# 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:** 119
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2361 "2026-06-30T22:31:48Z")
Not sure who can beat this French team. Maybe only Argentina? ---
**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, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2362 "2026-06-30T22:33:50Z")
Well, they’re both my natural favorites, and that’s a very probable final, again. (if there’s no way that they meet earlier, I don’t know if that’s possible) ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2363 "2026-06-30T22:35:21Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Not sure who can beat this French team. Maybe only Argentina? Maybe; these guys look like an absolute juggernaut. ---
**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, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2364 "2026-06-30T22:39:03Z")
Have I counted correctly, does Mbpappé now also have 18 total WC goals like Messi? Anyway, it’s a shoot-out! ---
**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, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2365 "2026-06-30T22:41:00Z")
As good as France look, Sweden’s midfield has gone totally AWOL. ---
**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, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2366 "2026-06-30T22:43:52Z")
At this point France looks like they’re toying with Sweden ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2367 "2026-06-30T22:45:16Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Have I counted correctly, does Mbpappé now also have 18 total WC goals like Messi? Mbappé has 18, Messi has 19. ---
**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, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2368 "2026-06-30T22:45:59Z")
Ah, thanks. He still can catch up in this game. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2369 "2026-06-30T22:47:16Z")
They pulled him at 85’. He’ll have to wait… ---
**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, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2370 "2026-06-30T22:47:58Z")
Ah, damned, missed that. Let’s see how the next rounds go for both. ---
**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, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2371 "2026-06-30T23:00:36Z")
France have Paraguay next, who have a defence described as a group of nightclub bouncers. But this French attack will surely just storm the door. ---
**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, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2372 "2026-06-30T23:38:41Z")
God. Canada got screwed over by not being able to play their 1st knockout game at home. ---
**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, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2373 "2026-06-30T23:42:16Z")
Sweden resisted heroically for 45 minutes, but then… _the monster_… ---
**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, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2374 "2026-06-30T23:44:27Z")
There are indeed several goal monsters at this WC, all the usual suspects. ---
**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 30, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2375 "2026-06-30T23:45:31Z")
Yeah I was gonna mention that. Wonder if there’s ever been a WC host country with two of its three games (so far) not played in its own country. 😡 ---
**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, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2376 "2026-06-30T23:53:12Z")
Well there’s only been one other multi-host World Cup (Japan-South Korea 2002, neither team played outside their country). It’s easier to split the games to prevent that with only two countries and a simpler schedule with 32 teams playing. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2377 "2026-07-01T00:36:08Z")
Either most Argentinians are convinced beyond any doubt that France will win this World Cup in a walk, or Operation Jinx France has begun in earnest. Probably both. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2378 "2026-07-01T00:57:58Z")
All caught up now. Great game between Norway and Ivory Coast. I just watched the highlights of the France game because, France. I’m pretty sure the only way Argentina plays them is in the final, which is what I predicted in my bracket sheet. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2379 "2026-07-01T01:34:28Z")
You have more faith in La Scaloneta than I do, I’ll be happy if we reach the semis ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2380 "2026-07-01T01:39:40Z")
Cape Verde, Australia, Colombia and you’re there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=118) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=120)