The mods (specifically @Sirobin@lemmy.world) generally create the game threads. In this case, it looks like you created the thread about 21 seconds before Sirobin, which was about 7 minutes before kickoff.
I've created game threads in the past, but only if it's after kickoff and there isn't one already existing.
I wonder if there are any tools to schedule a new game thread to be posted, say, 30 minutes before kickoff? That way the mods could take care of it ahead of time and it's not left to the users to wonder if they need to create a game thread.
In another forum I visited, there would be a “game thread bounty” thread at the beginning of the season. Those who want to open a game thread would declare their interest in this bounty thread first.
I’d prefer that the game thread to be created one day before the game, so we could discuss rumours like who will recover from injury. However, considering the small size, I’m not sure if the pre-game gossip would attract enough attention