# 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:** 178
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3541 "2026-07-07T17:57:00Z")
Imagine if Argentina played like this all game. They’d be leading 27-2. /s Ha, but my wallet is relieved, I would have taken a financial hit if Argentina lost. But - still too early to talk. ---
**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, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3542 "2026-07-07T17:57:16Z")
That’s pretty unbelievable ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3543 "2026-07-07T17:57:21Z")
This is wild. ---
**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, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3544 "2026-07-07T17:57:34Z")
And that’s why they’re one of the top teams in the world. ---
**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, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3545 "2026-07-07T17:57:55Z")
Bloody british commentaters .. Just 10 minutes ago saying “Argentina have never come back from 2 goals down…” ---
**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, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3546 "2026-07-07T17:58:28Z")
Egypt only had two defenders back - very risky. ---
**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, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3547 "2026-07-07T17:59:10Z")
Superb comeback but absolutely gutted for Egypt. And they even had 4 attackers up the pitch and messed up at 2 2, shame… Argentina are dodgy as hell at the back, only problem is Egypt are even dodgier ---
**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, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3548 "2026-07-07T17:59:18Z")
Card time, it seems. ---
**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, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3549 "2026-07-07T18:00:13Z")
I’m still expecting a France v Argentina final. Or maybe Spain v Argentina. ---
**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 7, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3550 "2026-07-07T18:00:43Z")
Did you see that Messi did not run in that last goal, but showed where to pass the ball? And the player did, and it worked. I wonder whether @Frodo now understands the value of VAR. I told him that he would need a lot of it to win the Cup, I think they would not win this game (it’s not over yet, I know) without VAR. ---
**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, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3551 "2026-07-07T18:00:53Z")
I’m also happy that Bet365 is apparently going to have to pay out both ends of the bets on this match, so perhaps they won’t have enough money to air those lousy commercials that have made this tournament’s ad breaks so painful. ---
**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, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3552 "2026-07-07T18:02:45Z")
I do not agree with that yellow card. ---
**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, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3553 "2026-07-07T18:02:45Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > Bet365 is apparently going to have to pay out both ends of the bets on this match Can you explain that, please? I think I know what you are referring to, but I’m not completely certain. Thanks. ---
**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, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3554 "2026-07-07T18:03:12Z")
It’s all priced in to their odds, the win market won’t be as generous as others, with their ‘2 goals up and you win’ thing (I assume that’s what you are referring to) ---
**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, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3555 "2026-07-07T18:05:17Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I do not agree with that yellow card. I wonder what the Egyptian players and officials were so riled up about that they got several cards for complaining to the refs. ---
**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, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3556 "2026-07-07T18:06:31Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I wonder what the Egyptian players and officials were so riled up I think they thought there should have been a foul called when Argentina started their upfield push for the 3rd goal. You know, just like when Egypt had a goal taken 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, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3557 "2026-07-07T18:07:43Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I think they thought there should have been a foul called when Argentina started their upfield push for the 3rd goal. You know, just like when Egypt had a goal taken away. Ah, I remember the situation, but no way that was a foul. ---
**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, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3558 "2026-07-07T18:07:56Z")
The replay on Salah showed a clean tackle, I’m not sure if there was another potential foul. ---
**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, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3559 "2026-07-07T18:08:38Z")
They’ve been promoting their “you win the bet if the team goes up by two goals” thing heavily (on US TV anyway) in this World Cup. > [@iamatractorboy](#): > > It’s all priced in to their odds, the win market won’t be as generous as others, with their ‘2 goals up and you win’ thing (I assume that’s what you are referring to) I’m sure that’s true - and they’ve probably got some psychologists who figure a match like this will end up creating more bettors in the long term to erase the temporary hit to the balance sheet - or make existing bettors bet more. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3560 "2026-07-07T18:10:33Z")
According to The Guardian commentary “They think Mac Allister pulled Fathy to the ground in his own box just before Argentina countered and scored.” They also said “Mac Allister did tug Fathy … but it would have been a terribly soft decision to penalise him.” So make of that what you will. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=177) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=179)