# 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:** 173
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3441 "2026-07-07T15:58:31Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > The threw us 3 games as a sop, but they are cheating us of a World Cup that should be played here ☹ Yep it is disgraceful. An Argentinian, or joint South American, World Cup would be awesome. ---
**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, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3442 "2026-07-07T16:14:13Z")
Oh damn, thought this game was at 1, missed the first 10 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, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3443 "2026-07-07T16:15:18Z")
Why can’t they just pick a host country and stick to it? Any of this year’s three hosts would have been perfectly capable of hosting on their own. If the Low Countries or Scandinavia want to go in on a bid, that’s one thing, but there’s no need to scatter the games over an entire continent when one host country is capable of handling it all. Maybe the next North American WC could be hosted jointly by the Caribbean nations. ---
**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, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3444 "2026-07-07T16:16:27Z")
De Paul deserved a card there, and honestly either color would have been justifiable. Egypt up 1-0! ---
**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, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3445 "2026-07-07T16:17:30Z")
Oh, dear. Can’t imagine what F r o d o is thinking. ---
**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, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3446 "2026-07-07T16:19:25Z")
Some of it is probably trying not to jinx anything, but Frodo hasn’t spoken very highly of Argentina. Justifiably I think as they haven’t looked good all tournament. ---
**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, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3447 "2026-07-07T16:19:35Z")
I can. 🫨 ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3448 "2026-07-07T16:20:05Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I would give anything if a reporter would ask Trump, “people are saying that you are responsible for the US team’s loss….” And the thing is… this would be accurate. The US players looked like a dispirited team who had just had their heads messed with. Because that’s what happened. Every one of them knew that if they won, there would be an asterisk beside the win forever. And when they went back to their clubs, they’d be booed by their own fans whenever they took the field. They went into the game with the knowledge that they were now in a Lose-Lose scenario. The normal thing to do would have been to use the red card situation to their advantage. To rally the players to avenge the injustice. Give a good [“Win just one for the Gipper”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gipp) speech, ala Knute Rockney. But no. Trump had to find a way to cheat. Which completely put the US players off their game. Good job. Everything Trump Touches Turns To Shit ---
**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, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3449 "2026-07-07T16:21:05Z")
PK to Argentina. See if Messi can redeem his other miss. ---
**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, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3450 "2026-07-07T16:22:24Z")
Second missed penalty for Messi! ---
**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, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3451 "2026-07-07T16:22:45Z")
Apparently Messi’s missed 3 of his last 4. Got the yips. ---
**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, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3452 "2026-07-07T16:22:56Z")
Messi shouldn’t be taking penalties. He’s on 4/8 in World Cups now. ---
**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, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3453 "2026-07-07T16:23:11Z")
Terrible placement. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3454 "2026-07-07T16:23:41Z")
So Messi is just 4 out of 8 in penalties in World Cups. That is a bit surprising. Obviously a huge moment. ---
**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, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3455 "2026-07-07T16:25:19Z")
If it was Ronaldo, everybody would be calling him selfish. ---
**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, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3456 "2026-07-07T16:26:20Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > The normal thing to do would have been to use the red card situation to their advantage. To rally the players to avenge the injustice. Give a good [“Win just one for the Gipper”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gipp) speech, ala Knute Rockney. I think that’s what they did, and it worked brilliantly. Oh, you meant the _Americans_ should have done that! Yes, that would have better. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3457 "2026-07-07T16:26:20Z")
Argentina may well get out of this jam but if they are making such heavy weather against weaker teams are they really likely to beat England or France? ---
**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, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3458 "2026-07-07T16:29:24Z")
They’re not likely to beat Colombia if they get out of this. ---
**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, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3459 "2026-07-07T16:29:32Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Every one of them knew that if they won, there would be an asterisk beside the win forever. And when they went back to their clubs, they’d be booed by their own fans whenever they took the field. They went into the game with the knowledge that they were now in a Lose-Lose scenario. I certainly hope nobody blames the actual US players for this clusterfuck, and AFAICT people aren’t. And assuming the US didn’t actually go on to win the Cup, which they almost certainly wouldn’t have, I doubt people would have held a burning grudge forever about a tainted Round of 16 win. ---
**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, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3460 "2026-07-07T16:31:56Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > I doubt people would have held a burning grudge forever about a tainted Round of 16 win. I’m sure if the USA had won yesterday with two goals by Balogun, the Belgians would hold grudges for decades. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=172) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=174)