# FIFA World Cup 2026 - discussion etc **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-soccer-fifa\ **Created:** [October 14, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962 "2025-10-14T15:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 109
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2161 "2026-06-29T14:01:33Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > That’s so cool that you get to go. My son and I are pretty excited. I spent a lot of time checking ticket drops and finally got lucky on one. We’re at Gillette all the time, aside from the match it’ll be interesting seeing what FIFA has done with/to the place. On a different topic, Japan - Brazil is interesting because of the nikkei diaspora to Brazil, which has a giant Japanese presence (and there’s also a counter-movement of Japanese-descendant Brazilian workers to Japan). It’s created a lot of affinities between the two countries, and probably some interesting decisions on which side to root for. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2162 "2026-06-29T14:09:11Z")
Kid: “Can we get Hans Zimmer?” Mom: “We have Hans Zimmer at home” Hans Zimmer at home: > [@fachverwirrt](#): > > > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > > Now don’t let anyone get the idea to compose a symphony for vuvuzelas. 😣 ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2163 "2026-06-29T15:03:20Z")
And no Phial of Galadriel to light the way, or _lembas_ for sustenance. Has there ever been a Copa America group of Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina? Or did Chile, Bolivia and Peru ever make up (most of) a group at some point? (I should try to find out if there’s ever been a Hex where the U.S. has invaded each of the other five countries - Canada and Mexico, check and check - would William Walker count for Nicaragua? Have to think…) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2164 "2026-06-29T15:17:16Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > Has there ever been a Copa America group of Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina? I doubt it, Brazil and Argentina are usually seeds, and Uruguay often is too. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2165 "2026-06-29T15:28:31Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > And no Phial of Galadriel to light the way, or _lembas_ for sustenance. But their coach Gustavo Alfaro wrote a book called “Cazadores de utopias imposibles” (Hunters of impossible utopias), and if there’s an Utopia that’s Impossible is Paraguay getting far in this World Cup, so Alfaro is probably preparing his hunting gear 😃 ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2166 "2026-06-29T16:06:14Z")
Interesting thing about Turkey’s last minute winner against USA, means they get to keep the “Unofficial World Championship” that they came in with. > **[Unofficial Football World Championships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unofficial_Football_World_Championships)** > > The Unofficial Football World Championships (UFWC) is an informal way of calculating the world's best international association football team, using a knock-out title system similar to that used in some combat sports. The UFWC was formalised by contributors to the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) in 2002 and published by English journalist Paul Brown in a 2003 FourFourTwo article. Brown created a web page for the UFWC, and both this and the RSSSF tracked the progression of The ti... ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2167 "2026-06-29T16:26:58Z")
“…hunting gear…” I beloeve the NHL equivalent would be golf clubs. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2168 "2026-06-29T17:22:21Z")
My son and I woke up at 2:00 AM to watch Japan. Exciting game. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2169 "2026-06-29T17:25:24Z")
Great start. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2170 "2026-06-29T17:29:48Z")
omg shades of Maradona ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2171 "2026-06-29T17:30:06Z")
Japan scores! ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2172 "2026-06-29T17:31:20Z")
Well now. That was a helluva play. Intercepting the pass at midfield and taking it all the way down for a great shot. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2173 "2026-06-29T17:33:08Z")
Yes Japan! 🇯🇵 🇯🇵 🇯🇵 🇯🇵 🇯🇵 ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2174 "2026-06-29T17:33:48Z")
Nice save ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2175 "2026-06-29T17:35:29Z")
Players get up so much more quickly when their own teammates knock them down. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2176 "2026-06-29T17:36:28Z")
Japan’s defense is holding tough ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2177 "2026-06-29T17:37:14Z")
My son laughed ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2178 "2026-06-29T17:41:22Z")
Casemiro is being shown up by this all action Japanese midfield. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2179 "2026-06-29T17:42:50Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Players get up so much more quickly when their own teammates knock them down. I’m now picturing a player bumping into one of his teammates and then rolling over about 15 times, clutching his face, like he would do if it was an opposition player. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2180 "2026-06-29T17:44:05Z")
I’m starting to regret having sold my ticket for this Brazil-Japan game… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=108) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=110)