# 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:** 13
**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:** [March 31, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/241 "2026-03-31T23:15:40Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > And if that ever happens to Germany, I will feel similar. Sorry, I know you don’t agree, but you know why I have this stance, don’t you? I have written about that often. Yes, I know why you resent the German national team, and I can relate. I was 14 when I watched the shame of Gijon, and also the foul from Schuhmacher against Battiston in the semi-final. Boy, was that tournament a showing of the ugly German! German football in general was ugly in the eighties, but I got raised on it in the glorious seventies, and my club was Borussia Mönchengladbach, one of the most exciting teams of the times, so cut me some slack. ---
**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 31, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/242 "2026-03-31T23:24:52Z")
I wonder if it is a curse from beyond the grave by a deity known for His vindictiveness… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gUbA9CkyNwM/hqdefault.jpg "Hijos de puta (Diego Armando Maradona)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUbA9CkyNwM) ---
**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 31, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/243 "2026-03-31T23:27:15Z")
I do cut you a lot of slack personally, I mean it when I write I am sorry sorry. For you, as the opinion of a fair fan that knows about football. And I promise I will change my attitude when Germany fails to qualify for a World or Europe Cup for three times in a row in my lifetime. The pleasure would be so great that I would forgive them. I thank you! You have just made me realize that I have just forgiven Italy. I feel a better person now. In the same vein I would like to forgive Germany too. I would even embrace Real Madrid in my heart if they are ever relegated. I am still not sure I will want to watch the World Cup. Of course it will be unavoidable, a game or two. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/244 "2026-03-31T23:30:38Z")
Oh, I feel you. I have sometimes decided to boycott the whole WC, then I thought “why don’t watch some games?”. I’m still undecided, at least I don’t have to think about games that are played when we’re in the middle of the night. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/245 "2026-04-01T00:05:57Z")
Football is one of the few spheres of life in which nobody holds any grudges against the United States 🙁 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/246 "2026-04-01T04:27:04Z")
I thought it almost certain Canada would be playing Italy. As many if you have already said, this is not going to happen. I’m kind of shocked. > **[Italy miss out on World Cup again after Bosnia and Herzegovina’s shootout...](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/31/bosnia-herzegovina-italy-world-cup-2026-qualifying-playoff-match-report)** > > Italy will miss their third successive World Cup after losing 4-1 on penalties against Bosnia and Herzegovina following a 1-1 draw ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/247 "2026-04-01T08:59:25Z")
It’s a real pity that Italy missed _this_ World Cup of all World Cups, given the enormous Italian-American population in the USA. It would have been a big boost to revenue, ratings, attendance, attention, etc. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/248 "2026-04-01T10:40:18Z")
There was a World Cup in the USA 1994 and Italy even made to the final against Brazil. I don’t think this gave that big a boost to revenue, ratings, attendance, attention, etc. It was also a rather eventless final, neither team managed to score a goal in 120 minutes, and then missed several penalties. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/249 "2026-04-01T11:49:09Z")
So what’s going on? Is the native talent pipeline drying up and, if so, why? It can be simple bad luck if it happens once or even twice; European qualifying is really difficult. But three straight non-qualifications suggests that something is seriously wrong with Italian futbol. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/250 "2026-04-01T12:27:55Z")
According to the Italian guy on ESPN FC, the pipeline dried up somewhat, got back up to quality, but the national team coach wasn’t up to the task. (he got agreement from the panel on that last point, I think the French guy called him ‘awful’) I mean, no matter how much their pipeline dried up, 48 teams seems like a low bar for qualification. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/251 "2026-04-01T12:30:22Z")
I don’t know about drying up, but their talent level is certainly lower than in the early 2000s with Totti, Pirlo, Cambiasso, Buffon. Donnarumma is great and Bastoni or Barella, but some of their other players run hot and cold (Chiesa) and there’s no great striker. The Italian league is in a down turn a bit as well, could be related. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/252 "2026-04-01T13:52:51Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > 48 teams seems like a low bar for qualification. That’s not exactly the way qualification works for the World Cup. Italy is in the UEFA, or the European Federation, of 54 countries that try to qualify for the Cup. 16 of these teams will make the cut. In the UEFA, there are 12 groups of 4 or 5 countries that play each other. If you win your group, you’re in. The other 4 spots are then decided by 4 4-team playoffs. Italy finished second in their group and made the playoffs. They beat Northern Ireland but lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina, who had defeated Wales in their first playoff game. So Italy had to be the best of 5 countries to qualify in the Group stage. Then the best of four in the playoff round. Which they failed to do. ETA: there were a total of 206 countries vying for 45 spots in this year’s World Cup. Canada, Mexico, and USA received automatic qualifications for being host countries. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/253 "2026-04-01T13:57:19Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > That’s not exactly the way qualification works for the World Cup. > > Italy is in the UEFA, or the European Federation, of 54 countries that try to qualify for the Cup. 16 of these teams will make the cut. In the UEFA, there are 12 groups of 4 or 5 countries that play each other. If you win your group, you’re in. Didn’t UEFA go from 13 to 16 spots, plus now there’s the intercontinental playoff? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/254 "2026-04-01T14:08:11Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Didn’t UEFA go from 13 to 16 spots, plus now there’s the intercontinental playoff Yes, I stated that the UEFA has 16 spots. Bolivia from the UEFA qualified for the intercontinental playoff, but they lost to Iraq in the finals of that tournament. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/255 "2026-04-01T14:12:59Z")
But you didn’t mention that it went from 13 to 16, which was my point. It should be even easier for a powerhouse like Italy. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/256 "2026-04-01T15:30:12Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > But you didn’t mention that it went from 13 to 16, which was my point. It should be even easier for a powerhouse like Italy Your point was that there were now 48 teams, which should make it easier for Italy to qualify. You stated nothing about the UEFA going from 13 to 16 in your original post. Regardless, the fact that now Italy has failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups should remove them from the ‘powerhouse’ category. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/257 "2026-04-01T17:45:26Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Regardless, the fact that now Italy has failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups should remove them from the ‘powerhouse’ category. For Italy, it is a crisis all right… > **[Italy’s World Cup fiasco sparks political fury](https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-fifa-world-cup-tragedy-gets-political/)** > > Fallout from Bosnia defeat was the first thing on the parliamentary agenda Wednesday morning. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/258 "2026-04-01T18:48:26Z")
World Cup trivia: Every single World Cup has had at least one country appearing for the first time. Unless you don’t count successor teams from previous countries that appeared. In that case 2010 broke the cycle when the only new teams were Slovakia and Serbia. Brazil is the only team to have been to every tournament. Germany probably would have as well but they were barred from the 1950 tournament and it was officially West Germany starting in 1954 until reunification ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/259 "2026-04-01T18:53:22Z")
Germany weren’t there in 1930 ---
**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:** [April 1, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/260 "2026-04-01T18:54:17Z")
Oops. You are correct. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=14)