# 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:** 11
**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:** [February 10, 2026, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/201 "2026-02-10T04:54:19Z")
Just bought tickets to a Japan game at AT&T Stadium in Dallas for the group stage. Had to think it over for a day because of price. But there will never be such an accessible World Cup in my life again, close to home. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/202 "2026-02-14T02:13:05Z")
In a sort of delightful New England impasse, the town of Foxborough is refusing to license the World Cup match in Gillette unless organizers pony up the funding for security. > **[Foxborough may withhold FIFA license over security funding](https://www.wcvb.com/article/foxborough-world-cup-security-funding-gap/70349317)** > > The deadline to approve the FIFA entertainment license is March 17. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2026, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/203 "2026-02-14T02:23:04Z")
I can’t blame them; Foxborough is a small town and the security for something like the World Cup far surpasses what they probably see for a Patriots game (even in the playoffs). Something that I have been thinking about with regards to these games is the rude awakening some of these international fans are going to get regarding the misleading names of the stadiums. Gillette Stadium is being called “Boston Stadium”; the French fans are going to have fun learning how far they are going to have to travel from actual Boston to get out to the boondocks where Foxborough is. AT&T Stadium is kind of the same issue; it is being called “Dallas Stadium”, but is located in Arlington. At least Arlington is square in the middle of the DFW Metroplex, with an abundance of hotels nearby. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2026, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/204 "2026-02-14T07:03:26Z")
Now, come on, you can’t expect FIFA to dip into its colossal profits to pay for something like, can you? ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/205 "2026-02-14T18:08:36Z")
FIFA would be wise to make sure to do so; they certainly don’t want to have a repeat of the incident that happened at the 2024 Copa America final in Miami, when thousands of people stormed the entrances without tickets and caused significant damage to Hard Rock Stadium. That was CONMEBOL not FIFA, but still. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/206 "2026-02-18T21:37:42Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Now, come on, you can’t expect FIFA to dip into its colossal profits to pay for something like, can you? Foxborough still saying no, with less than a month to go for licensing! I watched the Select Board meeting, nobody there could tell the town where the money was going to come from. [Foxboro officials continue to stall entertainment license approval for FIFA World Cup over security funding | Local News | thesunchronicle.com](https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/foxboro-officials-continue-to-stall-entertainment-license-approval-for-fifa-world-cup-over-security-funding/article_dd51ecbc-f1a6-4684-a022-6b151bf930b1.html) ---
**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:** [February 19, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/207 "2026-02-19T00:54:46Z")
I think this world cup is a complete clusterfuck and should be cancelled, the title, of course, should remain with it’s actual holder… ---
**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:** [February 19, 2026, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/208 "2026-02-19T06:26:43Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Foxborough still saying no, with less than a month to go for licensing! Good for them. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/209 "2026-02-24T09:30:06Z")
Here we are discussing boycotting the WC because of the USA and suddenly Mexico erupts into flames. Just what we needed. Canada, are you still OK? ---
**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:** [February 24, 2026, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/210 "2026-02-24T09:59:51Z")
Would any nation seriously boycott the WC, or is it just talk? It would infuriate 90% of its own football fans, wouldn’t it? (such as France or Germany dropping out) ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/211 "2026-02-24T10:03:57Z")
The politicians will not dare, it seems. But fans would be utterly divided. Even I myself am a bit divided: on the one hand, I would love a boycott. On the other hand… no, better boycott. But it is very improbable anything of this kind will happen. > [@Frodo](#): > > the title, of course, should remain with it’s actual holder OK, no problem. But it does not count as a new title, you just keep the trophy a bit longer. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/212 "2026-02-24T10:18:01Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Canada, are you still OK? Yeah, pretty much. No risk of players or fans being refused entry to the country, as long as visas are in order, of course. No risk of fans being arrested, detained, and deported someplace other than their home country. No risk of drug cartels shooting people or blowing stuff up. Migosh, we’re dull. Not such a bad thing though; just remove all World Cup games from the US and Mexico, put them all in Canada, and things should go off without a hitch. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/213 "2026-02-24T10:21:25Z")
Anecdotally, I know of one family whose big Christmas present for themselves was tickets and flights to see a match who have now decided not to go - although this is more unwillingness to risk heavy-handed border control and an unscheduled visit to a deportation centre than a boycott as such. But it’s a fine line between the two. I can see this decision being repeated, especially if there are more stories about people spending weeks in cells because they mis-read a form, or more stories about general unpleasantness meaning people don’t want to spend money in the US. A TV boycott is very unlikely, interest is high and the link between watching a match in the pub and supporting Trump is sufficiently distant that most people will square their consciences. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/214 "2026-02-24T17:59:31Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Would any nation seriously boycott the WC, or is it just talk? It would infuriate 90% of its own football fans, wouldn’t it? (such as France or Germany dropping out) I think the idea is to boycott visiting, not sitting out their team. People need to really think if they want to attend games here in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/215 "2026-02-26T16:42:20Z")
Oh, dear! Some European national FAs are not going to earn as much money as they did in past World Cups! > **[European countries fear playing in World Cup will mean financial loss](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/feb/26/fifa-world-cup-2026-european-football-associations-prize-money-costs-tax-exemptions)** > > European football federations are concerned that playing in this year’s World Cup will wnd up costing them money The details are heart breaking. > One particularly aggravating element is a perceived unfairness around tax arrangements. Countries bidding for a World Cup are obliged to provide tax exemptions for FAs that qualify; those have been agreed with Canada and Mexico but no such arrangement has been reached with the US, meaning that nations potentially face vastly differing financial outlooks depending on where they were drawn to play. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/216 "2026-03-02T23:59:20Z")
Iran had qualified this year and is scheduled to play their first game it the US. It’s unlikely that they will show up for obvious reasons. > **[Iran's soccer federation says World Cup participation in doubt](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48074546/iran-soccer-federation-world-cup-participation-doubt)** > > The president of Iran's soccer federation says he does not know if the national team can play World Cup matches in the United States following the surprise U.S. and Israeli bombardment of his country. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/217 "2026-03-03T00:03:01Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > OK, no problem. But it does not count as a new title, you just keep the trophy a bit longer. I see _rubs hands together, sits at a table with the chair’s back at the front_ let’s bargain! what if it counts for three quarters of a star? half a star? Let the _rosca_ begin… ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/218 "2026-03-03T00:06:01Z")
I raise you one hand of Godott. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2026, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/219 "2026-03-03T00:06:59Z")
Proverbially not covered by insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/220 "2026-03-03T00:08:43Z")
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