The Blue Links: November 17th, 2016

The soccer magazine out of the UK, FourFourTwo recently released a list of the 100 Best Football Stadiums in the World. The home of Boca Juniors in Argentina, La Bombonera, was named the Best Stadium in the World.

It wouldn't be all that surprising to learn that MLS was snubbed from the list all together, but five US stadiums were in fact selected. However, Sporting Park somehow missed the cut.

Vancouver Whitecaps - BC Place - #95
New York Red Bulls - Red Bull Arena - #86
Seattle Sounders - CenturyLink Field - #63
LA Galaxy - StubHub Center - #49
Portland Timbers - Providence Park - #40

"Each candidate was judged on five criteria: history; atmosphere; capacity; architecture and environment; and that almost indefinable but viscerally obvious "wow factor". In short, how desperately would football fans want to go there?"

Two trophies have been won in thrilling fashion in Sporting Park to check off the history section. The Blue Hell and the architecture of the stadium to keep all that noise inside would cross off another two criteria. The capacity doesn't help our case at all, however.

But it is definitely hard to think there are five stadiums in MLS better than our beloved. Especially because a place with a turf field should be automatically disqualified!

Oh well, we'll just continue to do our thing.

ANYWAY...

Krisztian Nemeth and his native Hungary have locked up a spot in next year's UEFA Euro 2016 taking place in France. It will be the first time in 44 years that Hungary has played in the prestigious tournament.

Congratulations Krisztian!

Three other Sporting KC players will be representing their countries today in World Cup Qualifiers:

• Marcel De Jong and Canada take on El Salvador at 7:30 on beIN Sports
• Soni Mustivar and Haiti take on Jamaica at 6
• Matt Besler and the USMNT face off against Trinidad & Tobago at 5:25 on beIN Sports

After beating St. Vincent and the Grenadines Friday, the Americans may have a bit of a tougher test against an in-form T&T side. Even head coach Jurgen Klinsmann hinted that a draw wouldn't be all that bad. My palm definitely hit my face on that one.

ICYMI... Dom Dwyer talked with Steve Brisendine about his eligibility to play for the USMNT in the future.

Dwyer also spoke about his wife, their honeymoon, and their desire to get her moved to KC:

"That's very important for me," he said. "I think it will make my life a lot easier, also. Less traveling trying to see each other. It would definitely make things calmer and able to focus a little more. I would love that. That's a dream of hers, and of course of mine as well. It's something we're pushing for and very hopeful that that can get done.

"But some things are kind of out of your control, so you've just got to sit back and keep focusing on what you can control and hoping that that gets done."

He also sat down for a goofy interview with Jake Yadrich that you should watch right here.

Grant Wahl wrote a story for Sports Illustrated about the new socks that all of the biggest and best players in the world are wearing. It is about socks, but incredibly interesting. Players all over the world are wearing TruSox and taking fines from their leagues for doing so! An MLS player even says he'll rack up $5,000 in fines.

If you aren't still too upset about the loss... here is the schedule for the rest of the playoffs.

NY Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew
Portland Timbers vs FC Dallas

Leg 1: Nov. 22
Leg 2: Nov. 29th
MLS Cup: Dec. 6th

In another sad and scary day for the sport, two international friendlies have been called off today. Germany vs. Netherlands soccer match canceled and the stadium evacuated. The game was scheduled for 1:45p today, but the stadium was evacuated just over an hour before the start of the match. Belgium vs Spain in Brussels was also cancelled "with authorities searching Belgium for suspected perpetrators of the Paris terrorist attacks.

The friendly between France and England is still schedule to start at 2pm CT.