# 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:** 117
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2321 "2026-06-30T14:30:35Z")
I’m normally all in for South American football passion, but please don’t torture me. 😂 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2322 "2026-06-30T14:30:46Z")
As our sport commentators like to say: “la bola es redonda” (the ball is round). Meaning things can go in any direction on a given game. As hispano-caribbeans, Puerto Rico is a baseball/basketball culture, we really only get wound up for fútbol on the WC years and/or for whatever the big celebrity players are up to (I mean, knocking up Shakira has to count for something 😜 ) . But we do have considerable Spanish, Mexican, Colombian and Southern Cone communities so we have fun hanging with tgem when these times come. Kind of bummed though for my Urugayan friends here that they got dropped in Group. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2323 "2026-06-30T14:33:07Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Also, take a listen to the Paraguayan television announcers as they score the winning PK. Unless you are a fan of Germany, this will make you smile. It would be interesting to see the whole shootout from that broadcast. Paraguay were on the cusp of winning for a few kicks in a row, but they all went Germany’s way. That announcer must have been having fits. If Germany had won, it would have been a spectacular comeback. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2324 "2026-06-30T14:34:47Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > As our sport commentators like to say: “la bola es redonda” (the ball is round). And “the game lasts for 90 minutes” (not true anymore), “after the game is before the game”, “the next game is always the hardest” and “the round thing must get into the square thing”. All football aphorisms attributed to Sepp Herberger (legendary coach of the 1954 WC winning team) in Germany. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2325 "2026-06-30T14:36:35Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > As our sport commentators like to say: “la bola es redonda” (the ball is round). Meaning things can go in any direction on a given game. In American football, I’ve heard “the ball is shaped funny” used to mean the exact same thing! ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2326 "2026-06-30T15:12:58Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Um…we are still just talking about football, right? Well, I got the joke, just so you know 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 30, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2327 "2026-06-30T16:20:07Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I can’t enjoy a South American victory (and against Germany! our (Argentina’s) nemesis!) as I would like to because I’m sad for **EinsteinHund**. Mhhh… perhaps you are not so bad at jinxin’ as it looked at first glance… ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2328 "2026-06-30T17:57:33Z")
norway up 1-0 at halftime. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2329 "2026-06-30T18:18:57Z")
If Haaland plays in the EPL and, I assume, makes decent money , why does he have one of the most ridiculous hairstyles ever? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2330 "2026-06-30T18:23:30Z")
He’s Erling FUCKING Haaland! He can wear his hair any way he likes! ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2331 "2026-06-30T18:26:09Z")
IMO it’s not that ridiculous. It’s not like '02 Ronaldo or anything. ---
**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 30, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2332 "2026-06-30T18:26:29Z")
[![](https://a.pinatafarm.com/335x250/caaedbdc50/this-morgan-freeman.jpg) ](https://a.pinatafarm.com/335x250/caaedbdc50/this-morgan-freeman.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2333 "2026-06-30T18:35:23Z")
That was impressive. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2334 "2026-06-30T18:35:39Z")
Wonderful goal! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2335 "2026-06-30T18:39:54Z")
1-1 now. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2336 "2026-06-30T18:40:06Z")
That could have been a penalty for the Ivory Coast, if very soft. ETA: and Haaland does Haaland things… ---
**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 30, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2337 "2026-06-30T18:48:21Z")
Haaland with an easy goal, but it was set up by a really good cross. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2338 "2026-06-30T18:52:37Z")
That is another question I have - what exactly is that miraculous spray trainers use that seems to cure anything short of compound fractures and death? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2339 "2026-06-30T18:54:27Z")
Ice spray. Simple as that. Helps against acute pain from a bruise. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2340 "2026-06-30T18:57:47Z")
Pretty brave move by Norway to let the keeper stand against that free kick without a wall. He came through, though. Also: is the digit font of those Norwegian uniforms inspired by Norse runes, or something? Really striking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=116) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=118)