# 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:** 221
**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 15, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4401 "2026-07-15T16:50:03Z")
It was a clear flop. Pushing happens on every single corner, some is called, some isn’t. England did a good job in forcing the ref to make a decision by throwing himself to ground. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4402 "2026-07-15T16:51:23Z")
The match starts at 2pm for me, and I’ll be busy from 4:15 until about 9:30, so I need this thing over in 90’. Anybody got Infantino’s number? ---
**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 15, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4403 "2026-07-15T16:54:02Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > This is the final ruling, there will be no review. Play on. I agree wholeheartedly. And I’ll add that discussing it to death takes away from my enjoyment of the game as much as VAR does. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4404 "2026-07-15T16:54:05Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > Anybody got Infantino’s number? The Orange Guy does. ---
**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, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4405 "2026-07-15T16:57:13Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Perfect, fix that and then we can talk about VAR, until then remove this thing from my sport please. This x 1,000,000 ---
**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 15, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4406 "2026-07-15T16:59:04Z")
@Frodo do you have enough ice? I’m considering a dip myself with today’s weather. ---
**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 15, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4407 "2026-07-15T17:02:48Z")
My prediction is a very ugly Argentina 1 goal win or a pretty comfortable England win by 2. ---
**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 15, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4408 "2026-07-15T17:22:21Z")
Despite a great fondness for Frodo, I’ll be rooting for England today. It’s been a while for them. ---
**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, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4409 "2026-07-15T17:31:52Z")
1-1 draw followed by pens. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4410 "2026-07-15T17:33:28Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > The final effect is the same, controversial calls are inevitable, VAR or no VAR, There’s “controversial calls” like “that seems a bit harsh, did that player really aim for the guy’s shin or was he just sloppy?” and there’s controversial calls like “that ball was clearly past the line but somehow the ref missed it”. We just _do not have_ controversial calls of the latter kind in this tournament, and compared to prior tournaments where we had tons of that (cough cough 2010), this is a vast improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4411 "2026-07-15T17:35:05Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > It was a clear flop. I think it’s a rare person who _would not_ go flying if pushed that way by a giant like Haaland. ---
**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, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4412 "2026-07-15T17:39:19Z")
You haven’t been on twitter this world cup right? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4413 "2026-07-15T17:40:32Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > 1. Any time the fans see action on the field they dislike, they yell for VAR to jump in and adjudicate it. See, that’s an improvement - before, they’d just call for the Ref’s blood. VAR is much more productive! ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4414 "2026-07-15T17:46:40Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > You haven’t been on twitter this world cup right? I’ve seen some complaints, but none that seem valid. Got any in mind? ---
**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, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4415 "2026-07-15T17:50:37Z")
No worries … gig fell through. I’ll be watching the match afterall. ---
**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, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4416 "2026-07-15T17:54:05Z")
That’s the point, the noise, the controversy, valid to you or me or not, is thru the roof. VAR hasn’t fixed anything. But again, let’s stop with this, both sides want different things and we’ll never agree, it’s useless to continue. ---
**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 15, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4417 "2026-07-15T18:04:57Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > But again, let’s stop with this, both sides want different things and we’ll never agree, it’s useless to continue. But it’s the Dope! ---
**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 15, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4418 "2026-07-15T18:26:09Z")
I never thought I’d say this, but I miss Derek Rae and Ian Darke. I really hate John Strong. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4419 "2026-07-15T18:28:17Z")
About 20 minutes left. Get used to the longer halftimes, more teams, games, etc … It’s all about the Benjamins, Yaun, Euros. More TV time equals commercials. And don’t forget those hydration breaks, hardly commercial free. ---
**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 15, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4420 "2026-07-15T18:30:42Z")
I saw the Bundesliga dumped ESPN yesterday in the US, in favor of a two-network model: USA, and weirdly, a new Fandango free streaming service. Unlike Germany, where the two streaming services have clear rules about who gets what matches, apparently they’re still working out where they will appear on these two US platforms. All that is to say that Derek Raae posted on bluesky yesterday that he would be still doing Bundesliga, but he didn’t have any other information. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=220) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=222)