2025 Football memories

It has been a bit of a poor year in terms of football as we await next year's big but probably overblown World Cup. Time-difference did not help as I worked too much and was more often than not too tired to watch football.

That said, some footballing memories worth mentioning:

• Cruz Azul-Monterrey: I went to watch my favourite Mexican team, Cruz Azul, a few times, including this match, the debut of Sergio Ramos for Monterrey (he played one season in the side from Nuevo Leon) and the match ended 1-1
• Argentina-Brazil: Watched the match in a local bar in Mexico, and it was a mixture of delight and surprise as the World Champions of Argentina completely dominated their arch-rivals as I had seldomly seen. Argentina won 4-1 and this match qualified them to the World Cup and ensured that Brazil's coach lost his job to be replaced by the great Carlo Ancelotti.
• Independiente Medellin-Once Caldas: I happened to be in Medellin when one of the local sides played a league match against Once Caldas. Not a memorable match but a fantastic atmosphere in the beautiful Colombian city.
•  Crystal Palace-Manchester City: Probably the best result for a neutral in 2025, with Crystal Palace taking their first title ever by winning the FA Cup against mighty Manchester City!
•  Cruz Azul-Vancouver Whitecaps: Cruz Azul took the Concacaf Champions Cup at home by trashing the Canadian side Whitecaps 5-0. Despite the title it was generally not a great year for Cruz Azul against MLS sides, specially as the got trashed by Seattle Sounders 0-7 in the Leagues Cup...
• PSG-Inter Milan: Watched the CL final in a bar in Mexico with some very happy Frenchmen present, with all reason as PSG finally took the coveted title, and in awesome style, playing a fanastic match where the 5-0 victory was none too little. Great for the Manager Luis Enrique.
• PSG-Chelsea: The first club World Cup final was between PSG and Chelsea, and PSG were surely favourites, but were torn apart 3-0 by a highly motivated Chelsea, and sadly PSG, including Luis Enrique, were incredibly sore losers, making it an ugly final instead of the spectacle it should have been from what was surprisingly a great tournament.
• Morocco- Argentina: The two sides faced one another in the u-21 World Cup final, and the African side were by far the better team, and we will look forward to see some of these great youngsters in 2026.
• Denmark-Belarus: with a victory at home, Denmark could have qualified to the 2026 World Cup. But instead poor attitude left them with a 2-2, and in the next match Denmark lost to Scotland, ending second in a group they should have won. As many Denmark fans I was hugely disappointed, and now I doubt that they can take the play-off spot, even if the do, they will play Mexico in the city where I am currently residing...
• Cruz Azul-Chivas: Went to watch this match at the Olympic University Stadium in Mexico, where the home side won 3-2, but only after suffering and the veteran Chivas' striker Javier Hernandez awfully missing a penalty that could have put them in the final.

Wishing everybody a happy new year 2026, for all fans and their teams, to enjoy football no matter who wins and who loses, even for my Cruz Azul-supporting cat:

Trying to get World Cup tickets

Some people think that me living in Mexico makes it easier for me to find tickets for the coming World Cup. Not really; all normal fans, all over the world, are victims to the same FIFA ticketing mayhem that is already causing fan associations to complain.

I do not think it is surprising, as FIFA has for many years been accused of not considering the interests of the fans, and sadly this World Cup appears to confirming the accusation.

I have signed up for the tickets. The dynamic pricing is making them very expensive, and it is easy to argue that this is the nature of market mechanisms, and with an open reselling platform that allows us to resell tickets at any price, it is bound only to increase prices, making it even more inaccessible for the vast majority of people... And FIFA taking up to 15% of reselling price...

I am critical, but admit that I have signed up, and I am hopeful and willing to pay some of the (lower) prices despite it being a large expense. But at the same I am already getting ticket offers from many other platforms, and wonder who is benefiting from these platforms who offer "ticket guarantee" at exaggerated prices, and that on top of this, hospitality tickets are being offered for free to rich elites who seem to be those who could afford the high prices...

While I am open to a policy of dynamic pricing and even grudgingly that FIFA takes its own (high) fee, I would rather question the lack of transparency and equal opportunity access about who gets ticket; because let us face it, some fans are more equal that others...

Sadly, I have stopped having expectations to FIFA as the guarantor of the fans, but still hopeful that I may be able to see a match in the World Cup...

The 2026 World Cup Groups

I did not watch the draw event. It was bound to be an extravagant and irrelevant event, and it appears it was since what everyone is talking about seems to be Mr. Trump. So let me start by congratulating Mr. Trump for achieving that everyone is talking about him, and not about the football draw, which is what interests me, and not all the other stuff.

The final setup of the groups still depends on the remaining playoff matches that will take place in March. I include the teams that I think will qualify in parenthesis:

Group A: 

• Mexico
• South Corea
• South Africa
• (Czech Republic)

The Mexican hosts drew a group where they should qualify, although they will have to play better than in their latest friendlies. The opening match will be a repeat of the 2010 opening match in South Africa in an upgraded Azteca stadium. South Corea is probably the other team to watch, although an UEFA side is set to qualify: Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark or North Macedonia. Although I hope it will be Denmark, I think it will be either the Czechs or Irish, who have the spirit and commitment to qualify in what will be a final at home for each of them.

Group B:

• Canada
• Qatar
• Switzerland
• (Italy)

The Canadian hosts will be looking to progressing from a difficult group, perhaps in a third spot they will have to fight for against Qatar. In the meantime I think Switzerland will be group winners, even though it seems that the last team will be Italy, or maybe, Wales, Northern Ireland or Bosnia-Hercegovina. But another World Cup without Italy...?

Group C:

• Brazil
• Morocco
• Scotland
• Haiti

One of the most interesting groups, in particular because giants Brazil will be facing the African powerhouse, Morocco, who in 2022 were the first African team to make it to a World Cup semifinal and were recently crowned U-23 World Champions. Probably these two sides will play for the first spot, but will also face two teams that will attract a lot of neutral support: the Haitians who are back in a World Cup for the first time since 1974, and the charming Scots whose fans are some of the best in the world.

Group D:

•  USA
• Paraguay
• Australia
• (Turkey)

The North Americans are probably optimistic in this group, but may struggle because of arrogance. Although none of the other teams appear as the best, they are certainly strong. Australia have shown they are competitive and an always-fighting Paraguay are both teams that can defeat anyone on a good day. In the meantime we are looking at a UEFA team to qualify among Turkey, Kosovo, Slovakia and Romania.

Group E:

• Germany
• Ecuador
• Curacao
• Cote d'Ivoire

On paper this should be an easy group for the Germans, and if they do not win it, it will be a surprise. Ecuador and Cote d'Ivoire seem to be the teams that will fight to be runner-ups, and perhaps take a third place to go to the last-32. In the meantime small Curacao is playing its first World Cup, and there will be limited expectations, although if they pull a surprise, it will surely make them the darlings of the tournament.

Group F:

• Netherlands
• Japan
• Tunisia
• (Poland)

The two sides to watch in this group are the Netherlands and Japan, although Tunisia are certainly a competitive side that could also make it to the next round. In the meantime the last team is to be found among Poland, Ukraine, Sweden and Albania, where all, except Sweden, appear as strong sides. On paper the Dutch are favourites, but I think this will be one of the closest groups.

Group G:

• Belgium
• Egypt
• Iran
• New Zealand 

A group where the Belgians enter as big favourites, and anything but them winning the group would be disappointing. That said, Belgium has disappointed before, and in particular Iran and Egypt will be sides with a lot of spirit and strong players, and could surprise. New Zealand I do not expect much from; I may be wrong.

Group H:

• Spain
• Saudi Arabia
• Uruguay
• Cape Verde

Spain and Uruguay are huge favourites in this group, and the match between these two former World Champions will be one of the most expected matches in the group stages. In the meantime Saudi Arabia have already shown before that they are able to pull a surprise (they memorably defeated Argentina in 2022), while Cape Verde will be playing their first World Cup ever, and can only surprise, but it will be great if the do!

Group I:

• France
• Senegal
• Norway
• (Bolivia)

This could be the "group of Death". France may be slight favourites, but they are facing Senegal, who with a lot of French-born and -based players will be eager to repeat their legendary 2002 victory against the then-World Champions. In the meantime Norway are considered one of the Dark Horses this year having qualified in style. The last team will be found among Bolivia, Surinam and Iraq, all sides that should be capable of pulling a surprise.

Group J:

• Argentina
• Algeria
• Austria
• Jordan

The defending World Champions have pulled what on paper appears to be a very easy group. But it is becoming a tradition that the defending champions do bad in defending the title, and the Argentineans will also struggle against their own arrogance, in particular against Algeria and Austria, two competitive sides that may surprise. In the meantime Jordan, in their first World Cup ever, can only surprise.

Group K:

• Portugal
• Colombia
• Uzbekistan
• (RD Congo)

Portugal and Colombia will be one of the most awaited matches in the first round, with both teams being huge favourites in a group that count the debutantes of Uzbekistan, as well as one of the following: Jamaica, New Caledonia and RD Congo. I think the Congolese will make it, although appears to be a final against Jamaica.

Group L:

• England
• Croatia
• Ghana
• Panama

A quite exciting group with Croatia and England as favourities, but (my dear) Ghana will also be a side to watch, and magnificent to have their great fans back in the World Cup. Panama are playing their second World Cup ever, and seems like it could be a repeat of 2018 when they were trashed by England.  

Cruz Azul-Chivas

Last night Cruz Azul faced Chivas Guadalajara at home in the second leg of the Liga MX championship quarterfinals. The first match had ended 0-0 and there was a great atmosphere at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario with at least as many Chivas as Cruz Azul fans in what turned out to be a great match, but which also included the usual suffering that Cruz Azul is so known for.

In fact, Cruz Azul was dreadful in the first half. After only 8 minutes poor marking  following a corner kick gave Cade Cowell a chance he could not miss, and brought Chivas ahead. Only 6 minutes later the home team equalized by the Uruguayan striker Gabriel Fernandez in what was effectively their first attack. Despite this, Chivas continued a high pressure that made the Cruz Azul look shaky and full of mistakes, and Bryan Gonzalez brought Chivas ahead again following poor Cruz Azul defending.

There was not reason to be happy about Cruz Azul's first half, and while they came out with more pressure in the second half one still had the feeling that Chivas stood well as they pulled back. It was only in the 72nd minute, after steady Cruz Azul pressure, that Jeremy Marquez sneaked in the ball via the post and an equalizer that put Cruz Azul in the semifinals (because the team that ended higher in the league phase passes in case of a tie).

Cruz Azul is expert in suffering, and the following 20 minutes were suffering as Chivas put pressure on Cruz Azul. There were some close calls, but the event of the match came in the 86th minutes when Chivas was awarded a penalty. 

The veteran ex-Manchester United player, ex-Real Madrid player, Javier Hernandez ("Chicharito") was selected to take the penalty that would put Chivas with one leg in the semifinals. But as happens to any player, and to the delight of the suffering Cruz Azul fans, Chicharito completely overshot the goal, instead sending the ball into the stars above Mexico City.

Chivas continued attacking as the match went into 7 minutes of painful extra time. But exactly in the 97th minute Cruz Azul caught Chivas off guard, and the experienced Mexican midfielder Carlos Rodriguez lobbed the ball over the Chivas goalie to give Cruz Azul the 3-2 victory.

The semifinals will be interesting. Monterrey eliminated America in an intense match and will be facing the defending champions of Toluca in one semifinal, while Cruz Azul will face another Monterrey team, namely the Tigres of UNAM. Tigres progressed after coming from a 0-3 defeat to Tijuana to win 5-0 at home. 

Probably more suffering for Cruz Azul. 

 

The fury and the dream

In 1982, Northern Ireland arrived at their second ever World Cup. Despite the country’s rich footballing tradition, expectations were modest as the small British possession prepared to face Yugoslavia in their opening match. A hard-fought 0–0 draw offered a glimmer of hope: with a win over the unfancied Honduras, a place in the next round seemed possible. 

But a frustrating 1–1 left them on the brink. 

Their final match would be against the hosts — Spain. Back then, Spain were not celebrated for their style, but for La Furia — “The Fury.” 

Backed by passionate crowds and, at times, sympathetic refereeing, the home side were overwhelming favourites against the modest Irish team. Even Northern Ireland’s own players had little faith; they confirmed their plane tickets and checked out of their hotel before the match. 

But football thrives on disbelief. Against the odds, Northern Ireland stayed — not only in the tournament, but in history — when Gerry Armstrong, Watford’s tireless striker, scored the decisive goal in a 0–1 victory. Spain’s fury could not overcome Irish heart.