World Cup 2026

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Yeah but they were called Valour FC or something dumb like that, and Regina never had a team at the same time. I’ve also heard the Winnipeg team failed because the stadium was too big… which is also dumb. Sounds more like tickets were just too expensive.

That’s a totally made up rule that you can only share team nicknames when soccer is the top dog. If the CPL tries again with expansion teams in Winnipeg, and Regina (and they simply call them the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Bluebombers) I’m fully confident they’ll succeed.

The Winnipeg Valour were named for Valour Road, a street in Winnipeg that was the home for 3 Victoria Cross winners from WWI.

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

Looks like France is Europes greatest hope to win the cup. followed by England, then Croatia.

Did you forget Spain? They may have been below expectations on the group stage, now that knockout rounds are getting started, I would expect them to go intense.
Lamine Yamal still is a superb player. He wants to shine and he's got a strong team to back his talent. Their midfield is scary. Often, that sector makes a tactical difference when games go really intense.

Croatia are used to punching way above their weight. Their results are often amazing, given the size of their little country (3.9 mi ppl).
However, they haven't been so good for the group stage either. If I remember well, their 2 goals to England were cool, but I thought they would cause more problems to the English.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Even if we never see the Canadian MLS clubs do the right thing for the future of soccer in Canada (leave the American MLS) we could at least see tremendous growth and cooperation on the financial and facilities side between CFL and CPL organizations. If every CFL team got a corresponding CPL club over the next decade, that would dramatically increase the presence and credibility of the CPL and professional soccer in general. It could also be the impetus for the creation of our own version of the FA cup, so that the best teams in the CPL and other Canadian leagues could compete against the MLS teams to be crowned the Canadian club champion… something better than the current Canadian Championship.

With all due respect, you are not being realistic. None of what you are saying, makes any sense financially. For one thing, the CFL is dying, and will likely fold within a decade. Even Alberta has turned it's back on the league, so that means Winnipeg and Regina are the only two cities that care about the league.

And the CFL illustrates that Canada cannot maintain a professional sports league that will be a success. The CFL had the advantage of being around for 100 years, and established a huge fan base in each Canadian city, sometimes predating World War 2. And even with all it's history and success, the league is pretty much doomed to fail.

Try creating any league, whether it be hockey, baseball., basketball, etc to try and rival their American counterparts (MLB, NBA, MLS, NFL). It's not economically feasible, and would be lucky to get off the ground. That is why the CFL is dying now. Canadians have chosen the best football over the Canadian version.

Aside from that, the popularity of the NFL, NBA, and MLB have helped grow their respective games in Canada, especially when the Raptors and Blue Jays are contending. Look at the growth of Canadian basketball. It can be partially attributed to the NBA. So implying the MLS is actually hurting Canadian soccer, is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard.

In 2007, when Toronto became the first MLS team in Canada, the Canadian National team was ranked 100th overall in the World. 10 years later, the game started to explode here, and now for the first time in our history, we can not only qualify for the World Cup, but remain competitive against some very strong teams, where soccer is virtually a religion.

Canadian soccer leagues have never worked. I was a kid when the Canadian Soccer League existed (1987-93). The CPSL is better than nothing, but they play in itself, is not good. There is no money to recruit the best Canadian players (who will inevitably leave for Europe or America, once they are ond enough to play).

[Calgarian]

Well, we had a good run, likely going to be over with Morocco, but you never know.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

With all due respect, you are not being realistic. None of what you are saying, makes any sense financially. For one thing, the CFL is dying, and will likely fold within a decade. Even Alberta has turned it's back on the league, so that means Winnipeg and Regina are the only two cities that care about the league.

And the CFL illustrates that Canada cannot maintain a professional sports league that will be a success. The CFL had the advantage of being around for 100 years, and established a huge fan base in each Canadian city, sometimes predating World War 2. And even with all it's history and success, the league is pretty much doomed to fail.

Try creating any league, whether it be hockey, baseball., basketball, etc to try and rival their American counterparts (MLB, NBA, MLS, NFL). It's not economically feasible, and would be lucky to get off the ground. That is why the CFL is dying now. Canadians have chosen the best football over the Canadian version.

Aside from that, the popularity of the NFL, NBA, and MLB have helped grow their respective games in Canada, especially when the Raptors and Blue Jays are contending. Look at the growth of Canadian basketball. It can be partially attributed to the NBA. So implying the MLS is actually hurting Canadian soccer, is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard.

In 2007, when Toronto became the first MLS team in Canada, the Canadian National team was ranked 100th overall in the World. 10 years later, the game started to explode here, and now for the first time in our history, we can not only qualify for the World Cup, but remain competitive against some very strong teams, where soccer is virtually a religion.

Canadian soccer leagues have never worked. I was a kid when the Canadian Soccer League existed (1987-93). The CPSL is better than nothing, but they play in itself, is not good. There is no money to recruit the best Canadian players (who will inevitably leave for Europe or America, once they are ond enough to play).

There's that Canadian "Can-do" attitude that has made us second class in our own country.

Bravo!!!

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

There's that Canadian "Can-do" attitude that has made us second class in our own country.

Bravo!!!

Agreed!

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

With all due respect, you are not being realistic. None of what you are saying, makes any sense financially. For one thing, the CFL is dying, and will likely fold within a decade. Even Alberta has turned it's back on the league, so that means Winnipeg and Regina are the only two cities that care about the league.

People have been saying the 'CFL is dying for 30 years'. League sponsorships are up to an all time high and they just signed a $500 million dollar TV deal.

That being said, the comment about leaving MLS to focus on a Canadian League is laughable and would kill soccer development in Canada. The CPL can exist in its own niche way, have clubs in smaller cities with 5-15K in fans in those markets and give people who may have never had a chance to play pro a chance to play, and that is okay. It helps the overall development, interest and awareness in Canada.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

There's that Canadian "Can-do" attitude that has made us second class in our own country.

Bravo!!!

Thanks,

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by cjones2451

People have been saying the 'CFL is dying for 30 years'l.

There was a time when the league was being run and promoted well from the end of the 90s until the mid 2010's. If we look at attendance and TV ratings, they were at their highest in decades around 2007-08. 15 years ago absolutely nobody was saying the CFL was dying.

People were saying the league was in big trouble after Montreal folded in 1987, and then again when the CFL made the foolish move to expand to American markets. However, we now have a Commissioner, who is finally going to sink the league for good, with the "new and improved" changes.

[harls]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

There’s probably at least double the official viewership ratings for this World Cup if we include non official streams. This isn’t something you can just get with an antenna, you need to pay for TSN.

The local CTV station here played the Canadian based games OTA.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

Thanks, —.

You're welcome!

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

There was a time when the league was being run and promoted well from the end of the 90s until the mid 2010's. If we look at attendance and TV ratings, they were at their highest in decades around 2007-08. 15 years ago absolutely nobody was saying the CFL was dying.

People were saying the league was in big trouble after Montreal folded in 1987, and then again when the CFL made the foolish move to expand to American markets. However, we now have a Commissioner, who is finally going to sink the league for good, with the "new and improved" changes.

I too dispute that the CFL is going to die. It goes through its ebbs and flows, but seems to keep chugging along despite them. It'll survive this assinine commissioner too.

What will probably kill the league will also do so for other pro football leagues (including the one everyone points to as the "biggest and best"), and that's serious injuries. More attention is now paid to head trauma, but the style of the games -- in any "gridiron" football league -- won't change, so I imagine it'll become prohibitively expensive for those leagues to operate, or feeder programs will tail off because players realize the risks and there won't be enough supply. However I think this will take a while, because some players will have incentive to keep playing the sport.

Whether soccer would eventually replace gridiron football as a spectator sport or North American leagues turn to back to their rugby roots and that is popular is a debate.

[Jammon]

Norway vs Brazil. I hope this is a repeat of the 1998 group stage game when Brazil were the heavy favorites and Norway came back to beat them. All I remember from that game was Norway started pumping crosses in to the Brazil box after halftime and with their size advantage they were able to undo the mighty Brazil. I would guesstimate we will see the same in this match. Brazil is not great in the air. Could easily be a Norway win.

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

That’s a totally made up rule that you can only share team nicknames when soccer is the top dog.

It's not a rule, it's me observing their attitude.

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

North American leagues turn to back to their rugby roots

I've been advocating for the CFL to do this for a few reasons, for a good long while.

I doubt it would happen, but the CFL is able to be more flexible than the NFL in this regard, should we end up there.



— that Netherlands lost, they're my "when Canada isn't there" team. I guess it'll be England for me if Canada gets eliminated.

[Gresto]

What an embarrassment for Germany. The team needs an overhaul from top to bottom. 2nd best in the all-time rankings, but can't even make it out of the Group stage anymore.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by Jammon

Norway vs Brazil. I hope this is a repeat of the 1998 group stage game when Brazil were the heavy favorites and Norway came back to beat them. All I remember from that game was Norway started pumping crosses in to the Brazil box after halftime and with their size advantage they were able to undo the mighty Brazil. I would guesstimate we will see the same in this match. Brazil is not great in the air. Could easily be a Norway win.

Go Norway

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by jonny24

I've been advocating for the CFL to do this for a few reasons, for a good long while.

I doubt it would happen, but the CFL is able to be more flexible than the NFL in this regard, should we end up there.



— that Netherlands lost, they're my "when Canada isn't there" team. I guess it'll be England for me if Canada gets eliminated.

Rugby is a great sport so why not? Can't be any worst that that idiot commissioner that is planning to destroy the CFL with the Americanization of the league.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

The Winnipeg Valour were named for Valour Road, a street in Winnipeg that was the home for 3 Victoria Cross winners from WWI.

Interesting history, but a poor team name nonetheless.

Shoulda just called them the Winnipeg Bluebombers FC and left it at that… I bet they’d still be around had they done that, and we’d probably have seen the Saskatchewan Roughriders FC formed soon after in response.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

With all due respect, you are not being realistic. None of what you are saying, makes any sense financially. For one thing, the CFL is dying, and will likely fold within a decade. Even Alberta has turned it's back on the league, so that means Winnipeg and Regina are the only two cities that care about the league.

And the CFL illustrates that Canada cannot maintain a professional sports league that will be a success. The CFL had the advantage of being around for 100 years, and established a huge fan base in each Canadian city, sometimes predating World War 2. And even with all it's history and success, the league is pretty much doomed to fail.

Try creating any league, whether it be hockey, baseball., basketball, etc to try and rival their American counterparts (MLB, NBA, MLS, NFL). It's not economically feasible, and would be lucky to get off the ground. That is why the CFL is dying now. Canadians have chosen the best football over the Canadian version.

Aside from that, the popularity of the NFL, NBA, and MLB have helped grow their respective games in Canada, especially when the Raptors and Blue Jays are contending. Look at the growth of Canadian basketball. It can be partially attributed to the NBA. So implying the MLS is actually hurting Canadian soccer, is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard.

In 2007, when Toronto became the first MLS team in Canada, the Canadian National team was ranked 100th overall in the World. 10 years later, the game started to explode here, and now for the first time in our history, we can not only qualify for the World Cup, but remain competitive against some very strong teams, where soccer is virtually a religion.

Canadian soccer leagues have never worked. I was a kid when the Canadian Soccer League existed (1987-93). The CPSL is better than nothing, but they play in itself, is not good. There is no money to recruit the best Canadian players (who will inevitably leave for Europe or America, once they are ond enough to play).

I think the CFL isn't on its deathbed and it perhaps survives thanks to the rule differences which mean there is still a following for those that watched high school college etc and probably more important it doesn't feel like a second rate league because we don't have an NFL franchise.

It sounds crazy to convert the league to Rugby but perhaps further rule divergences would help the league. Especially if implemented at all levels. Australia rules football is still the dominant sport where it's played in Australia perhaps because of how different it is there isn't much overlap with Rugby League. More Rugby like rule changes. Perhaps removing hard helments would make it that much harder for Americans to dominate and create more local influence.