FIFA World Cup 2026 - Discussion Thread

How Cap Verde didn't qualify to the last AFCON? Or maybe it's a temporary form with the motivation of playing a world
 
Argentina needs to bench MacAllister and, perhaps, Enzo. Both look to be in poor form; Almada too. They are far from their usual level. Dynamism and freshness are needed; Tagliafico, Barco, Nico Paz and Simeone needs to start again Egypt.

PS: Congratulations to CV; they put in an outstanding performance yesterday!.
 
H_G said:
How Cap Verde didn't qualify to the last AFCON? Or maybe it's a temporary form with the motivation of playing a world
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Idk, but Ghana also missed that AFCON as well after such a disastrous qualification performance.

Cape Verde only got eliminated by the shootout in the 2023 AFCON quarterfinal vs South Africa. The one when South Africa keeper had one of the most unreal shootout performance by saving 4 straight penalties.

mattlemon said:
Argentina needs to bench MacAllister and, perhaps, Enzo. Both look to be in poor form; Almada too. They are far from their usual level. Dynamism and freshness are needed; Tagliafico, Barco, Nico Paz and Simeone needs to start again Egypt.

PS: Congratulations to CV; they put in an outstanding performance yesterday!.
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Agreed with your thoughts. Argentina's midfield isn't looking great. They are still Messi-dependencia.

Don't think they will even beat Colombia in the QF, let alone having a 2022 rematch with Kylian Mbappe's France in the final (and possibly, winning back-to-back World Cup).

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So today is the Round of 16. Some great matchups here, so expect a huge upsets and drama.

-Canada vs Morocco: Morocco
-Paraguay vs France: France
-Brazil vs Norway: Brazil (I heard that Brazil couldn't beat Norway in the previous 4 meetings, but they will finally get a win this time around. Maybe on penalty shootout if they got lucky)
-Mexico vs England: Mexico (Mexico has a home advantage and unbeaten record; they actually only lost twice at Azteca, plus 0 goals conceded so far. But still, I expect this game to be settled by either Mexico scoring 2 goals in regular time or penalty shootout. This might be the only big World Cup upset I predicted)
-Portugal vs Spain: Spain (This is still a close result, but I don't think Portugal will repeat the same miracle as they did vs Croatia)
-USA vs Belgium: USA (Belgium looked more predictable in this World Cup, couldn't beat Egypt and Iran, while needing a huge comeback win vs Senegal)
-Argentina vs Egypt: Argentina
-Switzerland vs Colombia: Colombia (This one is hard to call. Both have strong team, but I expect Colombia to go through on penalties. Switzerland's win is also historic for them)
 
What a match! Cape Verde provided a very entertaining match. As a spectator I was genuinely impressed with the whole match. Time and money well spent!
 
Come on Paraguay, send France packing

Edit: Probably best France won. Paraguay look like they would probably start world war 3
 
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Ravager29586 said:
Brazil vs Norway: Brazil (I heard that Brazil couldn't beat Norway in the previous 4 meetings, but they will finally get a win this time around. Maybe on penalty shootout if they got lucky)
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They only played 4 times in total, throughout history. I think it's 2 Norway wins (one in the '98 World Cup, and one friendly) plus 2 ties (also friendlies).

If Brazil gets to the shutout, they're TOAST. I think Alisson's last penalty save was in October 2022 (!) According to transfermarkt, of the 38 penalty shots he faced, he only saved 8. He's TERRIBLE at it.
 
Mexico fans were outside England players hotel setting off fireworks and banging drums to keep them awake. Real classy Mexico 🤨
 
crustcyb said:
Quick note, as this is my (obviously watching from afar) 11th World Cup (I was too young in 1982 to remember anything, but from 1986 onwards I remember vividly): never before it has been so EVIDENT that Brazil will be eliminated sooner, rather than later.
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☝️
 
Regarding Brazil vs. Norway:
Norway ike hundreds of other countries deserves credit for its progress. In the context of sports, which rewards the best and most prepared, it’s an interesting development.
The match was evenly contested and highly strategic on Norway's part; and as for Haaland what can I say?
He’s a beast. Lethal and relentless.

I wouldn't call it incompetence on Brazil's part, nor a disgrace; they had their chances a missed penalty, a play involving Endrick but the ball just didn't go in.
In moments like this, past titles, Brazil's history, and all that—none of it matters; football has changed considerably.
Brazil has lost its identity: the ability to launch high-pressure attacks, play with speed, execute dribbles, and field players who act as protagonists with the personality of true leaders.

That’s it. That’s my take!
 
drigOrange said:
Regarding Brazil vs. Norway:
Norway ike hundreds of other countries deserves credit for its progress. In the context of sports, which rewards the best and most prepared, it’s an interesting development.
The match was evenly contested and highly strategic on Norway's part; and as for Haaland what can I say?
He’s a beast. Lethal and relentless.

I wouldn't call it incompetence on Brazil's part, nor a disgrace; they had their chances a missed penalty, a play involving Endrick but the ball just didn't go in.
In moments like this, past titles, Brazil's history, and all that—none of it matters; football has changed considerably.
Brazil has lost its identity: the ability to launch high-pressure attacks, play with speed, execute dribbles, and field players who act as protagonists with the personality of true leaders.

That’s it. That’s my take!
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I think you're spot on. They have become 'Europeanised' in football terms. They've lost that aura and magic and what made them great. Most of those players wouldn't get near one of their 70's,80's,90's squads.
 
England through to the next round, glad I stayed up to watch the game.

Mexico were right a**holes always trying to hound and influence the referee.
What happened to only the captain was allowed to talk to referee? Every time there was a foul, 6/7 players would sprint to the ref and try and get a booking or free kick.

Spain v Portugal later and really looking forward to France v Morocco - Are we finally going to get an African champion, as Morocco have looked superb all tournament.
 
Well, what a game last night! The way Mexico started and we were rushing around closing them down I thought no way are we going to last this physically, they'll be out on their feet in the second half. That last five minutes of the first half was crucial and holding it to 2-1 when it looked like any moment they would level things before half time ultimately made the difference. No arguments over the red card or both penalties for me.

I thought we were asking for trouble dropping so deep at the end but for some reason Mexico, despite having the extra man, at no time used it to get an overload on the wing. We sent two out every time and they never once looked to get a third man out there to create a good crossing situation so they kept going from side to side wasting their own time.

Being England, we'll probably now lose to Norway.

Talking of Norway, that second goal from Haaland was outrageous!
 
All the time I've wasted watching England games in general, with the majority being boring (a few being heartbreaking)...

...and then I sleep through what looks like one of the most exciting games of the modern World Cup era. :LOL:

I really don't rate the individuals of this squad (excluding Rice, Bellingham and Kane), and I don't see us getting much further despite the good results. At this point in previous competitions I think I had a bit more belief; the thought of e.g. Quansah getting a World Cup winners' medal is absurd. I just can't see it.

At least a lot of the squad have experience in playing with/against Haaland, but I don't think there's much experience of stopping him - and Norway aren't a one-man team either, they were absolutely superb against Brazil. It has the makings of an excellent game of football.

But the way we're playing defensively (if not for Pickford, we would have been absolutely destroyed by Raúl Jiménez alone; that must be one of the best individual performances without any goals from open play I can think of)... the goals will need to keep flowing if we stand a chance. My prediction is a 3-3 draw in normal time, 4-4 after extra time and we'll go out on penalties (after a ten minute delay when Haaland bursts the net with his).

But more important than anything England-related...

The White House directly contacting FIFA and then "coincidentally" Balogun's suspension being removed... That should be far bigger news. We're so used to corruption from both of those institutions that the world seems to be letting this slide. Whatever you think of the red card, what's the point in VAR etc. if you backtrack like this, under pressure or otherwise? It's beyond disgraceful.

In Belgium's position I'd threaten to forfeit the game, even as an empty threat, if only to put pressure on FIFA and force them to provide some more answers. Either get rid of VAR - because you're now re-refereeing the re-refereeing for fuck's sake - or be forced into admitting your corruption.

Even UEFA know it... Anybody else enjoying the FIFA vs UEFA battle after the USA sent home one of the referees? (Source: BBC SPORT)

UEFA said that an automatic suspension of one match "is not a discretionary option" and it is "a principle embedded in regulations". "When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," UEFA said in a statement.

"Equally, such a decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition. We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."

Glenn Micallef, European Union commissioner for sport, said decisions on sport "belong to sporting bodies, not politicians". "Influencing sporting decisions would undermine the autonomy of sport. Our focus should instead be on the real governance challenges facing sport, including weaponisation of sport for political purposes."

UEFA and FIFA have been at loggerheads over a number of decisions in recent months. After Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, UEFA invited the Somali to referee the Super Cup between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa on 12th August.

EDIT 1: Related subject... Is Keir Starmer going to give FIFA a call regarding Quansah's suspension? If the USA can do it, we can do it to, right?

EDIT 2: Jordan Henderson (click here for context):

 
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This World Cup is only noteworthy for what happens on the pitch because everything that happens off the field is a disaster. I think Canada is the only decent host.

As for Brazil, however good Ancelotti is, he's still an Italian coach on Copacabana Beach; it couldn't possibly go well.
 
Just when you thought it couldn't get more disgusting, Gianni Corruptino sets a new low. Nobody should be surprised though.

But it's amazing how he manages to make all his predecessors look like saints in comparison to him.
 
bsmaff said:
England through to the next round, glad I stayed up to watch the game.

Mexico were right a**holes always trying to hound and influence the referee.
What happened to only the captain was allowed to talk to referee? Every time there was a foul, 6/7 players would sprint to the ref and try and get a booking or free kick.

Spain v Portugal later and really looking forward to France v Morocco - Are we finally going to get an African champion, as Morocco have looked superb all tournament.
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That was one of the changes that was for the worst. I want to see some chaos. Players arguing with ref resulting in instant yellow just ruins the fun. Making the game sterile and boring is FIFA's expertise it seems.
 
Sami 1999 said:
That was one of the changes that was for the worst. I want to see some chaos. Players arguing with ref resulting in instant yellow just ruins the fun. Making the game sterile and boring is FIFA's expertise it seems.
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Totally disagree, that sounds like you just want anarchy. Chaos in the football, sure, but officials get absolutely no respect and seem scared to act sometimes, due to the response they'll get for giving a disciplinary action to a superstar with a huge fanbase. There can be no excuse for being a prick to a referee who's just there to do his job and go home, for less than 1% of what any player is getting in his salary packet.

The game is a lot less fun than it used to be and the constant whining and bitching to referees, alongside diving (cheating) and time-wasting (more cheating), is just one reason.

It should be captains only who can talk to the ref, and cards for anyone else. If only refs had the guts to do it every time, it would stick, and who knows, maybe we wouldn't even need VAR.
 
Superb stuff from England. They showed real character with 10 men.

Portugal v Spain should be a good one. I know Spain are favourites but Portugal could beat them if they have a good outing.
 
Chris Davies said:
Totally disagree, that sounds like you just want anarchy. Chaos in the football, sure, but officials get absolutely no respect and seem scared to act sometimes, due to the response they'll get for giving a disciplinary action to a superstar with a huge fanbase. There can be no excuse for being a prick to a referee who's just there to do his job and go home, for less than 1% of what any player is getting in his salary packet.

The game is a lot less fun than it used to be and the constant whining and bitching to referees, alongside diving (cheating) and time-wasting (more cheating), is just one reason.

It should be captains only who can talk to the ref, and cards for anyone else. If only refs had the guts to do it every time, it would stick, and who knows, maybe we wouldn't even need VAR.
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Look, I'm not talking about being physical with referee. But the arguments that would happen with referee were really entertaining. After they introduced the stupid captain only rule- every time someone argued back- it was an insa yellow. Even at times when the decisions made by ref were suspicious at best. Being prick =/= arguing with ref.
 
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