# 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:** 174
**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, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3461 "2026-07-07T16:33:27Z")
Messi hits the post on a free kick although I think the keeper had it covered. ---
**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, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3462 "2026-07-07T16:34:31Z")
The Belgians, sure, but it wouldn’t have been most people’s defining memory of this World Cup. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3463 "2026-07-07T16:35:14Z")
Is it petty of me to slightly hope Messi fails just because he bears a resemblance to my soon-to-be-ex asshole of a brother-in-law, whose name is also Lionel? ---
**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, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3464 "2026-07-07T16:37:14Z")
Don’t underestimate the, erm, memorability (???) of controversies. Battiston being felled by Schumacher in 82, Maradona cheating in 86, Beckham’s red card in 98. All highly memorable. ---
**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, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3465 "2026-07-07T16:38:02Z")
Yes, but random pettiness is totally fine and expected in sports. ---
**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, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3466 "2026-07-07T16:40:02Z")
Relevant to some arguments I’m having on another forum: Mauricio Pottechino said that he thought the US had a chance to go all the way, and “We believe that we will win” is a popular US fan chant. _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3466))_ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3467 "2026-07-07T16:41:14Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > The Belgians, sure, but it wouldn’t have been most people’s defining memory of this World Cup. Sorry, I think it already is and will be for years to come. ---
**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 7, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3468 "2026-07-07T16:42:42Z")
Shoubir is just amazing today. ---
**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 7, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3469 "2026-07-07T16:43:07Z")
The Egyptian goalkeeper is doing an astounding job thus 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 7, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3470 "2026-07-07T16:44:59Z")
Argentina getting better opportunities than they did against Cape Verde, but can’t convert so far. ---
**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, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3471 "2026-07-07T16:52:06Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > - That’s completely normal, every coach and fanbase is going to be optimistic in public, no matter how unjustified it is. I picked this. Perfectly normal for managers to talk up their team, even if privately they would have doubts. I don’t think it would go down well if he was asked ‘can you win?’ and he said ‘nope… no chance, we’re crap!’ ---
**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 7, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3472 "2026-07-07T16:57:10Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > - This is cringy and shows that US fans are stupid and arrogant, because they did not in fact have a chance to win Yes, how stupid and arrogant for someone to believe that the team they support can actually win. 🙄 ---
**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, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3473 "2026-07-07T17:00:38Z")
Tell an Argentina fan that Messi’s penalty % is dead-on average at 78%, while CR7’s is 83% and Kane’s is 90%, and watch the fun. ---
**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, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3474 "2026-07-07T17:02:40Z")
The especially weird thing about Messi is that his signature goal has got to be slotting it into the lower corner, just inside the post. Perfect PK placement, just that he’s doing it from 20 yards out, not 12. ---
**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, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3475 "2026-07-07T17:06:05Z")
My sense from the first half is that Argentina will get that goal in the second half. Egypt’s best chance of winning is to score a second goal on the counter-attack at some point when Argentina is pressing too aggressively. ---
**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, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3476 "2026-07-07T17:08:39Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > The especially weird thing about Messi is that his signature goal has got to be slotting it into the lower corner, just inside the post. Usually the left post, that’s how Messi scored about 500 goals, that’s why I’m surprised both failed penalties in this cup went towards the right post. ---
**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, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3477 "2026-07-07T17:14:56Z")
Old man Messi not able to get a good angle on a through ball. Argentina moving the ball well. Feels like they’re going to get one, but time keeps slipping away. ---
**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, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3478 "2026-07-07T17:22:25Z")
What a goal on the counterattack! ETA: ah damn, VAR check. There was a foul. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3479 "2026-07-07T17:22:26Z")
2-0 !! ---
**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, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3480 "2026-07-07T17:22:27Z")
Oh my god what a goal that is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=173) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=175)