[BostonCard]

Two items of interest:

One, I note with muted interest that the World Cup Finals kicked off in Russia today, with the hosts beating Saudi Arabia 5-nil.  As we discussed at length when it happened, the USMNT did not qualify for the Finals.

Two, I noted with slightly more interest that FIFA decided that having another World Cup Finals in a sparsely populated desert nation (Morocco) is probably too much, and as much as they may have been tempted to punish the US for blowing the lid on the massive corruption racket that is FIFA, they awarded the 2026 World Cup Finals to a joint US/Mexico/Canada bid, that is provided that we can stay out of a war with our Northern Neighbor (who, it is alleged burned down the White House during the War of 1812).

Now that we have a trackless field, there is no chance that Stanford Stadium gets to host again, and, in any case, a lot has changed since 1994.

But I do have fond memories of watching World Cup matches at the Rose Bowl.

BC

[BostonCard]

Two items of interest:

One, I note with muted interest that the World Cup Finals kicked off in Russia today, with the hosts beating Saudi Arabia 5-nil.  As we discussed at length when it happened, the USMNT did not qualify for the Finals.

Two, I noted with slightly more interest that FIFA decided that having another World Cup Finals in a sparsely populated desert nation (Morocco) is probably too much, and as much as they may have been tempted to punish the US for blowing the lid on the massive corruption racket that is FIFA, they awarded the 2026 World Cup Finals to a joint US/Mexico/Canada bid, that is provided that we can stay out of a war with our Northern Neighbor (who, it is alleged burned down the White House during the War of 1812).

Now that we have a trackless field, there is no chance that Stanford Stadium gets to host again, and, in any case, a lot has changed since 1994.

But I do have fond memories of watching World Cup matches at the Rose Bowl.

BC

[slide]

Two items of interest:

One, I note with muted interest that the World Cup Finals kicked off in Russia today, with the hosts beating Saudi Arabia 5-nil.  As we discussed at length when it happened, the USMNT did not qualify for the Finals.

Two, I noted with slightly more interest that FIFA decided that having another World Cup Finals in a sparsely populated desert nation (Morocco) is probably too much, and as much as they may have been tempted to punish the US for blowing the lid on the massive corruption racket that is FIFA, they awarded the 2026 World Cup Finals to a joint US/Mexico/Canada bid, that is provided that we can stay out of a war with our Northern Neighbor (who, it is alleged burned down the White House during the War of 1812).

Now that we have a trackless field, there is no chance that Stanford Stadium gets to host again, and, in any case, a lot has changed since 1994.

But I do have fond memories of watching World Cup matches at the Rose Bowl.

BC

48 teams, existing venues and other infrastructure (final game at MetLife?) plus 11 billion other reasons evidently attracted FIFA's attention.  given FIFA's MO, the latter was probably highest on their list

[slide]

Two items of interest:

One, I note with muted interest that the World Cup Finals kicked off in Russia today, with the hosts beating Saudi Arabia 5-nil.  As we discussed at length when it happened, the USMNT did not qualify for the Finals.

Two, I noted with slightly more interest that FIFA decided that having another World Cup Finals in a sparsely populated desert nation (Morocco) is probably too much, and as much as they may have been tempted to punish the US for blowing the lid on the massive corruption racket that is FIFA, they awarded the 2026 World Cup Finals to a joint US/Mexico/Canada bid, that is provided that we can stay out of a war with our Northern Neighbor (who, it is alleged burned down the White House during the War of 1812).

Now that we have a trackless field, there is no chance that Stanford Stadium gets to host again, and, in any case, a lot has changed since 1994.

But I do have fond memories of watching World Cup matches at the Rose Bowl.

BC

48 teams, existing venues and other infrastructure (final game at MetLife?) plus 11 billion other reasons evidently attracted FIFA's attention.  given FIFA's MO, the latter was probably highest on their list

[g1313]

Now that we have a trackless field, there is no chance that Stanford Stadium gets to host again, and, in any case, a lot has changed since 1994.

Do you mean because we no longer have the seating capacity? At 50K, Stanford Stadium is actually bigger than 10 of the 12 Russian venues this year. However, it looks like for the 2026 bid, the potential American host cities are all using NFL stadiums, at around 70K capacity (Levi's is the local candidate)

Stanford does continue to host some soccer games - the LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes rivalry game is usually played here.

[g1313]

Now that we have a trackless field, there is no chance that Stanford Stadium gets to host again, and, in any case, a lot has changed since 1994.

Do you mean because we no longer have the seating capacity? At 50K, Stanford Stadium is actually bigger than 10 of the 12 Russian venues this year. However, it looks like for the 2026 bid, the potential American host cities are all using NFL stadiums, at around 70K capacity (Levi's is the local candidate)

Stanford does continue to host some soccer games - the LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes rivalry game is usually played here.

[Canalejas]

I was so happy to watch México upset Germany.  Cheering for El Tri before I moved to the US is my earliest sporting memory.  Back then I was mostly in it for the silly mascots.

[Canalejas]

I was so happy to watch México upset Germany.  Cheering for El Tri before I moved to the US is my earliest sporting memory.  Back then I was mostly in it for the silly mascots.

[BobK]

Our new stadium isn’t wide enough for world cup soccer.

[BobK]

Our new stadium isn’t wide enough for world cup soccer.

[PVTree]

I was so happy to watch México upset Germany.  Cheering for El Tri before I moved to the US is my earliest sporting memory.  Back then I was mostly in it for the silly mascots.

I watched the game intently, suffering with every German attack, fearing that they were going to tie the game. I was elated when the final whistle blew. I thought Mexico could have won by 2 or 3 goals if they converted half of their breakaway runs.

I was there with "Pique" in Mexico 86 (El Mundo unido por un balon). Got to see Brasil- Poland, Brasil-France, and Germany-France. Saw Zico and Platini miss penalty kicks. Awesome environment and hope to experience it again in 2026.

[PVTree]

I was so happy to watch México upset Germany.  Cheering for El Tri before I moved to the US is my earliest sporting memory.  Back then I was mostly in it for the silly mascots.

I watched the game intently, suffering with every German attack, fearing that they were going to tie the game. I was elated when the final whistle blew. I thought Mexico could have won by 2 or 3 goals if they converted half of their breakaway runs.

I was there with "Pique" in Mexico 86 (El Mundo unido por un balon). Got to see Brasil- Poland, Brasil-France, and Germany-France. Saw Zico and Platini miss penalty kicks. Awesome environment and hope to experience it again in 2026.

[BostonCard]

Now that we have a trackless field, there is no chance that Stanford Stadium gets to host again, and, in any case, a lot has changed since 1994.

Do you mean because we no longer have the seating capacity? At 50K, Stanford Stadium is actually bigger than 10 of the 12 Russian venues this year. However, it looks like for the 2026 bid, the potential American host cities are all using NFL stadiums, at around 70K capacity (Levi's is the local candidate)

Stanford does continue to host some soccer games - the LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes rivalry game is usually played here.

A FIFA regulation soccer pitch is 110–120 yards (100–110 m) long by 70–80 yards (64–73 m) wide. This compares to a football field width of 53 1⁄3 yards (48.8 m).  With the track around it, Stanford stadium's field could be widened by enough to get the entire field in and have room for benches and sidelines.  Without the track, that is impossible.

Lots of reasons that the World Cup wouldn't be held at Stanford Stadium, but the fact that we can't have a regulation soccer field on it is absolutely disqualifying. 

BC

[BostonCard]

Now that we have a trackless field, there is no chance that Stanford Stadium gets to host again, and, in any case, a lot has changed since 1994.

Do you mean because we no longer have the seating capacity? At 50K, Stanford Stadium is actually bigger than 10 of the 12 Russian venues this year. However, it looks like for the 2026 bid, the potential American host cities are all using NFL stadiums, at around 70K capacity (Levi's is the local candidate)

Stanford does continue to host some soccer games - the LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes rivalry game is usually played here.

A FIFA regulation soccer pitch is 110–120 yards (100–110 m) long by 70–80 yards (64–73 m) wide. This compares to a football field width of 53 1⁄3 yards (48.8 m).  With the track around it, Stanford stadium's field could be widened by enough to get the entire field in and have room for benches and sidelines.  Without the track, that is impossible.

Lots of reasons that the World Cup wouldn't be held at Stanford Stadium, but the fact that we can't have a regulation soccer field on it is absolutely disqualifying. 

BC