And then Belgium played the epstein files card lmao
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Anybody come up with the statistic on how many people wouldn't be on the US team if we'd had Trump's immigration policy for the last 50 years?
AND AFTER ALL THAT THEY FOLDED LIKE A WET PAPER BAG.
Honestly pathetic. If he had any decency Ream would have just benched Balogun for the game anyway instead of taking advantage of Trump's meddling. As it is, I can't help but think they crushed the team's morale with this stunt. Imagine knowing that no matter how well you do from here on out, you're just going to be known as the cheating scumbags who needed the president to pull strings for you. Any win would be permanently tainted.
But of course, everything Trump touches turns to shit.
and the USA soccer team will be forever known as a whiny bitch that had to run to mommy for a chance to play
That's the annoying part of this. Like, even if you're a fan of the USA, if they actually win, it's going to always be a story about Trump.
Also, in defense of the US team, this is absolutely something Trump would just do on his own because he can. But, you're right, no one sees it that way.
This is a guy that put his name next to JFK on a building. He wants to make everything about himself. Knick's game is another example. He's so narcissistic that he doesn't even care how bad this looks the the US team.
He just thinks it makes him look powerful, and, quite honestly, it does. FIFA is who people should be upset with here. You can be upset Trump called. But, holy shit, you should be more upset FIFA just did what they were told.
The USA team could have saved face and not play Balogun but they did… and no, it does not make trump look powerful because everyone knows fifa is one of the most corrupt organizations in the world
If anyone had hopes for the USA team because they are hosts or because they are underdors or whatever, that's over… now it's just trump's bitch team
Yes but can you imagine Trump's reaction if they didn't play Balogun and then lost? He'd whine about it forever. This way he championed a birthright citizen and thankfully Belgium won, saving both teams the acrimony of preceived cheaters winning.
I agree with most of that. But, I'm sorry to be the one to inform you: Corruption is a form of power. The leaders of most other countries aren't getting the same privilege as the leader of the US and host nation would. If you don't acknowledge corruption as a form of power then you're really missing the problem with corruption in the first place.
Corruption is a form of power
I know this but refuse to celebrate it… therefore in my book, corruption is just trash
The leaders of most other countries aren't getting the same privilege as the leader of the US and host nation would
They probably would, they are just not petty or stupid enough to bother asking… or they would have worked it discretely
If you don't acknowledge corruption as a form of power then you're really missing the problem with corruption in the first place.
Already addressed it
I will never understand why people think there is importance in how they decide to define things in their heads moreso than how they have an impact on the material world. Why should I care how correctly acknowledging that Trump has "power" makes you feel?
Power is not just an idea. It has actual impact on whether you acknowledge it or decide it should be seen as "power" in idealism. You calling something "powerful" isn't giving it power. The economic, military, and social connections give power.
The leader of the US will have this power whether or not you celebrate it. And I never said to celebrate it. I'm not celebrating it. I said to acknowledge it.
You seem to think you're in a movie and bending the knee or something. It's not. It's pointing to the problem.
In my opinion. Calling it "trash" is just you giving a comforting but useless response. Yeah, we all dislike it. I would hope we all hate white supremacy. But pretending white supremacy doesn't have "power" in our world would be delusional.
I will never understand why people think there is importance in how they decide to define things in their heads moreso than how they have an impact on the material world.
Let's explore…
In my world, I see a 30 year old bastard kick a child and I would react in bile condeming this behaviour
In your world, you'd be fawning over the bastard exclaming how powerful he is
Your world sucks, mine has hope for a future
No, that's where you're missing the point. In my world I acknowledge that adults are strong and have power over children. I want to live in a world where that power is checked and acknowledge that children need protection from abuse.
You understand this fundamentally with the child being hit by an adult. You react in a condemning way because you understand this power difference. I would react in the same way as you and physically intervene to protect the child.
You would also have a different reaction if you saw one adult hit another adult. You may first see this as someone starting violence; but will not react so quickly to protect the other adult as you will look at the other differences in power. Are they both the same size? Are they both the same gender? What happened before the violence started? All of these have power dynamics. But you already understand these power structures and likely don't even think about them. But, that's what I'm actually trying to explain to you with Trump.
You don't have to pretend I'm some evil person fawning over an adult hitting a child. We are disagreeing because you have an emotional attachment to the word "power" and I am using it for its material meaning to define societal structures.
You're giving away your bias and emotional definition here; having to pretend that acknowledging power structures means I am "fawning" over that power. I am not and have never once said something that should make you believe so.
You are for some reason arguing that the abusive adult is "not powerful" though? At least if I infer that from the conversation about Trump. That they are only defined by your judgement of them as "trash" or how the abuse makes you feel; and you should actively deny their power as if it somehow "takes it away" from them by not acknowledging it. But this is what I'm inferring from what you've said so far. Feel free to clarify.
Power has material attributes. Adults have power over children. Leaders of a state have power over the people of that state. Power is when Trump can command a military to bomb Iran. He has power. It is not being checked. It is not good. Acknowledging power does not give it lower. Acknowledging that that power exists and is being abused is the first step in recognizing it needs to be stopped.
In my world, I see a 30 year old bastard kick a child and I would react in bile condeming this behaviour
If all you do is condemn him then you're not making the world any better either.
They aren't "fawning" they are explaining the situation using accurate language. Trump is powerful because he can do all this corrupt shit and nothing happens to him for it. We had an entire presidency after he attempted to start an insurrection and he didn't even get a slap on the wrist. People love to talk shit about Trump but that isn't changing anything in reality.
Glad someone can understand. I could tell they were losing the plot when they had to pretend I would enjoy a child being beaten.
It's so odd how people are so ingrained with the idea that the power structures they grew up with must be moral and good that they can't even acknowledge when someone in a position of power is powerful.
It's treating power as some moral reward like they think Superman is powerful because he's good or something.
If all you do is condemn
who says that's all I would do? what am I, American?
all you guys with your strawmen are always so boring
They aren't "fawning" they are explaining the situation using accurate language
I'd say calling the orange pedophile "impressive" qualifies as fawning
I'm gonna be so happy when they lose, hope it will be Belgium, otherwise it will be Spain. Even with cheating they can never win both matches.
Edit: just learned US lost 4 - 1, can confirm i am really really happy about it.
I'm a bit out of the loop. What shit did FIFA and Trump do? Got the US team to play?
One guy got a red card and was basically kicked out of the event, and Trump called the FIFA guy and got him reinstated, then he bragged about doing it like it was a positive.
A US player got a red card (meaning kicked out of the game and suspended from playing the following game). Trump called the FIFA president (title? Idk) and suddenly he's allowed to play in the next game.
All this drama and the US still loses 1-4 in the next game. Basically the best outcome at least. The bad taste of Trump influencing FIFA is at least gone. But still pretty fucked FIFA just bowed down to a phone call.
Did Team USA ask Trump for this? Or did he just do it? It was a horrible look. I wanted so bad to support our team, but Trump ruined it, like he's ruined everything else
From what I have found Trump seems to have done it on his own. Balogun had accepted his red card about as gracefully as anyone, even shaking hands with the ref after the match. And the US team had said they would not challenge the call. It looks like everyone was going to just get on with life and move forward.
Yeah, I actually went to the red card match, bought a USA soccer shirt, was super into the world cup. When Trump pulled his bullshit, I actually bet and rooted against the US. Man is the antimidas. Everything he touches turns to shit.
So FIFA supporting literal slavery and it's decades of overt corruption was fine for you to go spend a much of money on tickets and merchandise, enabling and supporting said slavery and corruption...
But trump is a whiny little bitch (when isn't he?) and now things have gone too far for you.
Nobody likes FIFA, everyone likes the world cup. I don't make the rules.
As long as the rich get richer who cares right? Watch men chase the ball, its a good circus.
Please let people scrape some enjoyment out of the constant barrage of awful things happening.
So contributing to the problem is ok as long as its fun. Got it.
Nope, but direct moralizing and public shaming doesn’t work well to change behavior when you’re doing it to an anonymous person (it’s still not great irl, but at least there’s accountability involved).
How many vegans do you know who went vegan after someone online said “so rape’s okay when the victim’s a cow?” (I just used that as a comparison because it’s a philosophy predicated upon changing personal consumption to fit morals, to be clear. Also, I looked, but there’s not yet a great comprehensive study on what exactly made people go vegan yet, but they’re collecting data now, if anyone wants to participate.)
Its more like an exasperation. It doesn't matter what I say here really. But I have to acknowledge it.
It's just a sign of the times. Here you have a sport that nearly anyone can play. For a lot of people locally it can bring community together, gives people something to do and rally behind.
But the "circus" part of my statement is so on the nose: A non profit "charity" leveraging pay to play tactics to funnel money and power around an elite group of billionaires and corporations. Corruption, bribery, and even racism all are part of the politics of this sport. The whole reason why it is mentioned here. A way for Trump to call out to his maga base by showing them who is in charge, he can even reign in Fifa. Of course we get the obligatory statement from FIFA: "Football must never become a playground for political power.", which is just more nonsense, because that is all it is.
Anyways, I am sure everyone knows that, but why support it? Cheering on the games, watching them, going to them, only continues to enrich the commercial interests who then use that money to leverage political gain and more power.
I just don't get it: people are willing to make their lives worse and literally pay for that privilege, what else can I say?
People are generally willing to make their lives a little worse for entertainment, it’s a quirk of the species. Yes, it’s a distraction, but people need distractions.
If people stay laser focused on the awful things going on, they won’t be more empathetic and able to help, they’ll feel more helpless. It’s a good thing to be informed, but only to a point.
Its not a little worse. It is a LOT worse. Its not a distraction, its a freaking denial. Its like a late stage alcoholic that figures drinking is fine because it makes them feel a little better.
There are a million things to do that are distractions, this is no excuse. This is like watching your house on fire and helping pour on the petrol, because for a while, that is fun.
People do that, all the time. At least there’s a significant effect from alcohol, but go to any cancer treatment center and see if the ashtray outside is empty. It’s not.
But no, I don’t really see how an American who can afford tickets is blowing up their life by doing so. Someone’s life, sure. And that matters a lot, but they probably also buy clothing and shoes, so they’re most likely already benefiting from slavery. There’s no ethical consumption under capitalism.
That’s not a reason that people should use to just do what they want, but people also don’t deserve abuse for not boycotting the things you boycott (nor will it help convert them)
Abuse? Lol abuse?
Really?
I made my case, I stand by it. All the grift and power gained by these events is just another one on the pile, and if only hurt the individual I wouldn't care.
No, they do not get a pass for contributing to making everything worse, in a huge way, when they could simply not.
Do you buy clothes from stores? Should I go around commenting under all of your posts that you’re a slaver? That would rightfully be considered abuse.
Getting frustrations out by complaining that others don’t follow the same boycotts you do doesn’t make you wrong, just ineffective and unpleasant. But why do that? If you don’t start off so angry, you can often talk people around.
There are thousands of important things for people to pay attention to, not everyone gets every bit of news. First explaining the issue calmly and getting them to talk about it with you will be a much better strategy across the board than just going “so you like slaves, eh?”
What’s the huge way that $5-10k in FIFA’s pocket makes everything worse? It contributes a very small amount to their bottom line, which is obviously not good, but how efficient does an organization have to be for so little money to go far enough to affect everything? That’s impressive.
I already stated that it’s not a pass, should we just keep affirming it to each other?
Given that fifa is a non profit, its not the money going to them. It's the contracts, backroom deals, corporate favors, government favors, etc. Look into the whole scheme and its bonkers how far a reach a non profit has, how many billionaires are involved in various ways, governments as well. Its a front to a huge exchange of weath and influence disguised as a charity.
If you want to complain and call me a slaver because I buy clothes feel free, I don't care. If me and a thousand friends got together to funnel money into a business that did that "for fun" yeah maybe I would deserve it.
So the guy who bought a ticket to one game, then didn’t enjoy it isn’t the primary villain here?
Wild, I had no idea you agreed.
No, the people aren't the villians. The fans aren't the villains, they just support it. If anything they too are the victims.
It sucks.
It does suck, that’s why I think we should first reach out with reason instead of accusations. People don’t respond well to accusations and guilt makes people make worse decisions.
Yeah, it's true. I wouldn't join a football discussion and just start swaggering around with accusation. It's a comment I made here, because it was a bit more appropriate.
Since we are talking about it:
In the US, the world cup was used to get 365 million dollars spent on permanent surveillance and facial recognition devices installed. The four main vendors planned on this all along, using AI and leaving it up. Nobody has disclosed what they are going to do with the data, the fans willingly gave up facial recognition for ID which will continue at major arenas because now it is in place.
Mexico and Canada are also doing this. The list of upcoming hosts are planning on doing this. They are using the World Cup as a "global showcase" to normalize battlefield-tested surveillance in civilian spaces.
FIFA is the platform to get global AI surveillance into place, to get contracts to large corporations, and to monitor and build databaes of citizens. The best part? It's almost always the same corporations, how easy it is to go global!
The amount of waved reviews is staggering. Just roll it out now worry about consequences later.
The World Cup does not create the surveillance state — but it has become one of the most efficient mechanisms for funding, deploying, legitimizing, and permanently embedding it across the globe, one tournament at a time.
Does that help explain why I am a little bit irritated about this subject?
That’s great information to have, thank you. I was actually already boycotting fifa, but didn’t realize that’s where the money was going.
I know it’s exhausting, but leading with something like that instead of an accusation would be way more effective. If you can copy/paste it, or make a post about it somewhere so others can share it as well, it might be easier.
I’m not trying to put more emotional labor on people who are already drained by the subject, but it’s just the reality of what’s effective for actually changing people’s minds.
If I want to actually make someone think about changing their eating habits, I can’t just say it’s fucked up to enslave animals, I have to pull up research about, for example, what happens to make chicks at egg laying facilities and read through it to make sure it’s valid, before posting information the other person likely didn’t know that might plant a seed for later. It sucks, I’ve gotten more sensitized to animal cruelty since I went vegan (I know, I know, “they’ll tell you,” but I don’t know what better angle to approach this from), but the other way just alienates people.
Yes, I agree.
The word Vegan has connotations apparently for people, but hopefully respect for animal life is a good talking point to open the dialog about what you believe in.
There is a whole lot of benefits for the world if you can get people to even move the needle to a more plant based diet.
it does not matter, he did it and tarnished the USA team… if the team did not play the carded player they could have saved face but they chose to play him fully
I wanted so bad to support our team, but Trump ruined it, like he's ruined everything else
Agreed… I was cheering for them for being the host and underdogs, but tonight I was happy to see them defeated with ease
Yeah, as a (maga despising) American who's just beginning to get into soccer, this one... This one stings.
But fucking Cabo Verde! Damn that was something
But fucking Cabo Verde! Damn that was something
how could you not cheer for such an underdog to make the reigning champs sweat bullets??!!!
it was doubly sweet because Argentinians can always eat a bit of humble pie
And still lost
Honestly that’s the sweetest part of it. They run to mommy, gets reinstated like it’ll mean something and then promptly get their asses handed to them. And there’s no room to complain “well we didn’t have X player because of Y”.
They were all there, you had your full team, you still got owned.
we had quite a few soccer player aspiring to play in europe as thier career while in college, i wonder if most of these people can join european leagues, over usa teams.
And the Trump curse screwed them.
I love that this guy is a natural born citizen. His parents were both Nigerian, living in London, they were visiting New York and they couldn't fly back because the mother was pregnant so they had to stay and give birth here. Then they returned to London. Which is totally fine nothing wrong with that. It's just funny that Trump went to bat for him like a week after he lost his Supreme Court case arguing that this man should not be an American.
What if there were riots to disqualify America? Shit... Sport rioters plus The Antifa...
Not needed, Belgium just gave them a flogging
Tho, you can't know wether the goalkeeper didn't simply choose to bet against himself in polymarket. that's the corrosive influence of insider trading.
Excellent. Can you imagine if the USA had gone on to win the World Cup after that debacle? It would have been the final nail in the coffin for their reputation as a country.
usa team got trounced by belgium, apparently USA football/soccer isnt that good compared to other countries that are very heavy into football.
Fight fire with fire


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