World Cup Schedule

[MUfan12]

NBC's studio crew is 100 times better than Fox's.

Yep. Rebecca Lowe is the gold standard for hosts. And Martino proves that you can have an American voice on analysis, provided that person isn't a total buffoon like Lalas.

Fox's soccer coverage is terrible. With the US not in it, I'll barely watch.

[Mr. Nielsen]

I had to look these people up. Rebecca Lowe is very easy on the eyes. 

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I had to look these people up. Rebecca Lowe is very easy on the eyes. 

super hot English accent too.

[GGGG]

Yep. Rebecca Lowe is the gold standard for hosts. And Martino proves that you can have an American voice on analysis, provided that person isn't a total buffoon like Lalas.

Fox's soccer coverage is terrible. With the US not in it, I'll barely watch.

That ultimately is my biggest problem with the way Fox approaches this.  Get some personalities who act weird and say outlandish things versus providing solid analysis.

I think the WC should get good ratings regardless of US participation.  I mean, I'll watch it on the weekends and on the mornings of my upcoming day's off.  Fox shouldn't blow this.

[Its DJOver]

I'm a big fan of the NBC crew as well.  All the commentators and analysts have either played at the highest level, been doing commentary almost exclusively for soccer for decades or are Rebecca Lowe.  They also have people that are just playing characters and doing satirical analysis, but they keep them completely separated from the other "real" analysts and just put them on their own show that they advertise as a comedy/satirical show (Men in Blazers).  Both types of shows have their appeal, but it's best to keep them separate.   

[Mr. Nielsen]

United States, Mexico and Canada wins 2026 World Cup vote. Fox Sports is the English-speaking rightsholder for the 2026 World Cup. Telemundo has the Spanish-speaking rights. Both will be printing money.

[JWags85]

Fox's soccer coverage is terrible. With the US not in it, I'll barely watch.
[/quote

Stuart Holden is very good.  Both in the studio and paired with John Strong.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Yep. Rebecca Lowe is the gold standard for hosts. And Martino proves that you can have an American voice on analysis, provided that person isn't a total buffoon like Lalas.

Fox's soccer coverage is terrible. With the US not in it, I'll barely watch.

All about Gabby Logan y'all.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Quote of halftime, "They have no idea how to play."

Nearly spit out my coffee.

[Cooby Snacks]

I guess it’s nice of the schedulers to get the worst game out of the way early.

[GGGG]

I guess it’s nice of the schedulers to get the worst game out of the way early.

Hosts always get a cupcake in the first game.  And SA is the cakiest of the cupcakes.

[Cooby Snacks]

Hosts always get a cupcake in the first game.  And SA is the cakiest of the cupcakes.

They’re both bad, just to different degrees. This is like watching UWM vs a SWAC team.

[Its DJOver]

Hosts always get a cupcake in the first game.  And SA is the cakiest of the cupcakes.

While Croatia, Mexico, Belgium, Poland, and Switzerland aren't world class, I wouldn't consider them cupcakes.  FIFA never goes out of their way to embarrass a host, but they can't make the scheduling too obviously in favor of them. 

[brewcity77]

Have to think Russia advances now. A draw with Egypt would almost certainly see them through.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Russia was the lowest ranked Euro team in the field.

KSA was the 3rd highest ranked Asian team.

Russia will definately advance.  Putin and FIFA?  Fix is in to at least the round of 8.

[GGGG]

Russia was the lowest ranked Euro team in the field.

KSA was the 3rd highest ranked Asian team.

Russia will definately advance.  Putin and FIFA?  Fix is in to at least the round of 8.

"3rd highest ranked Asian team" is like being the third best Big Ten team.  It may sound impressive but isn't very meaningful. 

[Its DJOver]

The +5 goal differential has the potential to be a big boost, but I expect both Uruguay and Egypt to beat KSA as well so it will really come down to those three battling for two spots, and I think Russia will just miss out.

Also anyone that uses FIFA rankings as a barometer really hasn't paid attention to world soccer the last 5 years or so.  Switzerland is not the 6th best team in the world, and the 9th best team didn't even qualify.  Not exactly a model of consistency.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

"3rd highest ranked Asian team" is like being the third best Big Ten team.  It may sound impressive but isn't very meaningful.

Right.  I was pointing out the disparity between Euro and Asian talent.  (and paraphrasing something I saw on twitta.)

[JWags85]

The +5 goal differential has the potential to be a big boost, but I expect both Uruguay and Egypt to beat KSA as well so it will really come down to those three battling for two spots, and I think Russia will just miss out.

As much as I love Salah as an LFC supporter, its really a two man team with him and Elneny.  And given its Russia and Salah is nursing a knock, I can see them getting away with manhandling him.  I figure all 3 teams beat KSA, Uruguay beats Egypt and Russia, and Russia and Egypt tie, Russia through on differential.  Happy to be wrong and see The Pharoahs make some history.

[reinko]

Thursday, June 14
Russia vs. Saudi Arabia (in Moscow), 10 a.m. on FOX
 
Friday, June 15
Egypt vs. Uruguay (in Yekaterinburg), 7 a.m. on FS1
Morocco vs. Iran (in Saint Petersburg), 10 a.m. on FOX
Portugal vs. Spain (in Sochi), 1 p.m. on FOX
 
Saturday, June 16
France vs. Australia (in Kazan), 5 a.m. on FS1
Argentina vs. Iceland (in Moscow), 9 a.m. on FOX
Peru vs. Denmark (in Saransk), 11am on FS1
Croatia vs. Nigeria (in Kaliningrad), 2 p.m. on FS1
 
Sunday, June 17
Costa Rica vs. Serbia (in Samara), 7 a.m. on FOX
Germany vs. Mexico (in Moscow), 10 a.m. on FS1
Brazil vs. Switzerland (in Rostov-on-Don), 1 p.m. on FS1
 
Monday, June 18
Sweden vs. South Korea (in Nizhny Novgorod), 7 a.m. on FS1
Belgium vs. Panama (in Sochi), 10 a.m. on FS1
Tunisia vs. England (in Volgograd), 1 p.m. on FS1
 
Tuesday, June 19
Colombia vs. Japan (in Saransk), 7 a.m. on FS1
Poland vs. Senegal (in Moscow), 10 a.m. on FOX
Russia vs. Egypt (in Saint Petersburg), 1 p.m. on FOX
 
Wednesday, June 20
Portugal vs. Morocco (in Moscow), 7a.m. on FS1
Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia (in Rostov-on-Don), 10 a.m. on FOX
Iran vs. Spain (in Kazan), 1p.m. on FOX
 
Thursday, June 21
France vs. Peru (in Yekaterinburg), 7 a.m. on FS1
Denmark vs. Australia (in Samara), 10 a.m. on FOX
Argentina vs. Croatia (in Nizhny Novgorod), 1 p.m. on FOX
 
Friday, June 22
Brazil vs. Costa Rica (in Saint Petersburg), 7 a.m. on FS1
Nigeria vs. Iceland (in Volgograd), 10 a.m. on FOX
Serbia vs. Switzerland (in Kaliningrad), 1p.m. on FOX
 
Saturday, June 23
Belgium vs. Tunisia (in Moscow), 7 a.m. on FOX
Germany vs. Sweden (in Sochi), 10 a.m. on FOX
South Korea vs. Mexico (in Rostov-on-Don), 1 p.m. on FOX
 
Sunday, June 24
England vs. Panama (in Nizhny Novgorod), 7 a.m. on FS1
Japan vs. Senegal (in Yekaterinburg), 10 a.m. on FOX
Poland  vs. Colombia (in Kazan), 1 p.m. on FOX
 
Monday, June 25
Saudi Arabia vs. Egypt (in Volgograd), 9 a.m. on FS1
Uruguay vs. Russia (in Samara), 9 a.m. on FOX
Iran vs. Portugal (in Saransk), 1 p.m. on FOX
Spain vs. Morocco (in Kaliningrad), 1 p.m. on FS1
 
Tuesday, June 26
Australia vs. Peru (in Sochi), 9 a.m. on FS1
Denmark vs. France (in Moscow), 9 a.m. on FOX
Iceland vs. Croatia (in Rostov-on-Don), 1 p.m. on FS1
Nigeria vs Argentina (in Saint Petersburg), 1 p.m. on FOX
 
Wednesday, June 27
South Korea vs. Germany (in Kazan), 9 a.m. on FS1
Mexico vs. Sweden (in Yekaterinburg), 9 a.m. on FOX
Switzerland vs. Costa Rica (in Nizhny Novgorod), 1 p.m. on FS1
Serbia vs. Brazil (in St. Petersburg), 1 p.m. on FOX
 
Thursday, June 28
Japan vs. Poland (in Volgograd), 9 a.m. on FS1
Senegal vs. Colombia (in Samara), 9 a.m. on FOX
England vs. Belgium (in Kaliningrad), 1 p.m. on FOX
Panama vs. Tunisia (in Saransk), 1 p.m. on FS1

I have been referencing this schedule a lot in the last few days, but just a reminder these times are CST, almost woke up @ 5am on Sat instead to watch Les Bleus

[Mr. Nielsen]

Most here I would guess are in the central time zone, so I listed everything that way. Glad the list helps!

[reinko]

Most here I would guess are in the central time zone, so I listed everything that way. Glad the list helps!

OH it's super helpful, it would've been my fault fo show.  Appreciate the simplicity, I actually cut and pasted and put it into the notes section on my phone.

Thanks!  👍

[WarriorFan]

Moscow was rocking last night!

The stadium was modern and well organized, security wasn't overbearing, crowds were crowds, but generally orderly, Peruvians were very noisy, etc!

The match was great for Russia.  Of course they had to win.  Of course the draw was fixed so they get to play the worst possible team, on the last day of Ramadan, having not eaten during daylight hours in a month, and probably Putin traded the king a dollar on the oil price for each goal Russia scored, but Russia won nonetheless.

The atmosphere in the stadium was unbelievable.  Russia might be the only country more patriotic than USA and the chants of Ross-I-Ya were deafening.  The mexican wave, not unexpectedly, was vigorously and repeatedly started by the south end but died each time it reached the Saudi supporters in the North end. 

Atmosphere after the match in Tverskaya district and on the walking street Kuznetskiy Most was incredible, until the wee hours, as if Russia had won the entire tournament.   

For Russia, this was their tournament, they got their win.  They did their job.  Now if they can get one draw, they'll be through on goal difference. 

[SaveOD238]

... on the last day of Ramadan, having not eaten during daylight hours in a month...

Did not know this.  I wonder if they’ve been training at night?  Can imams give dispensations?

Brilliant scheduling by Russia/FIFA

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Cavani goes down less than 3 minutes into the game. Uruguay hasn't taken any time to find their form...