2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

[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

15 for 24. 40 for 72 for the entire group stage.

On to the knockouts. Going pretty chalky for the round of 32:

Canada
Brazil
Germany
Netherlands
Norway
France
Mexico
England
Belgium
United States
Spain
Portugal
Switzerland
Egypt
Argentina
Colombia

14 for 16 in the round of 32. Not going as chalky for the round of 16 though:

Canada
France
Norway
Mexico
Spain
United States
Argentina
Colombia

[Ted$8roadFan]

Cape Verde-Argentina: what a game!

[thspfc]

Some of my free time lately has been spent on a rating system combining results, who those results are against, and goal difference to rank every team's performance 1 to 48 without any influence of pre-torunament expectations.

So it's not a forward-looking power ranking, but rather a backwards-looking performance ranking. It's not perfect, and very much subject to change, but here's how it's rating the teams that are still alive:

1. France - 30.5
2. Argentina - 24.5
3. Mexico - 23.0
4. United States - 22.5
5. Switzerland - 20.5
6. Brazil - 20.0
6. Spain - 20.0
8. England - 18.5
8. Colombia - 18.5
11. Portugal - 17.5
13. Belgium - 16.0
14. Canada - 15.0
15. Norway - 14.0
16. Morocco - 13.0
17. Egypt - 10.0
27. Paraguay - 4.0

Mexico's 12 straight up points is huge. US and Switzerland both have 3 wins over knockout teams, with France and Argentina being the only other such teams as of now.

Morocco and Paraguay are the only teams that feel like misplacements to me right now, but Morocco should win today and jump way up, and if they don't then they weren't misplaced to begin with. Paraguay loses points for their goal difference (the worst of any remaining team by 4 goals) and they didn't win their round of 32 game, rather drew it and won on penalties.

[1995hoo]

Our token Canadian may not believe this, but I was rooting for Canada today. Too bad.

[thspfc]

A great test of someone's soccer understanding is whether they think Iran was offside in stoppage time last night.

Today on "a great test of someone's soccer understanding": expectations for how Paraguay was supposed to play against France. If you're complaining because they don't look like a Jurgen Klopp Liverpool team, for your sake and ours, turn the game off.

[thspfc]

A great test of someone's soccer understanding is whether they think Iran was offside in stoppage time last night.

Today on "a great test of someone's soccer understanding": expectations for how Paraguay was supposed to play against France. If you're complaining because they don't look like a Jurgen Klopp Liverpool team, for your sake and ours, turn the game off.

By this I meant low block defending and playing for penalties - not cheap shotting for the entire second half, shit talking while losing, and trying to start a fight at the final whistle. Loser team, goodbye and good riddance.

[JayhawkCO]

Only 11/16 last round since I went for some upsets, but 2/2 so far this round.

[Road Hog]

Paraguay's 1-0 loss against the pre-tournament favorites makes the US' win over Paraguay look better. Belgium has been a nemesis so I hope it bodes well.

[1995hoo]

The Athletic reports Balogun WILL be available tomorrow after all.

[NWI_Irish96]

The Athletic reports Balogun WILL be available tomorrow after all.

Yes, it appears that FIFA has overturned his red card. It is the right call, given that VAR violated procedure for that review.

[1995hoo]

Man. I'm glad I just watched Norway.

[thspfc]

Brazil, Italy, Germany, and Uruguay account for 15 of 22 World Cup titles in history, and all of them are completely broken as footballing nations.

In the last decade those four countries qualify for the last 32 (so just qualifying for 2018/22 or making the knockouts this year) only 67% of the time, the last 16 only 33% of the time, and the semifinals never once.

The craziest part is Brazil, for how disastrous it's been, is still by far the most successful of the four over the last decade. They've reached two Copa finals, won one, and reached the WC quarters twice. The others have combined to reach one regional tournament final (Italy's freak Euro 2020) and one WC last 16 (Uruguay 2018).

[Max Rockatansky]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

[thspfc]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

Don't let the door hit them on the way out. Not sure what's up with your circle, if I knew any American-born non-Hispanic people rooting for Mexico I would have some serious questions.

[thspfc]

Not to mention, they care enough about soccer to pick a team other than their own, yet they don't care enough to watch the best teams play for the title?

[Max Rockatansky]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

Don't let the door hit them on the way out.

For context my wife was at her dad's house tonight in Firebaugh watching the game.  Most of her family is from Jalisco and I'm to understand that there was thirty plus people over. 

I was fixing cameras at work today so I went home after I was done this afternoon.  I'm not aware of any family or friends doing anything for the U.S. game tomorrow.

Not to mention, they care enough about soccer to pick a team other than their own, yet they don't care enough to watch the best teams play for the title?

As I just said, most of my wife's family is of Mexican descent.  A larger percentage of people around here have family ties to Mexico.  I'm just some random guy from Michigan in the middle of all this.

[thspfc]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

Don't let the door hit them on the way out.

For context my wife was at her dad's house tonight in Firebaugh watching the game.  Most of her family is from Jalisco and I'm to understand that there was thirty plus people over. 

I was fixing cameras at work today so I went home after I was done this afternoon.  I'm not aware of any family or friends doing anything for the U.S. game tomorrow.

So am I right to say you're basing your estimation of the entire Central Valley (~7 million people) off the skewed sample size of your wife's family?

[Max Rockatansky]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

Don't let the door hit them on the way out.

For context my wife was at her dad's house tonight in Firebaugh watching the game.  Most of her family is from Jalisco and I'm to understand that there was thirty plus people over. 

I was fixing cameras at work today so I went home after I was done this afternoon.  I'm not aware of any family or friends doing anything for the U.S. game tomorrow.

So am I right to say you're basing your estimation of the entire Central Valley (~7 million people) off the skewed sample size of your wife's family?

You ever been here?  Over 50% of the population is Hispanic.  It is very clear who the favored team is.  There are green jerseys everywhere I go. 

[interstatefan990]

Now been announced that this is Cristiano Ronaldo's last World Cup. He and Messi have both played in the most tournaments (6).

[Max Rockatansky]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

Don't let the door hit them on the way out.

For context my wife was at her dad's house tonight in Firebaugh watching the game.  Most of her family is from Jalisco and I'm to understand that there was thirty plus people over. 

I was fixing cameras at work today so I went home after I was done this afternoon.  I'm not aware of any family or friends doing anything for the U.S. game tomorrow.

So am I right to say you're basing your estimation of the entire Central Valley (~7 million people) off the skewed sample size of your wife's family?

Have I done something to offend you?  You seem extra pissy tonight.

[thspfc]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

Don't let the door hit them on the way out.

For context my wife was at her dad's house tonight in Firebaugh watching the game.  Most of her family is from Jalisco and I'm to understand that there was thirty plus people over. 

I was fixing cameras at work today so I went home after I was done this afternoon.  I'm not aware of any family or friends doing anything for the U.S. game tomorrow.

So am I right to say you're basing your estimation of the entire Central Valley (~7 million people) off the skewed sample size of your wife's family?

Have I done something to offend you?  You seem extra pissy tonight.

I'm more so pissy at Americans who wake up and decide they're Mexico fans despite likely not even being able to tell me who a single one of their players plays their club ball for. But if that's not actually a thing and it's just people who actually have ties to Mexico that are rooting for Mexico then that's different.

[Max Rockatansky]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

Don't let the door hit them on the way out.

For context my wife was at her dad's house tonight in Firebaugh watching the game.  Most of her family is from Jalisco and I'm to understand that there was thirty plus people over. 

I was fixing cameras at work today so I went home after I was done this afternoon.  I'm not aware of any family or friends doing anything for the U.S. game tomorrow.

So am I right to say you're basing your estimation of the entire Central Valley (~7 million people) off the skewed sample size of your wife's family?

Have I done something to offend you?  You seem extra pissy tonight.

I'm more so pissy at Americans who wake up and decide they're Mexico fans despite likely not being able to tell me who a single one of their players plays their club ball for. But if that's not actually a thing and it's just people who actually have ties to Mexico that are rooting for Mexico then that's different.

Are you assuming I'm rooting for Mexico?  I'd prefer they would have beat England tonight, but doesn't mean I am a fan.  I'm watching the U.S. team tomorrow.  It probably just be me and my wife watching at home though.   

And yes, my wife and I even to travel to Mexico every year to visit her family.  At least half of them still reside in Jalisco. 

[thspfc]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

Don't let the door hit them on the way out.

For context my wife was at her dad's house tonight in Firebaugh watching the game.  Most of her family is from Jalisco and I'm to understand that there was thirty plus people over. 

I was fixing cameras at work today so I went home after I was done this afternoon.  I'm not aware of any family or friends doing anything for the U.S. game tomorrow.

So am I right to say you're basing your estimation of the entire Central Valley (~7 million people) off the skewed sample size of your wife's family?

Have I done something to offend you?  You seem extra pissy tonight.

I'm more so pissy at Americans who wake up and decide they're Mexico fans despite likely not being able to tell me who a single one of their players plays their club ball for. But if that's not actually a thing and it's just people who actually have ties to Mexico that are rooting for Mexico then that's different.

Are you assuming I'm rooting for Mexico?  I'd prefer they would have beat England tonight, but doesn't mean I am a fan.  I'm watching the U.S. team tomorrow.  It probably just be me and my wife watching at home though.   

And yes, my wife and I even to travel to Mexico every year to visit her family.  At least half of them still reside in Jalisco. 

No, not everything is about you . . . my point is you've made it sound like Mexico was an overwhelming favorite but considering almost 50% of the Central Valley is not Hispanic/Latino that shouldn't be the case.

All I'm saying is, any American out there who has no Mexican heritage and doesn't follow soccer outside the WC to a reasonable degree and just decided to support Mexico is not welcome in my household. That's only half a joke.

[Max Rockatansky]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

Don't let the door hit them on the way out.

For context my wife was at her dad's house tonight in Firebaugh watching the game.  Most of her family is from Jalisco and I'm to understand that there was thirty plus people over. 

I was fixing cameras at work today so I went home after I was done this afternoon.  I'm not aware of any family or friends doing anything for the U.S. game tomorrow.

So am I right to say you're basing your estimation of the entire Central Valley (~7 million people) off the skewed sample size of your wife's family?

Have I done something to offend you?  You seem extra pissy tonight.

I'm more so pissy at Americans who wake up and decide they're Mexico fans despite likely not being able to tell me who a single one of their players plays their club ball for. But if that's not actually a thing and it's just people who actually have ties to Mexico that are rooting for Mexico then that's different.

Are you assuming I'm rooting for Mexico?  I'd prefer they would have beat England tonight, but doesn't mean I am a fan.  I'm watching the U.S. team tomorrow.  It probably just be me and my wife watching at home though.   

And yes, my wife and I even to travel to Mexico every year to visit her family.  At least half of them still reside in Jalisco. 

No, not everything is about you . . . my point is you've made it sound like Mexico was an overwhelming favorite but considering almost 50% of the Central Valley is not Hispanic/Latino that shouldn't be the case.

All I'm saying is, any American out there who has no Mexican heritage and doesn't follow soccer outside the WC to a reasonable degree and decided to support Mexico is not welcome in my household. That's only half a joke.

Nah, I think you're just replying to be a dick at this point.  Since you danced around digging at my wife's family you can go fuck yourself.  At least her family make watching soccer enjoyable. 

[LilianaUwU]

I'd rather support any team over the team that had their Supreme Leader suspend a decision by FIFA.