# 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:** 190
**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 10, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3781 "2026-07-10T19:05:20Z")
Michael Oliver is pretty well known for having cards ready to hand, I wonder how he’ll do in this free-for-all-fouling brave new World Cup era. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3782 "2026-07-10T19:06:57Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > What teams are generally better, the best of the World Cup teams or the best of the best League teams? Best of the club sides is the standard answer, although the French national team are ridiculously stacked. Still, those club teams spend months training together so I’d argue the standard of teamwork in competitions like the Champions League is much higher. I do reckon PSG (the current European club champions) would sweep everyone aside in this tournament. And the top club sides have no weak links. A national side might just not have a world class right back to choose from. A top club can go out an buy a top international player to fill that position and probably have a second international class right back as backup. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3783 "2026-07-10T19:31:28Z")
Is the “pregnant with a soccer ball” celebration the worst on record? Experts have some thoughts. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3784 "2026-07-10T19:31:30Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > What teams are generally better, the best of the World Cup teams or the best of the best League teams? Agree with @Fiendish_Astronaut here. If one of the top teams had France’s starting 11, even with unlimited budget there wouldn’t be a single position that’s in dire need of upgrade. Probably they’d want to upgrade LB, CM, and keeper, but usually top national sides have at least one significant hole that Real Madrid or Bayern Munich would fix in the transfer market quickly. The difference between a generationally stacked national side and a top club side is going to be tactics; club teams have more training time together and can be more sophisticated w/ their pressing schemes or what not. Missed the start of this one, thought it was a 4pm kickoff, but Spain scores immediately after I turn it on. Great through ball by Yamal and then Olmo with a free shot + score on rebound. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3785 "2026-07-10T19:32:21Z")
Also thumb sucking and rocking the baby. Why so many baby related celebrations? ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3786 "2026-07-10T19:35:57Z")
Good, good, beating the pure evil of Belgium. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3787 "2026-07-10T19:36:06Z")
Lamal showing some form which is ominous for the other top teams… ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3788 "2026-07-10T19:40:08Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Also thumb sucking Apologies for forgetting this one. I think I hate it more, opinion retracted. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3789 "2026-07-10T19:41:35Z")
That’ll make Tim Ream feel better. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3790 "2026-07-10T19:41:54Z")
Spain couldn’t quite make the 650th consecutive minute of World Cup football without conceding a goal. 1-1. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3791 "2026-07-10T19:42:41Z")
Cubarsi is a wonderful ball playing center back, but a lot of people think he’s shit and that’s why. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3792 "2026-07-10T19:43:59Z")
Again I am amazed at the force of some of the headers. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3793 "2026-07-10T19:44:26Z")
And the Spanish defense finally concedes a goal. Belgium with a bit of momentum. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3794 "2026-07-10T19:45:50Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Good, good, beating the pure evil of Belgium. Did you visit Brussels and Manneken Pis hit you, or what do you have against Belgium? ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3795 "2026-07-10T19:50:05Z")
Mayonnaise on fries ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3796 "2026-07-10T19:52:45Z")
Yummy! And they have the best fries in the world. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3797 "2026-07-10T19:53:33Z")
I agree but some people hate the idea. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3798 "2026-07-10T19:54:48Z")
I thought mayo on fries was laughable until I had them hot off the cart in Rothenburg. Now it’s my favorite. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3799 "2026-07-10T19:56:37Z")
Of course the best is Pommes Schranke, fries with mayo AND ketchup. Bu that’s a German specialty, I don’t know what happens if you order that in Belgium. ---
**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 10, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3800 "2026-07-10T19:57:28Z")
I love freaking out my friends with mayo on fries. Americans lose their minds, I learned it in Spain 30 years ago. I also hate ketchup on anything except maybe eggs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=189) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=191)