# 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:** 125
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2481 "2026-07-01T18:42:49Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Damn it **Pardel-Lux** don’t jinx us! I love it when you get superstition! That was not jinxing, that was a reply to an erroneous statement. When I jinx you, you will notice 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2482 "2026-07-01T18:43:21Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > It is in Spanish, but the flags are clear, I believe Aside from the New Zealand flag substituting for the Australian one… ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2483 "2026-07-01T18:44:09Z")
Really? I hadn’t noticed that! That is hilarious! Oh, well, AUS, NZ, it’s all antipodes to us. ---
**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, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2484 "2026-07-01T18:44:22Z")
Assuming a team will reach a certain stage is one of the jinxiest things that ever jinxed, is almost as bad as shouting “Goaaal” before the ball crosses the line 😃 ETA: Unless you meant that the only way they could met Argentina would be in the final IF Argentina reaches it, but it’s weird because the conversation was about the U.S. and France. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2485 "2026-07-01T18:46:08Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > It is in Spanish, but the flags are clear, I believe. I appreciate you thinking the best of us, but you’re saying this to Americans who routinely post the Liberian flag emoji in their “USA! USA!” posts. 🇱🇷 ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2486 "2026-07-01T18:50:21Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Unless you meant that the only way they could met Argentina would be in the final IF Argentina reaches it, but it’s weird because the conversation was about the U.S. and France. That is exactly what I meant, and **[that](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2475)** was what I replied to. An erroneous statement, I had to correct that, you know me. I haven’t started jinxing nobody yet. ETA: And I did not mention Spain because that statement was correct. ---
**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, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2487 "2026-07-01T18:52:07Z")
Gotcha, sorry for misunderstanding 🙂 But surely you know that jinxes don’t have to be intentional, in fact intentional jinxes are less powerful. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2488 "2026-07-01T19:38:25Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > intentional jinxes are less powerful That is what _they_ want you to believe. But interesting that you believe in superstition and jinxing but not in voodoo 🤣 ---
**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, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2489 "2026-07-01T19:50:22Z")
I don’t believe in all that, but you know the saying “Las brujas no existen, pero que las hay, las hay”. (“Witches do not exist, but there are some” (best translation I can come with)) ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2490 "2026-07-01T20:26:57Z")
And another African team getting the lead against an European big gun, and deservedly so! Though I never thought that Senegal were the underdogs in this game, unlike DR Congo against England. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2491 "2026-07-01T20:27:12Z")
Senegal has been dominating this game and is rewarded with the first goal. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2492 "2026-07-01T20:50:30Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Senegal has been dominating this game and is rewarded with the first goal Yep, I think they can hold for the win. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2493 "2026-07-01T20:56:03Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I think they can hold for the win. Long way to go, obviously. Belgium showed signs of life in the last several minutes and had a couple of good chances. Should be a good second half. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2494 "2026-07-01T21:07:40Z")
And of course Lukaku is subbed in. Goal in…1…2…3? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2495 "2026-07-01T21:13:39Z")
What a wonderful pass and finish! ETA: de Bruyne off the field now in his probably last national game. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2496 "2026-07-01T21:32:36Z")
If the results hold, I hope the USA team is taking notes on how the ‘small fry’ nations have been doing and go into tonight’s game with some urgency and concentration. And Senegal is going to be a very tough out in the quarterfinals should we see them there. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2497 "2026-07-01T21:43:47Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > And Senegal is going to be a very tough out in the quarterfinals should we see them there. The announcers just informed us that Senegal is the only 3rd place team with three points that advanced to the knockout rounds. They lost to France and Norway–no shame there. Then they destroyed Iraq 5-0, which gave them a positive GD and allowed them to advance. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2498 "2026-07-01T21:48:49Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > And of course Lukaku is subbed in. Goal in…1…2…3? Well, it took 40 minutes… Maybe too late. ETA: and there’s the equalizer! Dammit! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2499 "2026-07-01T21:51:38Z")
Are. You. F\*\*\*\*\*. Kidding. Me. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2500 "2026-07-01T21:51:52Z")
Wow. Just wow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=124) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=126)