2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

[Road Hog]

Being down to 10 men in soccer is not as big a deal as it is being a man down in hockey. It does change your tactics in that you have to kind of park the bus out of necessity, but can still counterattack.

[thspfc]

Being down to 10 men in soccer is not as big a deal as it is being a man down in hockey. It does change your tactics in that you have to kind of park the bus out of necessity, but can still counterattack.

It's a bigger deal because it lasts the whole rest of the game. Sure, if a hockey team was playing 4v5 the rest of the game that would be worse than 10v11.

[thspfc]

I was told Turkey was good.

Pathetic showing. Honestly this tournament made me kind of a hater of every other team in our group.

Both Paraguay and Australia thought they could beat or at least draw us through physical bullying. Then they fell behind badly, probably got screamed at in the locker room, and instead of attempting any meaningful change, started fouling, flopping, and crying all second half.

Australia to their credit did make a bunch of halftime substitutions, but by the "4th quarter" (ew) they were nonetheless resorting to getting in our heads.

Now this last group game is meaningless but Turkey probably comes in pissed off and ready to fight, so let's rest up. Unfortunately, 3 of the 5 third-place opponents we could face in the first knockout round are quite formidable teams.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Happy to see the U.S. team won. Sorry to see our Scottish friends in the Tartan army come up short. It's been fun seeing them around Boston, singlehandedly propping up our bars and restaurants.   

[NWI_Irish96]

Until this year, the first tiebreaker in the group stage was goal differential.

Now it's head-to-head.

While that is objectively fairer, it also eliminates a lot of fun drama.

Under the old rules, Turkiye could potentially beat the US by enough goals to lift them up to 3rd in the group and/or knock the US down to 2nd.

As it stands now, the US has clinched first, Turkiye has clinched last, and we're in for a very likely boring-ass game when they meet Thursday. There's no reason for the US not to rest every guy on a yellow card, and play Pulisic for 30 minutes at most.

It's also worth noting that while the US group had the "worst" second-highest ranked team in Turkiye, they also had the "best" lowest-ranked team in Paraguay. The US is sitting on six points without the benefit of playing anybody ranked outside the top 39. [all rankings as of the time of the draw]

[SSOWorld]

Anyone notice that they got a TV Time-out in Soccer now? (disguised as a "Hydration break")

With the split screen they ought to start taking advantage of it as much as they do in NASCAR. (wait for the replay to see the goal)

Türkiye - pronounced Turkey, eh?

[SSOWorld]

Hearing all the "nicknames" for national teams -

Australia - Socceroos
New Zealand - "All-Whites"
Brazil - The Green and Yellow
France - The Blues
Netherlands - Clockwork Orange
Switzerland - Nati


then you have

US[M|W]NT.

[kphoger]

Anyone notice that they got a TV Time-out in Soccer now? (disguised as a "Hydration break")

I heard about that on the radio yesterday.  Reportedly, players are not happy about it, because it breaks the flow of the game.

[JayhawkCO]

Until this year, the first tiebreaker in the group stage was goal differential.

Now it's head-to-head.

While that is objectively fairer, it also eliminates a lot of fun drama.

Under the old rules, Turkiye could potentially beat the US by enough goals to lift them up to 3rd in the group and/or knock the US down to 2nd.

As it stands now, the US has clinched first, Turkiye has clinched last, and we're in for a very likely boring-ass game when they meet Thursday. There's no reason for the US not to rest every guy on a yellow card, and play Pulisic for 30 minutes at most.

On a tangential topic, we've arrived at the point where one of the games in the last round, Austria-Algeria, it's better for both teams if they lose. Whoever gets second place has to play Spain in the next round, whereas 3rd place will get a much easier draw.

[NWI_Irish96]

Until this year, the first tiebreaker in the group stage was goal differential.

Now it's head-to-head.

While that is objectively fairer, it also eliminates a lot of fun drama.

Under the old rules, Turkiye could potentially beat the US by enough goals to lift them up to 3rd in the group and/or knock the US down to 2nd.

As it stands now, the US has clinched first, Turkiye has clinched last, and we're in for a very likely boring-ass game when they meet Thursday. There's no reason for the US not to rest every guy on a yellow card, and play Pulisic for 30 minutes at most.

Edited to add: we also need to not automatically put the playoff winners in Pot 4. The playoff winners should be placed into pots based on the average ranking of the teams in that particular playoff bracket.

On a tangential topic, we've arrived at the point where one of the games in the last round, Austria-Algeria, it's better for both teams if they lose. Whoever gets second place has to play Spain in the next round, whereas 3rd place will get a much easier draw.

If we're going to continue having 48 teams, I think we need to sub-seed Pot 1. The hosts and the next highest ranked teams should go into groups where the winner gets a 3rd place team. The remaining Pot 1 teams go into groups where the winner gets a 2nd place team.

[Max Rockatansky]

Apparently the Europeans soccer fans love ranch dressing and are causing chaos at airports as they head home:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02iWtW14ydYJoDxxjwKi9cJeaeizx4ZpijVice49PwPh9xjjhaZLEBuEgqsp348Fvxl&id=100053391368777&mibextid=wwXIfr

[kphoger]

Apparently the Europeans soccer fans love ranch dressing and are causing chaos at airports as they head home

Yes, I heard about that.

I remember a Hidden Valley Ranch commercial from years ago:  someone's car was dirty, so someone else covered it in ranch dressing, which prompted a horde of people to swarm around the car and lick it clean.  Alas, I can't find a YouTube of the commercial to post here.

[Max Rockatansky]

Apparently the Europeans soccer fans love ranch dressing and are causing chaos at airports as they head home

Yes, I heard about that.

I remember a Hidden Valley Ranch commercial from years ago:  someone's car was dirty, so someone else covered it in ranch dressing, which prompted a horde of people to swarm around the car and lick it clean.  Alas, I can't find a YouTube of the commercial to post here.

I haven't had a chance to watch every video but here is a playlist of 26 Hidden Valley Ranch commercials:

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSEEj6WIyDKv4YdkfyyIRT6ea7ckhgIEq&ra=m

[NWI_Irish96]

Until this year, the first tiebreaker in the group stage was goal differential.

Now it's head-to-head.

While that is objectively fairer, it also eliminates a lot of fun drama.

Under the old rules, Turkiye could potentially beat the US by enough goals to lift them up to 3rd in the group and/or knock the US down to 2nd.

As it stands now, the US has clinched first, Turkiye has clinched last, and we're in for a very likely boring-ass game when they meet Thursday. There's no reason for the US not to rest every guy on a yellow card, and play Pulisic for 30 minutes at most.

Edited to add: we also need to not automatically put the playoff winners in Pot 4. The playoff winners should be placed into pots based on the average ranking of the teams in that particular playoff bracket.

On a tangential topic, we've arrived at the point where one of the games in the last round, Austria-Algeria, it's better for both teams if they lose. Whoever gets second place has to play Spain in the next round, whereas 3rd place will get a much easier draw.

If we're going to continue having 48 teams, I think we need to sub-seed Pot 1. The hosts and the next highest ranked teams should go into groups where the winner gets a 3rd place team. The remaining Pot 1 teams go into groups where the winner gets a 2nd place team.

We also need to place the playoff winners into pots based on the average ranking of the teams in the particular playoff and not just shove them all in Pot 4. Here's what we should have had:

Pot 1A (winners play 3rd place team in R32):
 USA (14)
 Mexico (15)
 Canada (27)
 Spain (1)
 Argentina (2)
 France (3)
 England (4)
 Brazil (5)

Pot 1B (winners play 2nd place team in R32):
 Portugal (6)
 Netherlands (7)
 Belgium (8)
 Germany (9)

Pot 2:
 Croatia (10)
 Morocco (11)
 Colombia (13)
 Uruguay (16)
 Switzerland (17)
 Japan (18)
 Senegal (19)
 Iran (20)
 South Korea (22)
 Ecuador (23)
 Austria (24)
 Australia (26)

Pot 3:
 Norway (29)
 Panama (30)
 Egypt (34)
 Algeria (35)
 Scotland (36)
 Paraguay (39)
 Tunisia (40)
 UEFA B (41.25)
 Ivory Coast (42)
 UEFA A (46)
 UEFA D (47.25)
 UEFA C (49.25)

Pot 4:
 Uzbekistan (50)
 Qatar (51)
 Saudi Arabia (60)
 South Africa (61)
 Jordan (66)
 Cape Verde (68)
 Ghana (72)
 Curaçao (82)
 Haiti (84)
 IC 2 (85.67)
 New Zealand (86)
 IC 1 (91.67)

[NWI_Irish96]

Confederation points per team through the first round of matches:

UEFA - 1.69
CONMEBOL - 1.33
CONCACAF - 1.17
AFC - 1.11
OFC - 1.00
CAF - 1.00

Confederation points per team through the second round of matches:

COMEBOL - 3.67
UEFA - 3.38
CONCACAF - 2.83
CAF - 2.11
AFC - 1.70
OFC - 1.00

[NWI_Irish96]

First round of group stage predictions:

A: Mexico, Draw
B: Canada, Switzerland
C: Morocco, Scotland
D: USA, Draw
E: Germany, Ecuador
F: Netherlands, Sweden
G: Belgium, Draw
H: Spain, Uruguay
I: France, Norway
J: Argentina, Austria
K: Portugal, Columbia
L: Draw, Draw

Only 11 for 24. Not very good.

A: Czechia, Draw
B: Switzerland, Canada
C: Draw, Brazil
D: USA, Draw
E: Germany, Educador
F: Draw, Japan
G: Belgium, Draw
H: Spain, Uruguay
I: France, Norway
J: Argentina, Draw
K: Portugal, Draw
L: England, Croatia

14 for 24. Not much better

A: Draw, South Korea
B: Draw, Bosnia-Herzegovina
C: Brazil, Morocco
D: Draw, Draw
E: Cote d'Ivoire, Germany
F: Draw, Netherlands
G: Iran, Belgium
H: Draw, Spain
I: France, Senegal
J: Draw, Argentina
K: Draw, DR Congo
L: Draw, Ghana

[thspfc]

Us resting starters at home, Norway throwing this game against France, Paraguay and Australia sleepwalking to the most predictable 0-0 ever, Japan and Sweden kinda sorta trying to win what should have been a great game, Austria and Algeria probably borderline colluding tomorrow.

Lesson learned for anyone who bought tickets to 3rd round group stage matches, at these prices no less.

At least groups G and H should be entertaining today. Tomorrow will be a snooze fest.

[hotdogPi]

My solution: whoever wins the match should choose whether to take the second or third place slot.

[jdb1234]

I am curious if anyone on here has attended a World Cup match yet.  I was at the Morocco - Haiti match Wednesday night in Atlanta.

[JayhawkCO]

I am curious if anyone on here has attended a World Cup match yet.  I was at the Morocco - Haiti match Wednesday night in Atlanta.

I was all gung ho to go to KC and catch some of the games there, but then saw the ticket prices and decided to prioritize other things. I'd much rather go to a game overseas where it's cheaper. I may attempt to go to Morocco in four years since it's one of my favorite countries anyway.

[Max Rockatansky]

I am curious if anyone on here has attended a World Cup match yet.  I was at the Morocco - Haiti match Wednesday night in Atlanta.

I was all gung ho to go to KC and catch some of the games there, but then saw the ticket prices and decided to prioritize other things. I'd much rather go to a game overseas where it's cheaper. I may attempt to go to Morocco in four years since it's one of my favorite countries anyway.

My wife wanted to go until she saw the ticket prices.  She was agreement with me that the money was better spent on traveling somewhere.

[JayhawkCO]

I am curious if anyone on here has attended a World Cup match yet.  I was at the Morocco - Haiti match Wednesday night in Atlanta.

I was all gung ho to go to KC and catch some of the games there, but then saw the ticket prices and decided to prioritize other things. I'd much rather go to a game overseas where it's cheaper. I may attempt to go to Morocco in four years since it's one of my favorite countries anyway.

My wife wanted to go until she saw the ticket prices.  She was agreement with me that the money was better spent on traveling somewhere.

I would have been okay with $200-250 maybe? But $500-$600? No way. I barely spent over a grand on my whole trip to Central Asia not including airfare.

[Max Rockatansky]

I am curious if anyone on here has attended a World Cup match yet.  I was at the Morocco - Haiti match Wednesday night in Atlanta.

I was all gung ho to go to KC and catch some of the games there, but then saw the ticket prices and decided to prioritize other things. I'd much rather go to a game overseas where it's cheaper. I may attempt to go to Morocco in four years since it's one of my favorite countries anyway.

My wife wanted to go until she saw the ticket prices.  She was agreement with me that the money was better spent on traveling somewhere.

I would have been okay with $200-250 maybe? But $500-$600? No way. I barely spent over a grand on my whole trip to Central Asia not including airfare.

Two years ago I paid $280 ($560 overall) a piece for tickets to the NFC championship game at Levi's Stadium.  That was something I considered to be a bargain since my team (the Lions) was in the game.  I would have paid more to see the Lions in that game and likely considerably more if they made a Super Bowl.  I don't even know if I can really do the mental gymnastics to justify that $280 price for a sport where I don't really have a rooting interest. 

I guess that's the main problem for me with competitions involving national teams.  I don't get excited about the U.S. playing in anything like the World Cup or the Olympics.  It is pretty clear my wife and her family are fans of the Mexican National Team.  For them Mexico doing anything on the world stage is huge. 

FWIW the six World Cup games I've watched on TV have invoked the U.S. and Mexican teams.  I'll probably keep watching until both are eliminated.  Soccer at home is free and pretty decent background noise while I do other things.

[JayhawkCO]

Two years ago I paid $280 ($560 overall) a piece for tickets to the NFC championship game at Levi's Stadium.  That was something I considered to be a bargain since my team (the Lions) was in the game.  I would have paid more to see the Lions in that game and likely considerably more if they made a Super Bowl.  I don't even know if I can really do the mental gymnastics to justify that $280 price for a sport where I don't really have a rooting interest. 

I guess that's the main problem for me with competitions involving national teams.  I don't get excited about the U.S. playing in anything like the World Cup or the Olympics.  It is pretty clear my wife and her family are fans of the Mexican National Team.  For them Mexico doing anything on the world stage is huge. 

FWIW the six World Cup games I've watched on TV have invoked the U.S. and Mexican teams.  I'll probably keep watching until both are eliminated.  Soccer at home is free and pretty decent background noise while I do other things.

Soccer is the sport I follow most religiously, and when I lived in KC during the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, I took every US gameday off of work and was literally the one leading the cheers down in the Power & Light District where the main watch parties were. Some of my favorite memories for sure. I've also watched most of every World Cup since 1994. I would rather experience the World Cup in a place with a different culture from here. Even the times when I've been abroad during the WC (Bolivia/Chile in 2018 for example), it was a blast watching the games surrounded by tons of people where soccer/football is their favorite sport.

[Max Rockatansky]

Two years ago I paid $280 ($560 overall) a piece for tickets to the NFC championship game at Levi's Stadium.  That was something I considered to be a bargain since my team (the Lions) was in the game.  I would have paid more to see the Lions in that game and likely considerably more if they made a Super Bowl.  I don't even know if I can really do the mental gymnastics to justify that $280 price for a sport where I don't really have a rooting interest. 

I guess that's the main problem for me with competitions involving national teams.  I don't get excited about the U.S. playing in anything like the World Cup or the Olympics.  It is pretty clear my wife and her family are fans of the Mexican National Team.  For them Mexico doing anything on the world stage is huge. 

FWIW the six World Cup games I've watched on TV have invoked the U.S. and Mexican teams.  I'll probably keep watching until both are eliminated.  Soccer at home is free and pretty decent background noise while I do other things.

Soccer is the sport I follow most religiously, and when I lived in KC during the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, I took every US gameday off of work and was literally the one leading the cheers down in the Power & Light District where the main watch parties were. Some of my favorite memories for sure. I've also watched most of every World Cup since 1994. I would rather experience the World Cup in a place with a different culture from here. Even the times when I've been abroad during the WC (Bolivia/Chile in 2018 for example), it was a blast watching the games surrounded by tons of people where soccer/football is their favorite sport.

I will say that watching soccer down in Mexico is much more enjoyable versus here.  The Spanish broadcasters are better and usually there is a crap ton of food/booze to go around.