium Preview: A Single Goal Could Win It — Where will it come from?

Hal Phillips — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 21:17:25 +0000

We’ve barely noticed how well the U.S. back line has played in this tournament, what with distractions like Pulisic’s injury watch, Balogun’s B.S. red card, and a blizzard of American goals. Yet Pochettino’s back three has been superb because it works specifically in context of our midfield five. We may have to shut out the [...]

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USMNT Final Roster Observations & Idle Gossip

Hal Phillips — Wed, 27 May 2026 19:26:45 +0000

It's getting real, folks. The World Cup is but two weeks away. Mauricio Pochettino has issued his final, 26-man U.S. Men’s National Team roster. Here’s what it tells us: Other than Tanner Tessman staying home, no roster surprises — only alignment questions and a couple puzzlers. It seems El Mister is committed to a back [...]

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Excerpt: The Continuing Education of Rafa Marquez

Hal Phillips — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:28:00 +0000

Rafa Marquez is a thoroughly modern figure. In the twenty-first century, no one has wielded more influence on the fortunes and reputations of Mexican soccer. The modern game is a global game, so it follows that Rafa made much of his mark, for himself and his countrymen, abroad. In 1999, he left the security [...]

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FIFA Introduces New ‘Dynamism’ to World Cup Ticketing Grift

Hal Phillips — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 21:41:15 +0000

The bleak, hyper-lux reality of World Cup ticket pricing is beginning to sink into the global futbol consciousness, and with FIFA itself. How do we know the latter? Because FIFA president Gianni Infantino sounds in increasingly defensive, claiming that without extortionate 2026 tournament revenues, “There would be no football in 150 countries in the [...]

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