<![CDATA[SHANE STAY

<![CDATA[SHANE STAY - Blog]]>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:20:31 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Italy out again]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:46:59 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/italy-out-again2018, 2022, 2026: Italy doesn't make the FIFA World Cup.

Italy's a four-time World Cup champ, an all-time great.
This is a tragedy.

What's the best chance for Italy to get back in the World Cup?
Putting in a bid to host.

Solution:
Get rid of Adidas.
It just doesn't look right.
I like Adidas, it's just not working for Italy.
Get back to your roots.

1. Lotto
2. Diadora
3. Maybe Puma

Let's start there.

Italy out again. Wow. Enough said. I'm a big fan. I love some Italian soccer. Who doesn't? There might be a few. But there aren't that many haters. Italy is the quintessential World Cup favorite. It was. This is crazy. Literally crazy. Italy is fighting to make a World Cup? Do you hear yourself? Does that even make sense? Of course not. Italy is struggling, big time. This is odd. It's beyond odd. At this point, there's a problem. Italian fans have something to be concerned about. Because, for the most part, I thought for the last two World Cup failures (2018, 2022) Italy was just going through a bad streak like Brazil taking a 7-1 pounding in 2014 by Germany. It happens. No one's perfect. But now we're talking about three World Cups in a row for the amazing Azzurri which is something significant. Two was significant. Three is alarming. Three in a row is very un-Italian. Go figure. You know I look out for Italian soccer fans. I got your back. But this is pathetic. Do I have Italian coffee right now? Prefer French but, yeah, I have Italian right now. French is better. Still though, I'm gonna drink the coffee cause it's good. I should clarify: this is Starbucks Italian vs. Starbucks French. So it might be different with another brand. That's something that very well could be pointed out and was just pointed out. Forget about it, moving on. I love all things Italy. But I get the feeling this might not be over. Italy needs a generational shift in talent. Players like, I'm not mentioning Baggio because he's too obvious, Signori. That was a talent. You need that again, Italy. Find that times six. You need six guys on the field, like Signori, at once. Not one or two...six. The United States has a similar problem, for generations. The USMNT has always fielded two or three very talented players with the wrong dance partners. It's not a fair comparison, however, in terms of "fielding talent" there's a slight parallel in that Italy, like the US, needs to focus on shiftier, craftier, skillful, dynamic players that showcase dribbling skill that makes fans want to watch. Period. It starts with dribbling. Get to that and you'll be ok. For now, Italy is in a world of hurt with a need retuning in order to get its Ferrari revving again, which it's more than capable of.

]]><![CDATA[2026 world cup final qualifications]]>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:16:37 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/march-25th-2026FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifications

The final 22 teams.
Only 6 will qualify.
Essentially, we have the following...

UEFA Playoffs
(Europe)

March 26, 2026 March 31, 2026

Wales
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia
Italy Italy
Northern Ireland

Ukraine
Sweden Sweden
Sweden
Poland Poland
Albania

Slovakia
Kosovo Kosovo
Turkey
Turkey Turkey
Romania

Czech Republic Czech Republic
Republic of Ireland Czech Republic

Denmark Denmark
North Macedonia

Inter-confederation Playoffs
(North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania)

March 26, 2026 March 31, 2026

New Caledonia DR Congo DR Congo
Jamaica Jamaica

Bolivia Iraq Iraq
Suriname Bolivia

Qualifications for the FIFA World Cup can be extremely complicated.
The process has been simplified above.
There were many rounds leading up to this point.
From these remaining 22 teams, 6 will go to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For paperback and eBook, the qualification process has been included in Your Guide to the 2026 World Cup.
(Subject to change. As games take place, check here for updates.)

My personal choice: New Caledonia.
I doubt they'll win but I want them to. Let's go!
...News flash: New Caledonia lost.

]]><![CDATA[kjff radio...100 american soccer legends, "galaxy spiral theory"]]>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:30:32 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/kjff-radio

Image courtesy of Ryan Reinheimer.

"Galaxy Spiral Theory"
By
Shane Stay
First heard on KJFF radio, 1-27-2026
In studio | Festus, Missouri | the Heartland

By studying pictures from Hubble, other, it becomes clear, here it is. (Starting from small upwards.) (1) Thanks to electromagnetic forces and gravity, during a proton-photon collision in a lab, strange little spirals occurred. (2) When water goes down your kitchen sink it goes in a spiral. (3) Tornados go in a spiral, hurricanes go in a spiral. (4) The planets in the solar system spiral (revolve) around the sun. (5) Our star and the others go in a spiral around the center of the galaxy. (6) My addition, the galaxies themselves go in a spiral. They go in a grand spiral. To what, that’s still a mystery, and I’m not at liberty to discuss it here. The galaxies seem to have separate groups that go in spirals; perhaps together, as a whole, they're all going to the same place. Though, all the little things we see, such as tornados going in a spiral, seem to be re-enacting how galaxies were formed, and so on. How did I come up with that? That’s aside the point.

Good time on KJFF, with Ryan Reinheimer, discussing a number of things, such as 100 American Soccer Legends, This Is Our CITY, the 2026 World Cup, Cahokia Mounds, galaxies, sports and more.

Italy
Incidentally, when Italy is in the FIFA World Cup things seem to "spiral" around it. Italy is a grand unifying force in the world of soccer. Hopefully the Italians are back in the World Cup. Stay tuned: In late March 2026 we'll know!

USMNT players
A few players covered: Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Christian Pulisic, Ricky Davis, Mike Sorber, Taylor Twellman and many more.

]]><![CDATA[the 2026 fifa world cup cities]]>Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:20:50 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/excerpt-from-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-citiesA Brief Excerpt
('Things To Do List': Share this map!)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup cities map. Check out the middle part ;)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Cities
Published with Cardinal Publishers Group, January 2, 2026

By Shane Stay

Here you go soccer fans, the 2026 FIFA World Cup map:

The 2026 FIFA World Cup could be the best one ever, literally. I’m looking forward to it. Over a billion—people and maybe well-trained pets—are looking forward to it. Hold on a sec. Let’s just go over a quick little slight thing…It’s just a second, it really won’t be that big-a-deal.

It goes without saying, there’s something interesting with this map. Why’s there only one in the middle? Yeah, right. There’s 3 on the East Coast, where Bob Bradley is sipping tea, Princeton sweater on, with a painting of a yacht on the wall. Listen, listen to me yacht fella, put your tasty beverage down. “What?” Did you say what? Say what again! Say what again! I dare you, I double…And those 3 are right next to each other? Huh? What? You can scratch Boston or Philly from that list, duh. New York, Philly would work. Atlanta, yes. Miami, yes. Dallas and Houston? Pick one. I’d go with Dallas. Seattle, yes. SF, where I owned a restaurant, sure, I guess, it gives me a chance to mention Vine & Barrel. LA, where I grew up—in part—with family, I guess. But let’s go to the middle bit. Just Kansas City? Really? Really??? No Detroit, Chicago, or St. Louis as a second? Oh ok, yeah that makes sense. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense, no, I get it: Because St. Louis and Chicago have nothing to do with the history of soccer in America. They really don’t. Everyone knows that. Especially St. Louis, the capitol of soccer in America. Realistically, delete Houston—they might not notice—from the list and add either St. Louis or Chicago. No, I’m not saying this as a native of St. Louis and one who’s lived in Chicago. For argument’s sake, let’s just say I live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I don’t but just imagine maybe I do…right by the place where Rockefeller had secret UFO meetings. When I buy groceries, I say hi to all the locals. Over there. Even then, I’d still be noticing one in the middle, because…it’s weird. As someone else told me, it’s weird. Only one in the middle?

More at Cardinal Publishers Group...

Some players from this book will be in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Out soon...Get ready for March 26, March 31 FIFA Playoffs! That's what the world is waiting for!

]]><![CDATA[32]]>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 05:57:22 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/3232]]><![CDATA[the pixies]]>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 03:41:45 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/the-pixiesThe songs start out simple and addictive, talky, childlike, then it gets out of their control with mad scientist brilliance but completely in their control as they navigate through a masterpiece.

I'm a music critic now? What decade am I in?
Who's next, Sting?

Sting, technically sound like a studio musician, perfect. Live? Sounds like you're in the studio.

I'm told I'm the best DJ around. For more, see Song of the Day. Martha Quinn eat your heart out. Next up: EPMD, "B.E. the Green-Eyed Bandit." Something like that.

]]><![CDATA[correct prediction: Miami]]>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 03:30:27 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/correct-predictionCorrect Prediction for:

2025 MLS Cup Champs: Inter Miami

The prediction was made here, home page:

"Current prediction: 2025 MLS Cup champs will be Inter Miami...prediction made here, 11-24-25."

A FEW OF SHANE'S MIGHTY PREDICTIONS

2025 MLS Cup Champs: Inter Miami
2024 UEFA Euro Champs: Spain (Published: Cardinal Publishers Group, 2024)
2024 Copa America Champs: Argentina (Published: Cardinal Publishers Group, 2024)
2024 Champions League Champs: Real Madrid
2022 Champions League Champs: Real Madrid
2020-21 UEFA Euro Champs: Italy
2020 MLS Cup Champs: Portland
2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Champs: USWNT

]]><![CDATA[2026 World Cup update...]]>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:35:01 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/2026-world-cup-updateYour World Cup stop!

Watching live:

2026 World Cup qualifiers
CONCACAF

El Salvador vs. Suriname

Next up:
Bermuda vs. Curacao

What is there to report?
Use your imagination...We could start with: Uniforms include Macron and Umbro. ]]><![CDATA[The 2026 World Cup arrives soon]]>Sat, 25 Oct 2025 03:42:35 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/the-world-cup-arrives

A big event for the FIFA World Cup!

Over to the left are 3 nations hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup!

In ancient times, what would compare with our World Cup?

Wilson, perhaps due for a soccer comeback?

If only Johnny could announce the World Cup!

As far as we know, the World Cup champs are the best around!

These pictures might not make sense. We'll talk to the editor!

Malta. Again, this picture might not make sense. Never mind.

Wherever you go during the World Cup, you're likely to encounter a barcode! Canadian barcodes might have different accents!

Action from the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

Books!

This is where your teams reside!

Back to Wilson. This is not a Tom Hanks thing.

Feel free to guess...it isn't super World Cup-related. (Answer: Baalbek, an ancient mystery!)

Time to party?! I'm upset I wasn't invited!

Some Argentinian guy left, not sure his name. We'll focus on the book to his right, rather. There we go!

more around the corner Vince Guaraldi...

]]><![CDATA[museum of me]]>Sun, 19 Oct 2025 06:02:20 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/museum-of-meMuseum of Me
12-30-22

I’ve realized I’m just lugging my own personal museum of my pointless stuff.

For my stuff, it’s my own personal museum—that only I care about.

A pair of Dockers dress shoes from circa 2004 that were snazzy, once upon a time…like Frank Sinatra, etc.

(I’ve been accused of being a hoarder. No. Hoarders are like someone I know. My fiancee hoarded and accused me of hoarding. They often deflect. You’re telling me a couple TVs, coffee maker, and a box of cologne packages is hoarding? I don’t think so. I gotta a couple things but it’s nothing like a garage full of mysterious boxes that only one person knows about.)

Hoarders are just really bad museum curators.

They’re like the worst museum curators in the world.

Their intentions are good, save things. But they are a mess!]]>