# 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:** 163
**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, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3241 "2026-07-06T21:34:09Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > CR7 and Neymar going out within a day of each other (and possibly never returning to the WC) is like Christmas in July! Yeah, I also feel sweet, sweet Schadenfreude about this! ---
**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 6, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3242 "2026-07-06T21:48:17Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > This is all total bullshit. I’m really angry now. @Pardel-Lux was right early in the thread, FIFA and Trump are pushing and manipulating the cup for the USA to win. I hope they get a beating by Belgium, just because. You think you’re mad? You should see me. But even if the USA beats Belgium tonight, by means fair or foul, Spain is waiting. Spain has experience with home teams being helped by referees (Korea, to be precise. And Engand, way back when, in the Euro). It won’t happen again. And even if they beat Spain - Godott forbid! - France is waiting too. Football is the game of unfair results. One team attacks, has opportunities galore, shots to the post no end, the other wins by a lucky punch. Happens again and again. But so unfair as to give the title to a nation that does not even know what a World Cup is worth (ask @Frodo if you’re in doubt), to spectators who hold up signs reading "Best World Cup ever! USA! USA! USA! and mexico and canada in a game the USA is not playing while applauding when a celebrity or an influencer is shown on the screens but missing the good scenes, to people who… no, I better stop. Never gonna happen. > [@HeyHomie](#): > > 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 See what I mean? Yeah, harsh. Boohoo! But when they are out, President Ineptstein is going to claim it was foul play and the referee was a horrible person. Let me write it loud and clear: # Fuck him. Fuck FAFO FIFA. Fuck Mafiantino. Nice that Spain came through. Nice that Ronaldo Penaldo is down and out. ---
**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, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3243 "2026-07-06T22:14:37Z")
Good rant! I’m still speechless about the events, and I have no idea how FIFA will ever mend this crass breach of their own rules and everybody’s last bit of trust, sycophanting to a fascist leader. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3244 "2026-07-06T22:20:22Z")
Ronaldo has been ruining his legacy by sticking around and being an albatross around his manager’s neck. But Bruno Fernandes has been a big let down. Ronaldo is physically not up to it anymore but Bruno just had his best season yet and leaves this tournament contributing nothing. I expected more from Portugal and this was such a meek way to exit. Spain weren’t good, they rely too much on a teenager to add urgency in the opposition half. But 6 clean sheets in a row means they can rely on 1-0 winning their way to the trophy like they did in 2010. ---
**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, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3245 "2026-07-06T22:29:45Z")
That’s on the manager. Ronaldo’s perfectly entitled to keep trying to play, but there’s absolutely no reason to do so if he’s not going to help. And since it’s pretty obvious some of his teammates are resentful of his inclusion it’s even more perplexing. ---
**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, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3246 "2026-07-06T22:29:51Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > But 6 clean sheets in a row means they can rely on 1-0 winning their way to the trophy like they did in 2010. Let’s see how the Spanish defense looks against monsters like Mbpappé, Haaland, Kane or Messi. The will have to play some of them if they want to win the cup. ---
**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 6, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3247 "2026-07-06T22:31:06Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > Spain […] can rely on 1-0 winning their way to the trophy like they did in 2010. To be fair they lost 0-1 against Swizzerland in their first game. But they won 2-0 in their next game against Honduras. And then they played 2-1 against Chile in the third. ---
**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 6, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3248 "2026-07-06T22:35:50Z")
BTW, when I wrote France is waiting, I meant no disrespect to Morocco. It would be even poetically sublime if the USA lost to a muslim country. But it would be much better if they lost earlier. ---
**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, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3249 "2026-07-06T22:38:06Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > But it would be much better if they lost earlier. 5-0 Belgium tonight! My bet! (or rather, my dear wish) ---
**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 6, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3250 "2026-07-06T22:41:00Z")
You really like Lukaku, don’t you? It’s OK, so do I. ---
**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, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3251 "2026-07-06T22:42:04Z")
He’s a MONSTER! Yeah, I like players like him, real front strikers, number niners. ---
**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 6, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3252 "2026-07-06T22:42:05Z")
I think the only country not pulling for Belgium now is Congo, for obvious reasons. ---
**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, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3253 "2026-07-06T23:00:24Z")
Whoa! De Bruyne and Doku starting on the bench. Anticipating extra time? ---
**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, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3254 "2026-07-06T23:02:38Z")
I can think of at least one other… ---
**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 6, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3255 "2026-07-06T23:04:58Z")
Well yeah, but that goes without saying. ---
**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, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3256 "2026-07-06T23:06:31Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > I can think of at least one other… Not if their fans have any decency. I’m sure in most other countries, such manipulation would have led to a fan backlash. ---
**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 6, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3257 "2026-07-06T23:07:40Z")
Not here!, That FIFA is corrupt but sometimes it will be corrupt in your favour is an accepted fact. ---
**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, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3258 "2026-07-06T23:11:52Z")
There’s also reporting that FIFA was reviewing it because VAR was used inappropriately and Trump’s merely taking credit for something he had nothing to do with. Also Portugal, Ecuador, and Argentina all had red-card suspensions delayed for no reason. I would have preferred 1) that the red wasn’t issued in the first place 2) that the suspension hadn’t been overturned, but I’m not going to wear a hairshirt over it. ---
**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, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3259 "2026-07-06T23:12:50Z")
All I can say is that I’m sure that German ultras, who despise FIFA, UEFA and DFB anyway, are now all saying “See, see, that’s how blatantly corrupt they all are! They’re even admitting it! This is not our sport, and these are not our organisations.” And I feel the same disgust. ---
**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 6, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3260 "2026-07-06T23:13:22Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Not if their fans have any decency. I’m sure in most other countries, such manipulation would have led to a fan backlash. Say what? I wish Balogun didn’t get special treatment, but I’m not going to root against the US because of that. I’d be shocked if any other country would root against their own team because of some FIFA bullshit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=162) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=164)