# 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:** 167
**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 7, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3321 "2026-07-07T00:34:00Z")
Straight answer from Belgium! ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3322 "2026-07-07T00:34:12Z")
2-1 Belgium. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3323 "2026-07-07T00:34:12Z")
Bad execution by the US right side defense. 2-1 Belgium quickly. ---
**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, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3324 "2026-07-07T00:34:12Z")
Yeah, zero chance the US wins this. Only chance was gifted a foul and a deflected FK and Belgium is easily playing through us. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3325 "2026-07-07T00:34:22Z")
What network are you watching in Germany? US announcers are terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3326 "2026-07-07T00:34:28Z")
Back and forth. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3327 "2026-07-07T00:36:04Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > What network are you watching in Germany? US announcers are terrible. Good old ARD over satellite. They are also streaming, but I have no idea if their stream is available in the US. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3328 "2026-07-07T00:36:08Z")
Yellow card on us ---
**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, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3329 "2026-07-07T00:36:13Z")
Well, it was nice while it lasted. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3330 "2026-07-07T00:36:42Z")
Wouldn’t say zero, but getting pretty outclassed. And without the usual suspects Lukaku, De Bruyne and Doku ---
**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, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3331 "2026-07-07T00:38:11Z")
Yeah, the US basically have no subs that bring anything other than fresh legs (Reyna…) but Belgium has maybe the best dribbler in the world and aging world class striker and a-mid. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3332 "2026-07-07T00:38:19Z")
US with a new wrinkle, putting Adams in the middle of the back line on the buildup and sending Freeman up the line. It’s odd because the Poch tried this setup back in March against Belgium and got creamed 5-2. Don’t know what he’s thinking now… ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3333 "2026-07-07T00:39:33Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Good old ARD over satellite. They are also streaming, but I have no idea if their stream is available in the US. I VPN’d it and am watching now, we’ll give it a try. ---
**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, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3334 "2026-07-07T00:42:15Z")
Adams just stands right in front of Pulisic and forces him to turn the ball over for no reason. They’re just not remotely up to this game. How did they lose all cohesion in 5 days? ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3335 "2026-07-07T00:44:13Z")
Belgium, who usually look like nothing more than a bunch of individuals, are playing like a team. The US, who usually play like a great team are looking like a bunch of individuals who have never met each other before. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3336 "2026-07-07T00:46:21Z")
I wouldn’t give USA for dead yet tough, there still a lot of time in the game. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3337 "2026-07-07T00:47:20Z")
+6 to the time. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3338 "2026-07-07T00:49:08Z")
Yeah, there’s still a lot that can happen, but dear football God (who is Diego in Argentina but formless in Germany), please don’t make Balogun score! ---
**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, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3339 "2026-07-07T00:50:18Z")
Sure, I’m dooming a bit, but not a single player is executing what they’re trying to do. If they play like they can, there should be some chances or at least contesting for possession, but they’re just so far off from what they’re trying to do. Balogun with a decent chance off a long through ball. Not something you can build a gameplan around I don’t think. ---
**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 7, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3340 "2026-07-07T00:51:03Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I VPN’d it and am watching now, we’ll give it a try. The ARD stream is about 30 seconds ahead of the Fox feed, so I think in the second half I can pause the stream for about 30 seconds and be synched up. The German announcers are much calmer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=166) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=168)