# 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:** 253
**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 19, 2026, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5041 "2026-07-19T23:29:34Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > reigning European champion for the second time (after 2008 and 2010) And after 2010 they went on to win the European Championship again 2012, so they still have some work to do to replicate that. Then: European (2008) → World (2010) → European (2012) Championship. New goal: European (2024) → World (2026) → European (?? 2028 ??) titles. We shall see, but it does not look bad. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5042 "2026-07-19T23:30:14Z")
A regular Jesse Owens moment… > **[Jesse Owens | 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Owens#1936_Berlin_Summer_Olympics)** > > On December 4, 1935, NAACP Secretary Walter Francis White wrote a letter to Owens, but never sent it. He was trying to dissuade Owens from taking part in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Nazi Germany, arguing that an African American should not promote a racist regime after what his race had suffered at the hands of racists in his own country. In the months prior to the Games, a movement gained momentum in favor of a boycott. Owens was convinced by the NAACP to declare: "If there are minorities in ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5043 "2026-07-19T23:35:33Z")
Is it the general consensus that the foul that resulted in the Argentinian red card was sufficient to leave them a man down? I am not knowledgable enough about soccer to figure out what is a foul, and what isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5044 "2026-07-19T23:37:20Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > A more than well deserved win by Spain, I knew they were good, but didn’t really know they where THIS good. How good is Cape Verde looking right now? ---
**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 19, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5045 "2026-07-19T23:43:34Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Is it the general consensus that the foul that resulted in the Argentinian red card was sufficient to leave them a man down? > > I am not knowledgable enough about soccer to figure out what is a foul, and what isn’t. Yes, the racist shit Enzo Fernandez ran in as the Spanish player was exposed and basically clipped through his foot, sending him twirling. In all fairness, Fernandez might have already been wearing on the ref’s nerves by then. ---
**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 19, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5046 "2026-07-19T23:44:32Z")
To be clear, that wasn’t a straight red card. He was ejected because it was his second yellow card of the game. I don’t think it was a hard enough foul to merit a red card by itself. ---
**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 19, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5047 "2026-07-19T23:44:59Z")
Yes, the Argentinian player stepped on the Spanish player’s foot, that is a yellow card. Bad foul. As he already had been booked once (see below), it was the second yellow card for that player in that game. That means red card. No doubt about it. That the first yellow card for that player had been, as **fachverwirrt** rightly wrote: > [@fachverwirrt](#): > > I suppose it’s worth pointing out that Enzo Fernández’s first yellow was basically for being an asshole. does not change the fact that the red card was rightly awarded. In other words: fuck him! He has only himself to blame. ---
**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 19, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5048 "2026-07-19T23:46:42Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Yes, the racist shit Enzo Fernandez ran in as the Spanish player was exposed and basically clipped through his foot, sending him twirling. That was his second yellow, which results in a red card. He got his first yellow in the 82nd minute. Both yellows were the correct call, in my opinion. ETA: Ninja’d by @Pardel-Lux. ---
**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 19, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5049 "2026-07-19T23:49:30Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Both yellows were the correct call, in my opinion. I agree. So > [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Is it the general consensus It is. ---
**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 19, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5050 "2026-07-19T23:52:04Z")
Only team to draw both the finalists in 90 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 19, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5051 "2026-07-19T23:53:09Z")
Totally deserved red card. ---
**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 19, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5052 "2026-07-19T23:57:40Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iJYm_mVcF_w/maxresdefault.jpg "Messi Tried To Get Him a Red Card? 😭") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJYm_mVcF_w) ---
**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 20, 2026, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5053 "2026-07-20T00:07:32Z")
Oof. Not a good look. ---
**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 20, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5054 "2026-07-20T00:15:35Z")
Yeah, one of the reasons I really liked Messi early in his career was (relative) lack of diving, asking for cards, whining to refs, etc. He’s definitely added going down easy and working the ref to his repertoire. Not the worst thing in the world, but I’d prefer he leave that alone. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5055 "2026-07-20T00:49:22Z")
Looking back on the game, Spain really could have won this thing about 4-0. Argentina did amazing work to keep theh goals to just one. ---
**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 20, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5056 "2026-07-20T00:49:44Z")
Rodri has cemented himself as one of the greatest central midfielders of all time. World Cup winning captain and winner of the Golden Ball (best player) Euro 2024 winner and awarded Player of the Tournament Champions League winner for Manchester City scoring the winning goal in the final Multiple Premier League titles with Manchester City Balon d’or winner once before and possibly again this year now\* \*he shouldn’t get it this year in my view because he was injured for most of the season after suffering an ACL injury. That made him miss most of the club season and it cost Man City a lot. But the precedent of a player who barely played all season for his club winning the Balon d’or because he went on to be the star of the show to win the World Cup in the summer was set in 2002 with Brazilian Ronaldo. If Argentina won Messi would be the Golden Ball winner and Balon d’or frontrunner. ---
**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 20, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5057 "2026-07-20T00:57:03Z")
The Ballon d’Or is a calendar year award. If he’s playing all through the Fall I think he’s a near lock to win it. Yamal or Mbappe after him I think. Kalshi currently has Harry Kane as the favorite?! Before the tournament I saw someone pick a combine 2010 and 2026 Spain squad and raised an eyebrow over them choosing Rodri over Busquets, but he was phenomenal and is possibly the best d-mid of all time. ---
**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 20, 2026, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5058 "2026-07-20T01:09:48Z")
I guess Harry Kane isn’t that weird. Scored a million goals and got 3rd place in the WC. Mbappe’s Real Madrid didn’t win the UCL either and lost to England in the WC. ---
**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 20, 2026, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5059 "2026-07-20T01:11:37Z")
Harry Kane or Mbappe should be the frontrunners for me. Calendar year and seasonal records they were leading the pack. But Kane doesn’t get much PR while Mbappe gets lots of bad PR so they may not get 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 20, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5060 "2026-07-20T01:15:47Z")
Some people look down on the Bundesliga a bit, so that will count against Kane as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=252) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=254)