# 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:** 23
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/441 "2026-06-08T21:43:13Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I suppose that the Somali ref could at least work the games in Mexico and Canada. Still bullshit of course. II he refs a game in the US, he afterwards just can sleep at the gates in the next railway station like all the other bums. /sarcasm ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/442 "2026-06-08T22:23:51Z")
Railway station? ---
**Author:** ![Ferris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ferris/32/11573_2.png) [@Ferris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferris)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/443 "2026-06-09T00:39:58Z")
The news about Iran’s logistics (and that apparently some of their support crew were refused visas) made the news here in New Zealand. That’s mainly because Iran is New Zealand’s first opponent and likely the most realistic chance of scoring a win. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/444 "2026-06-09T22:36:28Z")
I’ve never wanted a World Cup to fail so much. For Infantino, who has cozied up to Trump so publicly, this must be a concerning moment. I can’t imagine the continent’s top referee being refused a visa will go down to well with the African football associations. Their support is absolutely vital to a FIFA president’s power base. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/445 "2026-06-09T22:43:51Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > when they have a game in the US All three of their Group Stage games are in the US. I feel awful for them. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/446 "2026-06-09T23:50:13Z")
I just signed up for Fox One. For $40, you get THREE months right now. Special deal. I don’t know if I care about much past the world cup, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/447 "2026-06-11T01:59:23Z")
Also this bullshit… > The point of contention resided on the shirt’s right hip, which depicted silhouettes inspired by the Battle of Vertières and the Haitian revolution. In 1803, revolutionary leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who later became the nation’s first emperor, tore the white band off of a French flag to create a new flag for “[the world’s first free Black republic](https://haitiantimes.com/2026/05/18/today-in-history-haitian-flag-day-may-18/)”. The moment is commemorated throughout the nation every 18 May as Haitian Flag Day. > **[Haiti forced to change World Cup jerseys after Fifa rejects ‘political’ elements](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/10/haiti-world-cup-jerseys-change-fifa-saeta-imagery)** > > The manufacturer of the team’s World Cup jerseys said the design was “not intended as a political statement” Bullshit I’m assuming by the Trump administration. But also terrible goddamned reporting. What do the silhouettes show exactly ? Was it [this](https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/rendered/default/flat/pouch/images/artworkimages/medium/2/haitian-revolution-execution-of-french-science-source.jpg?&targetx=0&targety=-206&imagewidth=777&imageheight=888&modelwidth=777&modelheight=474&backgroundcolor=D0CAA3&orientation=0&producttype=pouch-regularbottom-medium)? [![](https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/rendered/default/flat/pouch/images/artworkimages/medium/2/haitian-revolution-execution-of-french-science-source.jpg?&targetx=0&targety=-206&imagewidth=777&imageheight=888&modelwidth=777&modelheight=474&backgroundcolor=D0CAA3&orientation=0&producttype=pouch-regularbottom-medium) ](https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/rendered/default/flat/pouch/images/artworkimages/medium/2/haitian-revolution-execution-of-french-science-source.jpg?&targetx=0&targety=-206&imagewidth=777&imageheight=888&modelwidth=777&modelheight=474&backgroundcolor=D0CAA3&orientation=0&producttype=pouch-regularbottom-medium) Tbh I would actively search out that kit if it was. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/448 "2026-06-11T18:02:49Z")
Opening show going on pretty well so far, nice display of cultural elements but not stupidly over the top. (So _ **glad** _ it opened in MexCity so that it could be a “normal” kind of FIFA event w/o fearing the effect of a Certain Presence!) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/449 "2026-06-11T19:15:24Z")
Watching the first match and Mexico just scored, quite easily, the first goal of the match. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/450 "2026-06-11T19:22:57Z")
Let’s goooooo Mexico! Gooooooooooaaaaaaal ---
**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:** [June 11, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/451 "2026-06-11T19:24:37Z")
Damn, that was an aggressive tackle. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/452 "2026-06-11T19:25:47Z")
Clearest yellow ever. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/453 "2026-06-11T19:36:29Z")
Annoying hydration commercial break, but it was mercifully much shorter than a single NFL commercial break. Ian Darke and Landon Donovan are doing an OK job on my feed. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/454 "2026-06-11T19:37:22Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Annoying hydration commercial break, but it was mercifully much shorter than a single NFL commercial break. I told my daughter, “I smell a scam. An excuse to throw ads into the middle of the game.” Boo. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/455 "2026-06-11T19:42:07Z")
It was extremely obvious from the beginning that that was the force behind the whole “hydration breaks” foolishness. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/456 "2026-06-11T19:56:02Z")
Mexico could easily have one or two more goals. RSA’s goalie has made a couple of stellar saves, Mexico hit the post a few minutes ago, and hit a couple of shots just wide. South Africa is lucky to be down 1-0 at halftime. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/457 "2026-06-11T19:59:17Z")
Indeed, Mexico played better for the full half and it showed. South Africa dodged a few very close bullets. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/458 "2026-06-11T19:59:30Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > RSA’s goalie has made a couple of stellar saves But he didn’t look good on the goal, letting the ball slip through his feet. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/459 "2026-06-11T20:00:06Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Annoying hydration commercial break, but it was mercifully much shorter than a single NFL commercial break. Wtf, it’s not even that hot in mexico city. It’s basically the same temperature as in Paris. That is clearly just an excuse for an advert break ---
**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:** [June 11, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/460 "2026-06-11T20:04:39Z")
I vaguely recall FIFA adamantly denying that water breaks were needed in the Qatari heat [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=24)