Essential The Official Football (Soccer) Thread - The Slotification of Liverpool is nearly complete

[SCORCH]

and I so want that for you
@SCORCH you agree with him, right?
tell them this is their year

1000%.

Best team in Europe by a mile, one of the strongest squads around. Hard to believe but they still have Havetz to add to this. Madness.

 

[Roberto Firmino]

 

[hood b. goode]

and I so want that for you
@SCORCH you agree with him, right?
tell them this is their year

1000%.

Best team in Europe by a mile, one of the strongest squads around. Hard to believe but they still have Havetz to add to this. Madness.

 

[jj23]

@SCORCH gone off that henny

 

[bear27]

Keano beat the huns

 

[TobiOT]

Turning on breh, so quickly...

 

[jj23]

World Cup ticket prices: Fifa's prices a 'monumental betrayal' says Football Supporters Europe

Fans' group Football Supporters Europe says it is "astonished" by Fifa's "extortionate" pricing strategy for World Cup tickets.

www.bbc.co.uk

The for real with these ticket prices?

BBC Sport understands tickets for the final in MetLife Stadium, New York, are in three tiers:

'Supporter value tier' at £3,119 ($4,185).

'Supporter standard tier' at £4,162 ($5,560),

'Supporter premium tier' is £6,615 ($8,860)

 

[Roberto Firmino]

 

[hashmander]

semi ajayi, damn that's a blast from the hale end past.

 

[concise]

World Cup ticket prices: Fifa's prices a 'monumental betrayal' says Football Supporters Europe

Fans' group Football Supporters Europe says it is "astonished" by Fifa's "extortionate" pricing strategy for World Cup tickets.

www.bbc.co.uk

The for real with these ticket prices?

They said this tournament is going to be like 104 Super Bowls.

They then priced the tickets accordingly.

 

[hood b. goode]

This kid was playing florida high school soccer two years ago

Now hes going to AFCON for IC and starring in Bundesliga

 

[MajesticLion]

FIFA bribery charges dropped after Trump given peace prize under scrutiny

Social media users noted that the move to drop charges came shortly after President Donald Trump received a FIFA peace award.

www.newsweek.com

FIFA Bribery Charges Dropped After Trump Given Peace Prize Under Scrutiny​

Federal prosecutors in the U.S. moved to drop charges in a long-running international soccer bribery case on Tuesday, days after President Donald Trump received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.

The news has prompted scrutiny online, though there is no evidence of any connection between the award and prosecutors' move to dismiss the charges.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department told Newsweek in an emailed statement: “These prosecutions are not consistent with the current prosecutorial priorities of the United States, which direct the Department of Justice’s resources into Making America Safe Again.”

Why It Matters

Prosecutors' move to drop the charges is the latest turn in a high-profile case involving corruption at the highest levels of international soccer.

While there is no evidence of wrongdoing, the timing of the move—so soon after Trump's award—has prompted speculation.

What To Know

U.S. prosecutors asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to drop bribery charges against Hernan Lopez, a former Fox executive, and the Argentine sports marketing company Full Play Group.

Lopez was convicted in 2023 of conspiring to pay millions in bribes to secure broadcast rights for South American soccer tournaments, while Full Play was accused of coordinating and facilitating the bribes on behalf of broadcasters.

The charges were part of a wider U.S. probe into bribery schemes involving officials in FIFA-affiliated regional bodies, though FIFA itself was not charged.

Prosecutors said the government had determined that "dismissal of this criminal case is in the interests of justice."

Lopez told the Associated Press that he was relieved by the move to dismiss what he called baseless charges.

In Washington, D.C., on Friday, Trump was awarded the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 World Cup—which is scheduled to take place next summer in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented Trump with the award, which the organization says is intended to "reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world."

Commenting on the news that prosecutors had moved to drop the charges, CNN reporter Aaron Blake wrote on X: "A week after FIFA gave Trump a newly created award and made him a focal point of the World Cup draw. And with no real explanation."

Reporter Sam Stein wrote on X, "Amazing what a made up trophy can get you these days."

X user @covie_93 told 155,000 followers: "Makes sense now doesn't it??? trump's DOJ is dropping FIFA corruption case after he got a FIFA 'peace prize.'"

The award itself has drawn scrutiny, with a human rights group asking FIFA's Ethics Committee to investigate whether awarding Trump breached FIFA's rules on political neutrality.

Earlier this year, FIFA opened an office in Trump Tower in New York City, further signaling its growing relationship with the president.

What People Are Saying

Hernan Lopez said in a statement to the Associated Press: "The charges were baseless from the start, and I have fought for five years to clear my name."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino wrote on Instagram after the World Cup draw: "I was honored and delighted to present the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize—Football Unites the World award to U.S. President Donald J. Trump for his unwavering commitment to advancing peace and unity throughout the world through his notable leadership and action."

What Happens Next

The Supreme Court is now set to consider prosecutors' motion to return the case to a lower court, where a judge is expected to formally dismiss the indictment.

 

[phcitywarrior]

Glad that Akinsanmiro got in. I like that we have more midfielders in this squad than the 4-5 before.

I don’t know about Paul though.

Uzoho has no business coming to AFCON. Would have preferred Okoye

 

[Roberto Firmino]

Glad that Akinsanmiro got in. I like that we have more midfielders in this squad than the 4-5 before.

I don’t know about Paul though.

Uzoho has no business coming to AFCON. Would have preferred Okoye

Disappointing no Ola obviously, I’m happy with the midfielders.

Yea Paul a strange one and the kid that plays in Croatia too, would have liked to see the other Vic but he’s never played great for us and having a poor season for club.

I already said my feelings on Okoye many times

 

[phcitywarrior]

Disappointing no Ola obviously, I’m happy with the midfielders.

Yea Paul a strange one and the kid that plays in Croatia too, would have liked to see the other Vic but he’s never played great for us and having a poor season for club.

I already said my feelings on Okoye many times

There are some call ups from the U23s so it looks like we are grooming for the future. I can applaud that.

Ola Aina and Fredricks are both huge misses.

I know NFF three in a few picks here and there but all in all, good squad list.

I just want us to have a more balanced midfield. The Ndidi + Iwobi double pivot has to go