# 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:** 259
**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 22, 2026, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5161 "2026-07-22T14:37:20Z")
Translating… Lennart Karl has already played 3 times for the German national team so it doesn’t met the criteria of the article which apparently is about players who have not played for their NT. ---
**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 22, 2026, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5162 "2026-07-22T14:46:16Z")
Cap = playing for the national team. IIRC the term came about because teams used to exchange caps (hats) per game. You might see something like “Landon Donovan scored 57 goals in his 163 caps.” Numbers made up. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5163 "2026-07-22T14:48:15Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > And I am sure VAR will have improved a lot until then Did you mean “until” ?! (I think they should use VAR for all decisions, and allow teams n\* appeals, like they do in tennis.) \*a small whole integer. ---
**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 22, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5164 "2026-07-22T15:22:27Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Lennart Karl has three caps already, I think (at least based on the headline) that would disqualify him. Ah, I see, I overlooked the “uncapped” qualifier. ---
**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 22, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5165 "2026-07-22T16:15:16Z")
England certainly used to award actual caps to players for each appearance. Not sure about other national sides. I assume that’s where it comes from. Or maybe it predates football, could be cricket? ---
**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 22, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5166 "2026-07-22T16:24:39Z")
Are soccer players even allowed to wear gear on their head? Or, they could, but never choose to do so? ---
**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 22, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5167 "2026-07-22T16:26:12Z")
I don’t know about field players, but keepers sometimes wear caps to ward off the sun. ---
**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 22, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5168 "2026-07-22T16:46:49Z")
Some wear headbands, see Ronaldinho: [![](https://folhago.com.br/blogs/universopop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ronald.jpg) ](https://folhago.com.br/blogs/universopop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ronald.jpg) or bandanas. Edgar Davids used to wear protective glasses, he suffered from conjunctivitis: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0d/4d/1d/0d4d1d7652f7c470647fcfd7de07f89c.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0d/4d/1d/0d4d1d7652f7c470647fcfd7de07f89c.jpg) And many wear protective gear after injuries, often after having had the chin, the nose, or the cheek broken. Some did so during this tournament, others long before. There was a Spanish football player, I think it was in the `50s, who hid his baldness under a toupé. During a corner kick one rival tore the toupé down. He knocked him out with a single punch. Then turned around, knowing that a red card was inevitable, and went off the pitch without looking back. Unfortunately, I have forgotten his name and my Google Fu is not working today. But that was also some kind of gear on the head, as long as it stayed there. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5169 "2026-07-22T16:52:19Z")
Petr Cech started wearing a helmet after he fractured his skull on a goalpost. ---
**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 22, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5170 "2026-07-22T17:36:41Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Edgar Davids used to wear protective glasses, he suffered from conjunctivitis: I think it is glaucoma. > [@ricepad](#): > > Petr Cech started wearing a helmet after he fractured his skull on a goalpost. I believe it was Stephen Hunt’s knee. (Sorry, in a picky mood!!) ---
**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 22, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5171 "2026-07-22T17:40:56Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > I believe it was Stephen Hunt’s knee. Though I don’t remember whose, yes it was a knee, and a horrible scene. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5172 "2026-07-22T20:37:25Z")
Raul Jimenez (Mexico, Fulham) wears a customized headband because of a skull fracture, also. ---
**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 24, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5173 "2026-07-24T14:09:48Z")
Spanish head coach a little pissed right now. > **[‘Intolerable, unacceptable’ – Spain head coach blasts Argentina behaviour...](https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/intolerable-unacceptable-spain-head-coach-123500203.html)** > > Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has slammed the ‘intolerable, unacceptable’ behaviour of Argentina players after the World Cup final on Sunday.  La Roja dominated possession and dictated the tempo throughout the final.  They received a big boost... I myself am onboard if suspensions are meted out. ---
**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 24, 2026, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5174 "2026-07-24T14:31:32Z")
So are Argentina fans: > **[Petition to replay Argentina vs Spain 2026 World Cup Final surpasses 61,000...](https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/fifa-world-cup-2026/articles/argentine-fans-launch-petition-to-replay-the-2026-world-cup-final-signatures-surpass-61-000-2026-07-22)** > > A Change.org petition calling for the 2026 World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain to be replayed has surpassed 61,000 signatures. What do you serve with sour grapes? ---
**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 24, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5175 "2026-07-24T14:44:32Z")
Tripe à la bile. ---
**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 24, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5176 "2026-07-24T14:53:06Z")
Idiots, replay for what? in any case the French tried it with the last final too and got the same result they will get, nothing. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5177 "2026-07-24T14:54:21Z")
Paraguay was just as bad when they played France. When there is so much on the line for a win, chastising bad players and fining them after the fact isn’t going to stop that kind of behavior. The refs need more options in the moment to control bad behavior so that kind of stuff is nipped right when it happens. ---
**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 24, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5178 "2026-07-24T14:59:31Z")
He’s not complaining about the shithousery DURING the game, he’s talking about his players being assaulted AFTER the game. At that point, it’s the responsibility of FIFA to punish it, not the referee. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5179 "2026-07-24T15:55:57Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > At that point, it’s the responsibility of FIFA to punish it, not the referee. Referees can caution and send players off as long as they (the referees) are still on the field, even long after the final whistle. It may make no difference to the final results of the match, but it would still trigger appropriate disciplinary measures, including fines and suspensions. ---
**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 24, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/5180 "2026-07-24T17:07:31Z")
There are still ambiguous reports if Paredes got a red after the game or not. I read several reports that he indeed was carded, but that the ref didn’t note this booking in his official match report. Make of that what you will. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=258) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=260)