# 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:** 160
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3181 "2026-07-06T15:26:25Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Either way, this leaves the USMNT with egg on its face, and now it looks like the whole world is rooting against us vs. Belgium tonight. Which sucks. I think the US is going to be in Millwall mode the rest of the tournament. “No one likes us/We don’t care”. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3182 "2026-07-06T15:31:02Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Trump, a minute later; “I didn’t know what a red card was. Then somebody told me it means he has to miss the next game”. Huh. Barron played for DC United’s U-15 (or whatever) squad during his father’s first term, he even got a yellow card (it’s there for all to see on their website, if you know where to dig). Donald must not have paid any attention at all (wouldn’t surprise me). Any other American “soccer dad” is going to know what red and yellow cards mean. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3183 "2026-07-06T15:31:21Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > According to VAR guidelines, slow-motion replay should be used only to identify the exact point of contact on a potential foul. But in the Balogun case, officials used it to determine intent and severity, ignoring that Balogun was simply planting his foot awkwardly in mid-stride while focused on the ball. Are these guidelines available anywhere? I have seen them mentioned a lot but not actually published anywhere. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3184 "2026-07-06T15:54:17Z")
i did find this: [How VAR Works in Soccer: A Complete Guide](https://legionreport.com/how-var-works/) ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3185 "2026-07-06T16:07:12Z")
I feel like between the US being distracted and Belgium being mad, that this whole thing is really an advantage for Belgium. ---
**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 6, 2026, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3186 "2026-07-06T16:21:57Z")
I don’t think the US players are that deep into this. They’ve been in meetings, watching tape, or training the whole time since the news. Belgium though… this is classic locker room poster stuff to get them amped up. I don’t think you’re wrong there. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3187 "2026-07-06T16:24:21Z")
Just a reminder how much of a joke fifa is. Worse than boxing ---
**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 6, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3188 "2026-07-06T16:27:57Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > I don’t think the US players are that deep into this. They’ve been in meetings, watching tape, or training the whole time since the news. They’re not barracked and all have phones and social media, so of course this will influence the team, and probably not in a positive way. I think this whole mess puts a lot of baggage on the US team, especially on poor Folarin Balogun. He can’t do right in this game, if he scores, the whole world will cry murder. ---
**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 6, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3189 "2026-07-06T16:29:54Z")
Of course they’ll be aware it’s controversial, I’m just saying I think they’re busy enough that it’s not dominating their thought process. Psychologically maybe they should lean into being the villians. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3190 "2026-07-06T16:31:42Z")
At the same time, two of the three host countries have been eliminated, so why not the third? `//i\\` ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3191 "2026-07-06T16:32:07Z")
As if now, neither team knows for sure if one of the top players will be in the US starting lineup. My probably ignorant guess is that this will affect preparation. ---
**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 6, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3192 "2026-07-06T16:35:29Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Some say he understands sports better than any human who has ever lived. It’s just a shame he’s not playing really… ---
**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 6, 2026, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3193 "2026-07-06T17:12:49Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Some say he understands sports better than any human who has ever lived. It’s not only ‘some’, but ‘many people’!! ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3194 "2026-07-06T17:26:48Z")
It looks like USA, Morocco, and Egypt are the only hope for the Cup to go to a non-European, non-South American team. I’ve those three I’ll give the USA the edge, but I doubt we’ll make it past the Round of Eight (if we even make it that far). ---
**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 6, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3195 "2026-07-06T17:40:59Z")
Morocco is definitely the top from those 3, doubly so since they’ve already advanced to the next round. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3196 "2026-07-06T17:52:23Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > It’s not only ‘some’, but ‘many people’!! “He came to me with tears in his eyes, this big strong muscular guy, with actual tears, who probably never cried before in his life, and said, ‘Sir, you understand sports better than any human who has ever lived’.” ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3197 "2026-07-06T18:30:31Z")
Tip of the hat to England’s Jordan Henderson, who got a yellow card while sitting on the bench yesterday and then proceeded to break his wrist celebrating the victory. An early frontrunner for the tournament’s Least Valuable Player award. ---
**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 6, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3198 "2026-07-06T18:36:57Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > An early frontrunner for the tournament’s Least Valuable Player award. Heh! He is already famous, however. He appeared as a substitute in England’s victory over Panama, which made him the first English player to have appeared in four World Cup tournaments. (He’s 36 years old.) ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3199 "2026-07-06T18:43:27Z")
It seems to me that it’s pretty standard for federations to lodge complaints or appeals when they feel their players are hard done by, but FIFA has basically rarely if ever listened in the past and has stood by their referees’ bad decisions regardless. I seem to remember at least a few red cards in the pre-VAR days that should have been overturned but never were. It sounds like USSF came at them hard this time and got them to back down. If it leads to better accountability for red card decisions going forward, I don’t see that as a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3200 "2026-07-06T18:45:47Z")
On the subject of English yellow cards, I thought Harry Kane got one, and then I thought maybe it got reversed and given to another player? And, then, some other player, whose name escapes me, was subbed out and it looked like he had a yellow. Can someone explain the English bookings from the game yesterday? Rice in the 2nd minute, and then…? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=159) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=161)