I submit a correction: We don't know whether the Sounders/Pumas winner will go to the Club World Cup. No date nor venue has been announced for the next edition of the Club World Cup; on top of that, we don't know what format will be used. It's not impossible that FIFA will set it for 2025, when there will be four more years of UCL and UEL winners to stock the eight berths UEFA gets; and since CONCACAF only gets three, the 2022 CCL winners may be out in the cold.
Unless you have some inside information from FIFA, Grant! In which case please share, because I'm dying to know.
I liked the USMNT enforcer question. I think Kellyn Acosta might be a bit of an enforcer due to his penchant for the dark arts. I was surprised to see LdlT pop up to both protect Pulisic and Ferreira at the penalty spot. He was not who I expected but I guess he’s known Christian since their youth MNT days. Weston is the best, since he both comes in hot but is so disarming with the smiles and goofiness that refs don’t often book him.
Counter factual: I am nearly certain that no foreign club (MLS or otherwise).has ever won a first division non-friendly game in Mexico City. *Ever* OK you don't have to win the Capital leg but that should serve as a serious dose of reality. The Sounders will have to play, man for man, the best games of their lives to pull this off (and even then only if they can keep Tiny Banner FC down).
Thanks for answering my question Grant! I hope you're right about Kansas City getting to host matches. I live in the Dallas area but grew up in the KCMO suburbs and would like to see them get something big like this since they are supportive of all their sports teams (i.e. Sporting KC).
I submit a correction: We don't know whether the Sounders/Pumas winner will go to the Club World Cup. No date nor venue has been announced for the next edition of the Club World Cup; on top of that, we don't know what format will be used. It's not impossible that FIFA will set it for 2025, when there will be four more years of UCL and UEL winners to stock the eight berths UEFA gets; and since CONCACAF only gets three, the 2022 CCL winners may be out in the cold.
Unless you have some inside information from FIFA, Grant! In which case please share, because I'm dying to know.
I liked the USMNT enforcer question. I think Kellyn Acosta might be a bit of an enforcer due to his penchant for the dark arts. I was surprised to see LdlT pop up to both protect Pulisic and Ferreira at the penalty spot. He was not who I expected but I guess he’s known Christian since their youth MNT days. Weston is the best, since he both comes in hot but is so disarming with the smiles and goofiness that refs don’t often book him.
I really hope no Sounder is reading Grant Wahl.
Counter factual: I am nearly certain that no foreign club (MLS or otherwise).has ever won a first division non-friendly game in Mexico City. *Ever* OK you don't have to win the Capital leg but that should serve as a serious dose of reality. The Sounders will have to play, man for man, the best games of their lives to pull this off (and even then only if they can keep Tiny Banner FC down).
How does the turf vs. grass situation play into the 2026 venue choices? I know that was one of the big points in Philly's bid, and MetLife has had some awful injury history on its turf the last few NFL seasons: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/metlife-stadium-turf-controversy-nfl-deems-playing-surface-safe-after-its-called-trash-by-one-49ers-player/
Thanks for answering my question Grant! I hope you're right about Kansas City getting to host matches. I live in the Dallas area but grew up in the KCMO suburbs and would like to see them get something big like this since they are supportive of all their sports teams (i.e. Sporting KC).
Grant... Las Vegas has got to be in the running to host WC 2026 games because they have a new stadium and it's Vegas! (just saying) ;)