# 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:** 118
**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, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2341 "2026-06-30T19:03:47Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > Also: is the digit font of those Norwegian uniforms inspired by Norse runes, or something? Really striking. Interesting that you brought that up, I was wondering about that font, too, but didn’t think of runes. ---
**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, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2342 "2026-06-30T19:12:31Z")
looks runic. 2-1 norway. they are looking at brazil next. that was a wild game. almost looked like a hockey game for a brief moment. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2343 "2026-06-30T19:26:21Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > what exactly is that miraculous spray trainers use As @EinsteinsHund said, it’s a cold spray. Way back in the '60s and '70s, trainers had a _magic sponge_, which was just a sponge in a bucket of ice water. Players BITD seemed to think it had miraculous powers that enabled them to play despite having compound fractures of the leg/ankle. Some of the first Europeans to play in the original NASL were incredulous that NASL trainers didn’t have magic sponges. The freezing spray is a modern incarnation of the sponges. ---
**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, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2344 "2026-06-30T19:29:39Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > The freezing spray is a modern incarnation of the sponges. Huh. I just assumed it was ivermectin. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2345 "2026-06-30T19:32:42Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Well, I got the joke, just so you know 🙂 Me too. Naughty fish ! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2346 "2026-06-30T19:42:17Z")
Let’s face it: Haaland is one ugly Predator-looking MF. He probably decided that if he can’t look good, he might as well look scary. And he does. ---
**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, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2347 "2026-06-30T19:49:42Z")
Scarier if he’s coming at you full tilt. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2348 "2026-06-30T20:41:02Z")
Nasty thunderstorms mid-Florida way – the power went out and I missed the whole second half. I’ll have to catch a replay. ---
**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 30, 2026, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2349 "2026-06-30T21:02:54Z")
Heja Sverige!!! ---
**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:** [June 30, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2350 "2026-06-30T21:15:40Z")
Really hoping for France to lose. ---
**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, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2351 "2026-06-30T21:24:06Z")
So you want to put another dagger into my searing wounds? So that we wouldn’t have had to face France, but Sweden in the round of 16 if we had beaten Paraguay? Ah, the pain, don’t let that happen. 😣 ---
**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, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2352 "2026-06-30T21:25:19Z")
I’d love France to lose too. Lots of teams would be favored against the US, but they’re the one where I basically think it’s hopeless. They’d have to make the semis for that to even be a possibility, but still. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2353 "2026-06-30T21:41:50Z")
Purposely not reading anything here - I had a busy day at work and just got home so I’m avoiding the internet while I watch the replays. ---
**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, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2354 "2026-06-30T21:56:15Z")
Holy shit that Olise bike attempt! Mbappe’s goal was also fantastic. Unfortunately. ---
**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 30, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2355 "2026-06-30T22:06:22Z")
Edit - my picture linked to Reddit so gonna instead rave about the Mbappe goal. Even though I hated to see it. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2356 "2026-06-30T22:09:40Z")
I only saw the graphic and found it informative. Even clicking on it didn’t go to Reddit. I’m sort of jealous how you managed it. I also abhor wanting to link a graphic from Reddit and getting a link to the whole thread. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2357 "2026-06-30T22:13:54Z")
That first touch from Barcola. ---
**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 30, 2026, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2358 "2026-06-30T22:14:09Z")
Ah well here it is again… chart showing where the players at this World Cup play their club football: [![](https://i.redd.it/zccg0v6hshah1.png) ](https://i.redd.it/zccg0v6hshah1.png) ---
**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 30, 2026, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2359 "2026-06-30T22:15:27Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > That first touch from Barcola. The nutmeg pass to set it up… ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2360 "2026-06-30T22:17:41Z")
I’ll correct myself slightly. Clicking it does go to Reddit, but just to the graphic, not the actual post, though you can click again to the associated post. That’s what I can never manage, so I’ll have to look into it. I count USA as #8? Not bad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=117) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=119)