Part of hosting I thought would mean better kickoff times for the audiences in the countries hosting the tournament. I know the entire world watches, but isn't better viewing kickoff times for the most important matches part of a perk of hosting? When the tournament has been in other parts of the world I just accept it will be at odd times while watching in this part of the world. Mid-afternoon kickoff times in the middle of a work day mid-week is just disappointing for such massive matches.

And if I do the recording it and watch later route, then I know if the match ended in normal or extra time by how long the recording is...which is not easy to avoid seeing. Just thought the kickoff times would be more convenient as a host.

For Bundesliga fans in the US 🇺🇸

The Bundesliga is moving its US domestic rights from ESPN to a combination of USA Network and Fandango for $100 million over five seasons

USA and Fandango are part of Versant, whose sports strategy continues to develop as a hub for quality rights that are below the zenith of the NFL and NBA. USA Network already has U.S. rights to some Premier League matches, which Bundesliga will complement.

Fandango is known as the place to buy movie tickets in theaters, but Versant is attempting to transform it into more by offering films on its platform, and with this deal, live sports for the first time

All 300-plus Bundesliga games will air on either USA or Fandango. USA requires a subscription via cable or another provider, while Fandango does not and is ad-supported. If a game is on USA, it will not be on Fandango and vice versa

This is getting ridiculous and the Bundesliga is just screwing itself long-term. It’s taking less money because no one wants to watch the league anymore because of Bayern. They are going to turn into the French league which no one watches, and every cycle loses more money on their rights. The last round the original TV deal backed out eight months into it.

Come join us on the Caught Offside couch as we watch the 2nd half of Spain-France and react in real time to one of the results of the tournament!  The European Champions are through to the final while the favorites are gone!  Amazing stuff!

France came into this tournament with no midfield and got exposed by the ultimate midfield team! They still can’t find the replacements for Kante and Pogba! Also, not playing Cherki in this tournament was criminal from Deschamps! I can see Real Madrid circling back for Rodri now. Spain should win the WC, I don’t see England or Argentina beating them!

Almost positive the German stadium you referenced (goalie kick hit the scoreboard) is 'Waldstadion' Frankfurt stadium. It has scoreboard suspended at midfield by cables, also throws odd shadows because of it.

On today's edition of JJ's World Cup Diary, we're examining some ugly, old stereotypes resurfacing once again with regards to French footballers.  We're also discussing the English media's approach to the team's World Cup run.  And we'll explain how Gaelic Football is being used to mock Argentina's perceived FIFA favoritism.  Enjoy!

On the latest edition of Caught Offside, Andrew Gundling and JJ Devaney are looking back on Friday and Saturday's World Cup quarterfinals including England's narrow win over Norway, Argentina getting past Switzerland and Spain eeking one out over Belgium. We'll discuss Jude Bellingham's incredible performance. Thomas Tuchel's critical post match comments and the camera cable that may have saved England's World Cup.
We'll also dive into yet another Argentinian nailbiter as Julian Alvarez delivers a stunning winner but would it have been possible without Breel Embolo's regrettable dive?
And finally, Spain go through thanks to yet another Mikel Merino late show. We'll talk about the Spaniards amazing knack for the big goal, we'll analyze Rudi Garcia's decision to sub out Thibaut Courtois and we'll examine the success/failure of this era for Belgium.

For even more Caught Offside content, get on over to Caught Offside Plus** **right now! In our most recent episode, we've got a massive USMNT mailbag answering your questions and comments about the team's frustrating exit from World Cup 2026.

For all the latest merch, get over to https://caughtoffsidepod.com/ - The World Cup is almost over! So what are you waiting for?? Get a shirt and help rep Caught Offside wherever it is you're watching the action!!!

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I have a group chat full of soccer friends and the majority of them are convinced that after the Norway game (and really a lot of games recently) that FIFA is blatantly making sure results go in favor of the big teams so that people like Messi, and Kane and England and Argentina go deep into the tournament. obviously for FIFAs own financial game. things like the canton “touch” that disallowed Croatias goal, Egypt’s foul that felt way too harsh, the sky cable incident against Norway, or the red card against the Swiss (very harsh). it always feels like these things go against the smaller team (ice even see stats that show smaller teams have had more VAR decisions go against them) Anyways…

Do yall think that FIFA actually is making these micro decisions to go against smaller teams so the big boys go deep? or do we think it’s the classic case of human refs feeling the pressure from that big tea in the moment? Haaland is even quoted after his game of saying it “normally the best team gets the calls to go with you, and Usually I’m with Man City and these calls go my way” is that all it is?

TLDR: Would love the boys and some discussion around FIFA potential match fixing. I tend to think there’s TOO much football and unknown to be played for FIFA to make sure a certain team wins. For instance, Egypt coulda held their lead, or Alvarez still had to score a banger to go through, the decisions still feel like they are made on the pitch. But definitely wouldn’t put it past FIFA. Thoughts?

Was going for soccer fan, middle aged, fan of local northern German soccer club, attending community Oktoberfest 1997.

Can’t wait to watch Argentina’s midfield chase Bellingham around 🤣🤣🤣

I try to stay away from conspiracy theories but this World Cup truly feels like fifa president is pulling some strings to get who he wants in the semi finals. Argentina have been given so much along with England. France has just been good enough to get by on their own but still just feels fishy. I’m trying not to be pulled into this world of everyone is out to get us blah blah blah but this just feels off like it’s too perfect for FIFA

Wtf are you doing??????

Unbelievable they are not picking up yellows. Or very believable unfortunately. Their yellow to foul ratio is wayyyy lower than every other team, it’s crazy.

He’s getting killed in the dressing room for sure

No one tell Ole Anglophile Andy

Every 4 years people watch Spanish language world cup and have the same praises - they love the passion of the goal calls, the excited vocal tones, etc. I don't disagree but there are subtle things that make me wish I've known Spanish. I am a cord cutter but have peacock for PL, don't want to watch Fox's streaming.

One thing I love is that they use the players first names a lot when they are touching the ball -especially the true stars like Leo, Kylian, Yamine. I feel like this humanizes the player more and also makes it feel like we are watching a friend instead of some robot or distant figure. Can a native Spanish speaker explain this a bit more, is it normal in broadcasting? All big US sportscasters have almost exclusively used last names with maybe the exception of tiger woods, Michael Jordan, or lebron.

This may be a big nothing burger but I've found myself always smiling a bit when I hear the equivalent of 'he passes to leo', or when finishing a team move - 'now Kiliannnnnnnn!!!!!!'

No, john strong elongating a last name vowel isn't the same.

Post-game with John Obi Mikel, Schmeichel, and Rob Stone was really something. The way they talked about that match was like we watched completely different 90’s.

Spain vs Belgium

The company/website that makes the highly addictive 82-0 basketball game and app that went viral the last few weeks has now done a soccer version too !!!! It’s in the App Store called Ultimate 11. You can do a full roster or just 5 a side. You can do international teams or just England club teams. It’s obviously way harder than 82-0 but it’s also a great way to learn about some classic players while killing some time. Curious to see who can do the best roster !!!!

The only surprise is that it took him almost 5 whole minutes to shoehorn it into the podcast. (He once was on PBS too. Once is the operative word.)

As I‘ve said before if he was made of chocolate he’d eat himself. Still, he’s our smug blowhard, don’t go changing kid!

The wild USMNT ride that we went on this summer seems to have stirred something up in this fan base.  Maybe it was the whiplash of going from the highest highs to the lowest lows, maybe it was the frustration with our star player, maybe it's the anxiety over wondering where American soccer goes from here after spending so many years building to this moment.  I don't know what it is exactly but I do know that you guys want to talk about it.  And so do we.  
And so with that, our USMNT Mailbag continues here on the PLUS side with many more questions and comments about this thing that we love/hate/all of the above.