worldcup Page 42 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
The Pope Resigned Early Because Of The World Cup
Pope Emeritus Benedict resigned, somewhat shockingly, in February 2013. He did so earlier than he initially intended because he wanted his successor to be able to attend a major Roman Catholic festival in Brazil that was moved up one year to make room for the World Cup in Brazil this summer. So, bas...
Chart: Who Has The Hardest World Cup Draw?
With the world cup just six months away, The Guardian has put together a great set of charts comparing the relative schedules of each qualifying team, based on their opponents' FIFA rankings. As you can see above, by this measure the U.S. has the third-hardest schedule, just behind Ghana and Austral...
Croatian Player Banned From World Cup For Pro-Nazi Chant
Last month, defender Josip Šimunić celebrated Croatia's World Cup qualification by leading fans in a call-and-response chant made famous by the nation's fascist puppet regime that ruled during World War II. FIFA has now banned him for 10 matches, which will extend through the World Cup....
Nate Silver's Model Gives The USMNT A 39.4 Percent Chance To Advance
When the U.S. drew Germany, Portugal, and Ghana for its 2014 World Cup group, the immediate consensus was that we were totally boned. But is it possible, after rigorous quantitative analysis, that we are less than boned?...
How The World Cup Draw Affected Each Country's Odds To Win
Hot off the presses from online sportsbook Bovada, each country's odds to win the 2014 World Cup, both before and after today's draw....
Here Are The Groups For The 2014 World Cup
As just drawn at a ceremony in Costa Do Sauipe, Brazil:...
What if FIFA Seeded The World Cup The Way Americans Would?
FIFA is so hopelessly corrupt that today's lottery to determine World Cup round robin groups is a necessary evil. If a committee determined the groupings behind closed doors, it would surely result in political enemies being forced to face Brazil in the first round and the country giving Sepp Blatte...
Brazil's World Cup Kick-Off Times Are <em>Perfect</em>
The last four World Cups have been nightmares for American television viewers, with games kicking off at sunrise or (in 2002) in the middle of the night, and finishing in the middle of the afternoon. But Brazil's got our backs, and the match times are absolutely ideal for making sure no one gets a d...
I Can't Stop Looking At This Absolutely Vicious Free Kick
This is just filthy. Uruguay's Edinson Cavani freezes the entire nation of Jordan on this marvelous free kick. Uruguay won the first leg of its World Cup qualifying playoff with Jordan 5-0, but this is the only goal anyone ever needs....
Happy Trails, Zidane Headbutt Statue!
Statue of controversial incident elicits controversy. Who'd a thunk it?...
Here Are The FIFA Rankings That Will Determine The World Cup Draw
FIFA's world rankings are, almost without exception, meaningless. This is that exception. The rankings released today determine the top seeds at next summer's World Cup. That's a valuable reward: they get to avoid each other....
Man Wins £125,000 On Bet His Infant Grandson Would Play For Wales
On Tuesday, 16-year-old Harry Wilson made his international debut for Wales in a World Cup qualifying match against Belgium. It was a big day for Wilson, but perhaps an even bigger day for his grandfather, who cashed in big time on a 15-year-old bet as soon as his grandson stepped onto the pitch....
Mexico Keeps World Cup Dreams Alive With Spectacular Bicycle Kick
This, from Mexico's Raúl Jiménez, came in the 85th minute, four minutes after Panama had just equalized and bummed all of Mexico out. Jimenez brought them all back to life with a bicycle kick laser that left Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo rooted to his spot. Look at him. Either it's going wide or, ...
There's almost no way the USMNT can earn a top seed at the World Cup: The top eight seeds for Brazil will be decided by this month's FIFA rankings, where the U.S. currently sit 13th. Even if they win both matches this week, moving into the top seven (host Brazil are automatically in) would require s...
More Details About World Cup Host Qatar's Humanitarian Crisis
Yesterday, our attention was turned to the horrendous living and working conditions of Qatar's working class, a migrant population that will be responsible for building the infrastructure necessary for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup. Today, an investigation by the Guardian paints an even clearer a...
The Qatar World Cup Is A Moral Shit Show, Too
The logistical problems that are already plaguing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are myriad, but planning for the event presents even bigger problems than trying to figure out how to play soccer in 120-degree temperatures. Namely, the deaths of hundreds of migrant workers who are building infrastructur...
The USMNT Dances, Sings, And Chugs Beer After Victory Over Mexico
After clinching a World Cup berth with a 2-0 victory over Mexico, the USMNT came back out onto the field for some good old-fashioned celebrating, America style....
Blatter Admits Qatar World Cup May Be A Mistake, Throws Shit At Wall
Even if you ignore the rampant bribery allegations, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is already a massive clusterfuck. This is in part because the World Cup is set to take place in June or July, and summers in Qatar are really, really fucking hot. Like, way-too-fucking-hot-to-play-soccer hot. Now, FIFA p...