@puckandrally And what's great about the UK scene is that even lower division "small" teams have their own grounds. Here even Chicago's top soccer club is just now building themselves a stadium in the city. I wish I could go cheer on a third division team at some tiny west side stadium.
What has happened at the #2026WorldCup over the last 48 hours:
• Swiss footballer Embolo's visa was put under review and he was only able to join his team days later.
• Iraqi national team player Aymen Hussein was held for questioning for nearly 7 hours upon entering the United States.
• The Iranian national team spent days dealing with visa procedures at the U.S. Consulate in Türkiye. The U.S. only allowed them entry on match days. Fifteen members of the delegation were denied visas.
• Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named CAF's Best African Referee of 2025, was denied a visa. Despite travelling to the U.S. with a diplomatic passport, he was refused entry and sent back. FIFA announced that he will not be able to officiate at the tournament.
• The South African national team arrived in the United States much later than planned because part of the delegation was not granted visas.
• Members of the Senegal national team staff were forced to remove their shoes and subjected to lengthy searches, sparking accusations of racism.
• The Uzbekistan national team was searched with bomb-sniffing dogs and the footage went viral in international media.
• Some Scottish supporters, despite being eligible to enter the U.S. visa-free under the ESTA programme, had their travel authorisations revoked just days before departure.
• Many supporters who had already bought tickets and booked accommodation had their visa applications rejected, resulting in financial losses.
This is utter bullshit. When Indonesia refused to grant the Israeli under 17 team visa’s for the 2023 U-20 World Cup, FIFA stripped Indonesia’s hosting rights and moved it to Argentina. So @FIFAcom can stop with the lies.
🇺🇸 ESTADOS UNIDOS HUMILLA A UZBEKISTÁN 🇺🇿😳
Lo ocurrido a la llegada de Uzbekistán al Icahn Stadium de Nueva York ha generado una enorme polémica.
La selección asiática fue sometida a un protocolo de seguridad nunca antes visto para un simple partido amistoso. Revisiones exhaustivas, controles desproporcionados y un trato que muchos califican como degradante para una delegación internacional.
El momento más tenso llegó cuando un oficial de seguridad le gritó al utilero uzbeko: “¡ALÉJESE DE LOS BOLSOS!”.
Jamás se había visto una requisa de esta magnitud contra una selección visitante en territorio estadounidense.
Una escena que ha provocado indignación y que muchos consideran una falta de respeto hacia Uzbekistán.
@muricaissatire@Harry8__ Yeah that's what the bartender was telling us. Like a German beer + Jagermeister type of thing for different countries. I thought it was fun they were joining in the hype.
@Acunas_Antics Europeans complain about a lot of dumb stuff yes. But lack of public transit is completely valid and I will echo all of it. Any stadium not able to be accessed from a nearby train is a bad stadium.
Have you been to a game there? If so, was the parking ideal? How was the traffic coming to the game? How about leaving the game? Did you have to wait in line for the restroom (which they need about 50 more)? This stadium is a JOKE!