# 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:** 217
**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 14, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4321 "2026-07-14T22:03:44Z")
True, and the the French Ligue 1 dropping to 18 teams (like the Bundesliga) has probably contributed to their CL success. 4 fewer games and an extended mid-season holiday has to be an advantage in May vs. EPL, La Liga and Serie A teams. ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4322 "2026-07-14T23:09:56Z")
Until I checked, I didn’t realize just how good is Spain’s performance in this world cup: - Matches: W 6 / L 0 / T 1 (scoreless tie vs Cape Verde) - Goals: 13 - 1 (one goal allowed vs Belgium) ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4323 "2026-07-15T00:56:12Z")
Bah! Now, I’m down to only one of my teams still in the tournament. I hope Argentina makes it or the final I will just be me trying to decide which team I want to lose more (probably England). `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4324 "2026-07-15T02:10:02Z")
Pretty sure Messi will get a brace in the second half tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4325 "2026-07-15T02:16:47Z")
Hey, has Stu Holden stopped talking yet? No? _sigh_… Well you know what they say: it’s not over 'til the skinny dude shuts up. He’s quite the little Energizer Bunny, isn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4326 "2026-07-15T02:28:36Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > In the semis, it seems crazy to just give Spain a goal for that iffy call. Going back to this, as others have said, it’s clearly a penalty under the laws of the game. Kicking another player is a foul, it’s a foul inside the box, and the consequence of such is a penalty kick. That said, I feel there are situations where “the punishment doesn’t fit the crime”, typically fouls at the edge of the box like this where the attacker isn’t really all that close to scoring a goal. If nothing else, I think they should round the corners of the penalty area. ---
**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 15, 2026, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4327 "2026-07-15T05:09:34Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > we’ll probably lose to England I really see it as a 50/50 game. Nightmare scenario for me is England lose on penalties. Please… no. I’ve seen us do that so…many…times… Vs German teams. 2 losses Vs Portugal. 2 losses Vs Italy. 2 losses Vs Argentina. 1 loss. It seems inevitable. ---
**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 15, 2026, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4328 "2026-07-15T05:15:02Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > Going back to this, as others have said, it’s clearly a penalty under the laws of the game. The only thing I had doubts about was whether Yamal handballed it. The referee they’ve got on ITV in the UK didn’t even hesitate when asked and said penalty, and that the ball hit his ‘sleeve’ and therefore not a handball. Didn’t look like it to me though, clearly hit his arm further down than that, certainly low enough down that it would count as part of the body excluded from the offside animation graphic things they use for offside (ergo, liable for handball). In which case I guess VAR deemed it completely unintentional (fair enough) and also not making his body outline bigger (ok… it was by his side). It just feels a little dodgy because he led with his arm and the contact is obviously material to the outcome (Digne kicking Yamal). ---
**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 15, 2026, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4329 "2026-07-15T05:27:58Z")
Have we moaned about the ridiculous ‘half time show’ set for the final yet? I have a feeling we may have covered that pre-tournament but I had forgotten about it until reading a BBC article on it this morning, so it probably deserves another moan… TWENTY FIVE minutes at half time? 🤬 🤬 🤬 (Sorry, it just feels a little cathartic). ---
**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 15, 2026, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4330 "2026-07-15T05:49:06Z")
Just got back home from Spain-France game. French never seemed to mount a single effective attack. Also, the response of fans was a lot more muted than I expected. The French fans didn’t seem fazed by the loss and the Spaniards weren’t all that celebratory. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4331 "2026-07-15T06:03:05Z")
That’s decided than. Neither of them deserve it. At least England and Argentina fans would kill for it ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4332 "2026-07-15T11:08:26Z")
It’s got to be pulled back. We already have hydration breaks in each half making the game stop and start but a long half time show is ridiculous. The whole point of a 15 minute break is it’s long enough for players to get their breath back, get any treatment if needed, gather together with the coaches and make their thoughts known/make changes before heading back out again. Making HT twice as long will just lead to a lot of sitting around, not good for the muscles after exerting them so intensely, any messaging from the coach loses impact when you are made to think about it too long without action. I’d also add there’s probably a strong likelihood the performers of the HT show will be booed by the fans of both teams in the final just because football/soccer fan culture is like that. People pay to watch the game and hope that’s the spectacle. Not the paid entertainment. Reminds me when UEFA hired a pop star to perform before kick off for the Champions League final a few years ago and she got booed by the fans. Kick off time wasn’t moved to accommodate her, everything still ran to the traditional time slot but fans don’t want to see it. There’s also a bit of talk about Jennifer Hudson singing the US national anthem before kick off which has sparked some controversy because this seems the first time ever where a country which isn’t one of the two teams playing for the trophy has their anthem sung along with that of the two countries playing. On this score I think the fans of Spain and Argentina/England will be respectful enough to not boo Jennifer Hudson but it is weird. ---
**Author:** ![Pheoinix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@Pheoinix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pheoinix)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4333 "2026-07-15T11:38:15Z")
It’s not healthy for players two have such a long break between two halves of football. Expect a lot of pulled muscles in the second half. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4334 "2026-07-15T11:56:44Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > not good for the muscles after exerting them so intensely > [@Pheoinix](#): > > It’s not healthy for players two have such a long break between two halves of football. Expect a lot of pulled muscles in the second half. Be against halftime shows if you want to be, but this seems silly. NBA halftimes last about 20 minutes once you include commercials and wasted time. NFL halftime shows during the Super Bowl last 25-30 minutes. ---
**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 15, 2026, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4335 "2026-07-15T12:14:00Z")
I’m so nervous I can barely type, no idea how they expect me to work today. **deep breaths** I guess. ---
**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 15, 2026, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4336 "2026-07-15T12:14:32Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > England will be respectful enough to not boo Jennifer Hudson If we get that far, and it’s a big if, I may return to this comment 🤣 > [@RitterSport](#): > > NFL halftime shows during the Super Bowl last 25-30 minutes. I don’t watch NFL (I’d rather watch paint dry) but isn’t it way more stop-start than (association) football? So a longer break is less detrimental? ---
**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 15, 2026, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4337 "2026-07-15T12:15:21Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I’m so nervous I’ve got this horrible feeling of dread. It’s going to penalties. ---
**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 15, 2026, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4338 "2026-07-15T12:15:33Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > And I think that Argentina is way better for Spain than England, so do your work. Our interests align… until Sunday. Just in case, I was not disparaging Spain’s team, is just that their strength seems to me to be in the midfield and not in their attack, which is good because Argentina’s defense sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4339 "2026-07-15T12:18:10Z")
I’ve a gig at 3:15 today so I’ll only be able to watch the match after the fact. NOBODY TELL ME WHO WON! ---
**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 15, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4340 "2026-07-15T12:27:02Z")
Yes. NFL involves going at full effort for about 30 seconds and then standing around drinking water for an equal amount of time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=216) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=218)