# 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:** 164
**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, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3261 "2026-07-06T23:14:20Z")
Basically it makes you support your team bit less, with a bit of shame, but you won’t stop supporting it for that. ---
**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, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3262 "2026-07-06T23:15:23Z")
^ Yup. I’m not exactly proud right now, but I’m not going to cheer a Belgian goal. ---
**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, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3263 "2026-07-06T23:18:55Z")
Yeah, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Trump had nothing to do with it. Not because either Trump or Infantino aren’t fully capable of such a thing, just because Trump is generally very bad at everything. ---
**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, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3264 "2026-07-06T23:20:00Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > 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. Not rooting against your own team, but calling bullshit and losing interest. Just like I felt after the Disgrace of Gijon in 1982, when I was only 14. ---
**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, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3265 "2026-07-06T23:21:06Z")
My interest has diminished for sure, but not disappeared. It’s ticking back up a bit due to negative polarization though I have to say. ---
**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, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3266 "2026-07-06T23:27:40Z")
If I felt like the US team were lacking integrity, I’d be a little more pissed. But from all accounts, they’re acting honorably in all this. It sucks that Trump and FIFA are being sleazy, and if the US wins, it will taint the victory for me. But I can’t hold it against the team. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3267 "2026-07-06T23:31:00Z")
I haven’t really been following things and what I know comes from headlines (I’ve seen the foul once I think), so I’m just tuning in to watch and root for the US. Whatever involvement Trump has will diminish my delight, but that’s been true since before the tournament. (with all that in mind, I’m not even turning on the game until it starts) ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3268 "2026-07-06T23:37:13Z")
I’ll be rooting hard for the US - it’s just baked into me. Not rah-rah patriotism … but I’ve watched every world cup since I was a teen, when no one gave a shit about soccer in the states. I played soccer all my life, practically. I’m 60 now, but the last competitive game I played was about five years ago. So, no, I haven’t lost interest and no I won’t be rooting against the US. But fuck Trump, that asshole. He just has to crop-dust his bullshit all over everything and just ruin it. Everything Trump Touches Dies - ETTD. I can’t wait until that bloated dick as a footnote to history. ---
**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, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3269 "2026-07-06T23:45:40Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > If I felt like the US team were lacking integrity, I’d be a little more pissed. But from all accounts, they’re acting honorably in all this. Oh, I’m not blaming the US team or their officials for this mess, I rather feel sorry for them to get into this situation. ---
**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 6, 2026, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3270 "2026-07-06T23:47:05Z")
Personally, I don’t think Trump really had anything to do with it. I do think he saw an opportunity to take credit for it and did so. I also don’t think Infantino was directly involved. I DO think that FIFA knew what would happen if the red card was suspended, and I DO think it is in FIFA’s best interest for the rest of the world to have a reason to hate on the US team and be able to blame it all on Trump, especially for the American masses who don’t even know what a red card is. I started this tournament believing that the US team only qualified as a host nation and didn’t deserve to be there. I have never supported the USMNT, especially amid the Berhalter/Reyna nonsense (which I don’t believe is behind us). But this incident has flipped me the other direction, at least for tonight’s game. Belgium is a weak and aging team, and I truly believe the US would beat them even without Balogun. I’d much rather see the US leave the tournament at the hands of a good team like Spain than a mediocre team like Belgium. It disgusts me that Trump has become involved. But for tonight’s game - USA! USA! USA! (and I have never chanted that in my life and probably never will again.) ---
**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, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3271 "2026-07-06T23:47:44Z")
It’s an ugly thing that will taint any enjoyment they could get from the game a bit. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3272 "2026-07-06T23:49:13Z")
Football isn’t football without some controversy overhanging some part of the tournament. Enjoy the game because it should be a good one. I can’t pick a winner. ---
**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, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3273 "2026-07-06T23:49:31Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > I started this tournament believing that the US team only qualified as a host nation and didn’t deserve to be there. Odd. This team is better in every way than the team that made it out of the group last WC with a smaller field. ---
**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 6, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3274 "2026-07-06T23:50:34Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > This team is better in every way I’m confessing to my own bias because of the Berhalter/Reyna affair. ---
**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, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3275 "2026-07-06T23:51:52Z")
Also odd to index so much onto a thing that’s just Claudio being a dbag for a couple weeks. ---
**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, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3276 "2026-07-06T23:52:01Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > It’s an ugly thing that will taint any enjoyment they could get from the game a bit. Exactly. They can play the best football they ever have and make it far, but it will be tainted. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3277 "2026-07-07T00:01:34Z")
And here we go. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3278 "2026-07-07T00:03:03Z")
2 shots on goal for Belgium in 2 minutes. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3279 "2026-07-07T00:03:04Z")
Belgium’s kits are freaking hideous. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3280 "2026-07-07T00:03:55Z")
They don’t pop in TV, but they have a Magritte paraphrase “this is not a uniform” so I like them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=163) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=165)