# 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:** 234
**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 16, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4661 "2026-07-16T16:39:31Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Is anyone willing to defend the existence of the third-place game? I’m certainly not. Biggest waste of time in football! ---
**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 16, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4662 "2026-07-16T16:47:09Z")
How is that grass on the outside of the roll but then flips to be grass side up? ---
**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 16, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4663 "2026-07-16T16:51:55Z")
It’s almost like that picture was created through a process that imagined the details and came up with something that kinda looks right but isn’t. Can’t imagine what that process might’ve been. /s ---
**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 16, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4664 "2026-07-16T17:20:42Z")
Hmmm is it because it’s Artificial Turf , no that’s not it, it will come to me eventually. ---
**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 16, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4665 "2026-07-16T17:24:17Z")
Astro Intelligence? ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4666 "2026-07-16T17:43:49Z")
Lifelike Lawn Modelling? ---
**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 16, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4667 "2026-07-16T17:47:08Z")
Y’all are very clever. ☺ ---
**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 16, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4668 "2026-07-16T17:52:06Z")
I’m not seeing Argentina being so “aggressive” in the final. I believe two of the midfielders are sitting on yellow cards. Going down a man against Spain would be trouble. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4669 "2026-07-16T17:52:46Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > I believe two of the midfielders are sitting on yellow cards. Those cards don’t carry over to the final. ---
**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 16, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4670 "2026-07-16T17:59:10Z")
I think Spain are favorites to win on Sunday, but I’m happy with that, we cannot ask more of the NT (except of course that if they don’t win we’ll fucking [shoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1569) them all…) On the other hand the lack of pressure may do wonders for Argentina and trouble Spain. On the gripping hand the lack of any kind of resentment to fuel the 25 psychopaths in our national team may trouble us, we’ll have to find _something_ to be angry about in the 3,4 days remaining. I think I’ll start a rumor in twitter about Cucurella trying to romance Antonella or something… ---
**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 16, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4671 "2026-07-16T19:48:02Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Can’t bring myself to watch the runners-up match. My wife asked me what kind of person buys a ticket for the consolation final, runners-up, game for third place, or whatever you want to call that match. In particular she wondered who would buy a ticket in advance, not knowing who the unfortunate teams would be. I can only think of some kind of superstition, where someone like **Frodo** buys the ticket hoping that his “bad luck” means Argentina would not play that game, so he could not see them despite having secured the ticket for the match, and considers that loss a big win. But we have proof that **Frodo** is in Buenos Aires, so it wasn’t him. Anyway: the most irrelevant match since… the last consolation final, runners-up, game for third place, or whatever you want to call that match four years ago. Quick, tell me: who played? Who won? I don’t remember and I don’t care. Nobody does, nobody ever did. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4672 "2026-07-16T19:57:48Z")
Does FIFA make a bronze cup for the third place winner? ---
**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 16, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4673 "2026-07-16T20:32:20Z")
Nope, but I think they get medals. (which are hard to sell on ebay…) ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4674 "2026-07-16T20:49:44Z")
BTW after your explanation I will again root for your boys on Sunday, though I also like Spain and won’t be gutted if they win. ---
**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 16, 2026, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4675 "2026-07-16T20:50:27Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > the last consolation final, runners-up, game for third place, or whatever you want to call that match I’ve heard it called “The losers game” among others, more eschatological descriptions that I’ll prudently refrain from reproducing. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4676 "2026-07-16T20:51:39Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > eschatological Scatological? ---
**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 16, 2026, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4677 "2026-07-16T20:55:05Z")
hahaha yes, vulgar, not apocalyptic. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4678 "2026-07-16T21:00:04Z")
Well, now I had to check…there are a lot of World Cup medals on eBay, but it’s usually unclear exactly what medals they are. Someone in Malaysia has a Belgian 3rd place trophy from 2018 that they are willing to part with for a mere $16 (plus $59 shipping). Or if you need a very special gift for an American fan, you can pick up Andy Auld’s 1930 bronze medal for only $20,000! (no, I’d never heard of him either, but he was apparently one of the stars of the team). Alternately, for $103 you can buy a ticket to the 1978 third place game (Brazil-Italy), suitable for framing. Well, at least physically capable of being placed in a frame. Or for $81, you can get a program for the 1974 game (Poland-Brazil). There is also a ticket for this year’s match available for the bargain price of $2500. ETA: Possibly best of all, for $35 you can be the proud owner of an official plastic beer glass with the FIFA logo from the 2018 game! Does that spark joy or what? Someone is asking a hefty $1300 for a ticket to the 1962 Chile-Yugoslavia match, which might seem like a lot, but they point out it was Chile’s best WC performance ever (presumably Yugoslavia’s too). More realistically, for a mere $1 you can get a commemorative postage stamp issued by Italy to “celebrate” their 1978 third-place finish. ---
**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 16, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4679 "2026-07-16T21:06:34Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > ETA: Possibly best of all, for $35 you can be the proud owner of an official plastic beer glass with the FIFA logo from the 2018 game! Does that spark joy or what? Huh? I thought they only sold vodka at this WC… ---
**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:** [July 16, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4680 "2026-07-16T21:11:00Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > In particular she wondered who would buy a ticket in advance, not knowing who the unfortunate teams would be. Someone who wants to go to a World Cup game for the experience. If you are a big soccer fan it would be fun. If you are rooting for America, you’d know for almost certain that your team isn’t going but why not check out a game if you live in the same city where it is being played? I’ve gone to see baseball games when I was out of town and neither team was my team. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=233) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=235)