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The 2026 World Cup Is Coming To America

The World Cup will return to America in 2026. 

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Despite the fact that The United States missed the World Cup this year for the first time since 1986, they still managed to secure hosting duties for the 2026 Cup. It was a historic moment as it is the first time that the winning bid was actually a joint one between three countries.

Technically the Cup will be played in Mexico, The United States, and Canada. but 60 of the total 80 games will be played in the U.S., including all games from the quarterfinals and beyond. So while Mexico and Canada will host some of the games, the 2026 World Cup will be remembered as taking place in the good ole’ U.S. of A. If that number 80 seems off to you, that’s because this will be the first World Cup to feature a field of 48 teams, rather than the usual 32. A massive jump.

The three countries beat out poor Morocco, the only other country on the ballot. The final tally was 134 votes for The United States of Mexanada and 65 for Morocco. Iran strangely chose neither option. While Slovenia, Spain, and Cuba abstained from the process altogether.

It was a long-awaited sigh of relieve for U.S. Soccer, as they were surprised (to say the least) when they didn’t win the bid to host the 2022 World Cup in 2010. That went to Qatar in a vote that was eventually revealed to be about as corrupt as they get. It was wrought with bribes and other illegal dealings that lead to multiple arrests of high-powered individuals in 2015.

The big difference between the two votes is that the voting system was completely overhauled! In previous votes, only a few dozen people at FIFA were responsible for picking the eligible countries and voting on who would host. So it’s easy to see how they were corrupted. But this most recent vote involved representatives of all eligible countries. A refreshing and fair process.

Carlos Cordiero, the president of United States soccer is largely responsible for the victory as he spent many of the past months visiting as many countries as he could to convince them the Cup should come to America. “I’m convinced that it was critical to get in front of people, face-to-face,” he said. “They are elected federation officials just like we are, and you can relate to them because of that – whether it’s a big country or a small one.”

Well, I for one thank you, Carlos, and couldn’t be more excited for the Cup to come back to America! I just wish I didn’t have to wait eight years to see it. 2026 can’t come fast enough!

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Lionel Messi Decides Barcelona’s Future This Coming Summer

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Barcelona’s legendary star, Lionel Messi, shares that he will decide his next career move in summer. Messi nearly departed the Nou Camp after he successfully submitted a request transfer in summer. However, he opted to remain at the club. Josep Maria Bortomeu pointed out that Messi had to pay the €700 million release clause before he would be given the right to do so. Bortomeu’s words were said during an interview, alerting Manchester City as they were involved in Messi’s decision to either stay or move on.

“Nothing will be crystal clear before the end of the year. I’ll wait until the season is over.  What matters now is thinking about the team, finishing the year well and not being distracted by other things, shared Lionel Messi. “I don’t know what will happen. I’m focused on what we have here and battling for whatever we can. “I’m not thinking about how the year will end. As of today, it wouldn’t be wise for me to say what I’m going to do because I don’t know,” he continued.

While Messi declined to speak further about his next career move, he spoke fondly of his close friendship with Paris Saint-Germain’s forward, Neymar, as he mentioned that he would also want to have a chance to join the Major League Soccer (MLS) games. “I’ve always had the dream of playing in another league, in the United States,” Messi explained. “Maybe it will happen, doesn’t have to be right away. Today I am just focused on these next six months.”

He went on to speak of a possible Barcelona reunion with his friend Neymar. “It’ll be difficult to bring in players because the funds aren’t there. We’ll have to bring in plenty of top players to get us competing on all fronts again and they come at a price. Neymar would be extremely expensive. How would the club pay PSG for the transfer (of Neymar)? The situation will be tough for the new president, who will have to be intelligent and get everything in order. Changes will be needed for him to do well,” Lionel Messi speculated. “I don’t know if Neymar said that (that the two would play together next year). You’d have to ask him about what he said. We do chat sometimes and we are in touch,” he added.

Speaking of Luis Suarez, Messi also shared how he felt about Barcelona selling the striker to Athletico Madrid despite the fact that the club was one of their biggest rivals. “What they did seemed crazy to me, because of how he left. He left for free, paying him his contract and a team that fights for the same thing as us,” Messi lamented.

Although Lionel Messi plans to make his future career decisions at the end of this season, fans are still glad to have him around. Surely, wherever he decides to go and whatever options he chooses to go with, he will still be one of the main Barcelona star players for many of his avid fans.

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Messi Follows Maradona’s Skills and Goals but Has His Preferred Lifestyle

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Lionel Messi is the sole athlete to deserve being compared to Diego Maradona. Avid fans assert that Messi follows Maradona—or, at least, is very similar to the late athlete. In Sunday’s game against Osasuna, Messi dedicated his 4-0 win to Maradona.

The two Argentine iconic athletes are, in fact, very dissimilar in character. However, they are both very fond of Newell’s Old Boys. During the said Sunday event, Messi pulled up his shirt to show the black and red colors of the Rosario Club and then he pointed to the sky.

Messi follows Maradona, literally, since Maradona was Argentina’s captain during the 1986 World Cup victory in Mexico which was a year after Messi was born. Messi, as a fan, also attended Maradona’s 1993 club debut at Newell’s Stadium.

During Sunday’s game, Messi did a similar dribble across the edge of the field prior to reaching the top area—a move that Maradona previously did during an event against Emelec. That move wasn’t the only one that proves the fact that Messi follows Maradona in so many ways.

Messi’s moves against Getafe during a 2007 game echoes Maradona’s moves against England during the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup event, an event that is also commemorated for Argentina’s ‘Hand of God’ goal. This spectacular move was delivered by doing a dribble past the goalkeeper plus an iconic slide on the ground prior to letting the ball finally trickle into the awaiting net.

Indeed, Messi follows Maradona as the pair are both known to have a low gravity center, an excellent passing vision and range, and that famous left foot. Nonetheless, their characters are entirely disparate.

Maradona was known for his off-field preoccupations. He deftly craved being in the spotlight. He was Argentina’s beloved hero as many of his fans defied the restrictions and fear of the COVID-19 virus as they mourn his passing on Wednesday at the age of 60.

Although Maradona did not win Europe’s topmost club prize in his lifetime, he victoriously grabbed a UEFA CUP win and even a couple of Serie A awards. He was also the 1986 World Cup’s most dominant player.

Messi, on the other hand, is the all-time top scorer of Argentina. His team, however, lost to Germany during the 2014 World Cup finals. He also was part of the losing team in a couple of Copa America finals due to penalties they incurred.

“Maradona is definitely the best player I ever saw, but Messi fans shouldn’t get angry about that because he lives in a different era. But you could put Maradona alongside 10 broomsticks and he would still make the team win,” Alberto Fernandez, Argentina’s president, shared during an interview earlier this year.

Former athletes, however, do not know who to choose as the best. However, many fans agree that even if Messi follows Maradona in so many aspects of his career, both are labelled as Argentina sports heroes who can never be forgotten or replaced.

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Sports World Today Still Heavily Affected by Covid-19

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The unprecedented outbreak of the novel coronavirus badly impacted the normal sports routine worldwide. Massive suspension and cancellation of various sports events were initiated in a move to curb the rapid transmission of the deadly virus earlier this year. Let’s take a look, however, at the condition of the sports world today.

In the world of basketball, Mississippi coach Kermit Davis unfortunately tests positive for COVID-19. His condition might result to him being placed at the sidelines when the season finally begins. The news was announced earlier on Tuesday, adding that Davis will undergo a second test. If he, however, tests positive again, he will be forced to opt out of the Rebels’ first couple of games as he will be required to go through self-quarantine at home.

To offset his absence, though, Ronnie Hamilton is expected to play as head coach during the upcoming home events on November 25 and 26. The Rebels are scheduled to go against Central Arkansas and Jackson State on the said dates. To soften the blow, Davis will be allowed to watch through the practice sessions and even contact the team via virtual means.

During the scheduled basketball season opening, the Indiana Hoosiers won’t have the usual live audience to cheer them on. According to school authorities, the stands will indefinitely remain empty. Nevertheless, officials plan to work closely with local health authorities and the campus and Big Ten leaders to find out when fans can be permitted to enter the Assembly Hall.

The sports world today is anticipating the time when new normal protocols will provide them easier gameplay. As for the Hoosiers, they are used to having the biggest basketball student fanbase.

To stem the lack of live audience, the university plans to put cutouts for sale. These cutouts will be placed on the empty seats. They will be priced at US$25 a piece with the option of having either women’s coach Teri Moren or men’s coach Archie Miller autograph these cutouts which will, then, be sent to the fans who purchase the tickets. Also, ticket buyers are guaranteed to avail of refunds or simply avail of the different options via the varsity club’s online site.

As for Tennessee Tech, the school is presently undergoing a difficult time with regard to their attempt to begin their women’s basketball season. Vanderbilt cancelled their game and then Chattanooga followed suit.

On Tuesday morning, Vanderbilt announced the necessity of cancelling their game against Tennessee Tech that was scheduled for November 25 due to the sudden occurrence of positive tests among their athletes. Following that announcement, Chattanooga made a similar call, stating the need to halt activities for a two-week quarantine. The said move resulted to the cancellation of their schedule games against Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech.

Indeed, the sports world today is still reeling from the hideous impacts of the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak. At present, it is not only basketball events that are being cancelled and suspended. Several other sports are being halted, as well, as sports authorities struggle to find a way to conduct their events while observing the new normal protocols.

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