# 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:** 237
**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 18, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4721 "2026-07-18T20:46:21Z")
Just realized that Dembele only has 5 goals, so no real shot. I assume that’s why he’s not playing. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4722 "2026-07-18T21:03:33Z")
That was quick. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4723 "2026-07-18T21:07:44Z")
As promised, the Falklands/Malvinas thread, I hope you like long texts! > [@The Malvinas/Falklands in Argentine culture and politics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-malvinas-falklands-in-argentine-culture-and-politics/1031774): > > In this post [FIFA World Cup 2026 - discussion etc - #4653 by Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4653) I said I would like to explain how the Malvinas/Falklands claim works in Argentine culture and politics, I’m no longer so sure that I will like it (it’s a lot of work!) but I’ll try. I’m putting this in Great Debates because it seems appropriate, even if it’s not strictly a debate, I hope that if I’m mistaken the Mods will not kick me too much with their jackboots before moving it to the correct venue. First of all a reminder … ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4724 "2026-07-18T21:10:10Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > That was quick. Which prompted me to do a little research, and I found this: The all-time fastest World Cup goal was scored by Turkey’s Hakan Şükür, who netted a goal just 11 seconds into the match against South Korea during the 2002 World Cup third-place play-off. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4725 "2026-07-18T21:11:08Z")
Risking the anger of my countrymen I have to say I’m pulling for England in this game, because that will hopefully prevent Mbappe from scoring and taking the golden boot from the Messiah, because we defeated England so anything they win reflects glory on us, but most importantly in the hope that it makes our English dopers pain lessen. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4726 "2026-07-18T21:12:20Z")
11 seconds? I assume it was from distance and the goalie was daydreaming or something… ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4727 "2026-07-18T21:18:18Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I assume it was from distance and the goalie was daydreaming or something… Not quite. A really stupid defensive mistake, however. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4hLtRR7emUs/maxresdefault.jpg "The Fastest Goal In World Cup History #shorts #worldcup #turkey") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hLtRR7emUs) ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4728 "2026-07-18T21:19:48Z")
God damn it, why couldn’t England play like this against Argentina? \ **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 18, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4729 "2026-07-18T21:20:25Z") Thank you for linking that. Yeah that’s failure to communicate or something… ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4730 "2026-07-18T21:20:34Z")
Because Argentina didn’t play like France. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4731 "2026-07-18T21:20:49Z")
England always seem to play with a weight on their shoulders. Today the weight has gone. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4732 "2026-07-18T21:37:49Z")
What a bonkers way for England to go up 3-0. Too long a sequence to sum up. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4733 "2026-07-18T21:38:35Z")
Almost need Yakety Sax. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4734 "2026-07-18T21:39:49Z")
That French goalkeeper has had to defend the entire area. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4735 "2026-07-18T21:40:32Z")
Look at England playing like Norway 😊 ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4736 "2026-07-18T21:44:33Z")
It turns out only one of these teams wants to win this, and it’s the one whose coach said publicly that they didn’t. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4737 "2026-07-18T21:45:24Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > the over/under betting line on this game is 3.5 The over bet is looking pretty good right now. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4738 "2026-07-18T21:47:39Z")
The French have been walking around when they don’t have the ball. England players have so much time. But they really are punishing them for it. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4739 "2026-07-18T21:47:42Z")
Hahahaha I just went to look at the stats line for the match, and it said 4–0 England, and I said what? That’s a mistake. Oh… ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4740 "2026-07-18T21:48:54Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Question, how seriously do nations take the bronze-medal third-place vs fourth-place game? If you look at the starting lineups, you’d think France was taking this match more seriously than England. If you’re watching the match, it’s pretty clear that for the players, it’s the other way around. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=236) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=238)