# 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:** 30
**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 13, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/581 "2026-06-13T01:54:12Z")
Who had the USA being up 3-0 at the half? ---
**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 13, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/582 "2026-06-13T01:54:12Z")
This is an ass kicking. ---
**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 13, 2026, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/583 "2026-06-13T01:55:37Z")
lol, took two steps across the hall to put get my toothbrush, then heard the shouting. What a fantastic finish. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/584 "2026-06-13T01:56:01Z")
It’s a highly calculated strategy. You need a calculator to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/585 "2026-06-13T02:04:58Z")
Who is this team and what have you done with the Americans? Seriously, this is the soundest and most creative play I have seen from the USA in all their run-up games. If they can keep this up for the tournament, qualification to the knockout round is pretty much assured and even the knock-out rounds will be exciting. Of course, as a long-time fan, we still have the second half to go… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/586 "2026-06-13T02:13:29Z")
Woo hoo. USA is knocking the snot out of Paraguay! ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/587 "2026-06-13T02:15:05Z")
Paraguay showing a bit more of _amour propre_ in this half at least. ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/588 "2026-06-13T02:17:27Z")
Somewhere Arjen Robben just shuddered. ETA: oh, and my man Juergen Klinsmann too. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/589 "2026-06-13T02:17:31Z")
Got his academy award taken away. Nice. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/590 "2026-06-13T02:17:42Z")
I am in favor of this rule change (video review for simulation). ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/591 "2026-06-13T02:19:22Z")
i didn’t think he touched him. It looked like he was fishing for a penalty shot. ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/592 "2026-06-13T02:19:47Z")
I’m not, not because I want more simulation, but because it’s YET ANOTHER interrumption on the natural flow of the game. Between hydration breaks and VAR they are turning football into brief periods of playing separated by constant breaks. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/593 "2026-06-13T02:20:05Z")
> That is where the death penalty should be used. ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/594 "2026-06-13T02:23:21Z")
I guess Pochetino took Pulisic out to avoid humiliating a fellow Argentinian DT and our south-american brothers… ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/595 "2026-06-13T02:35:40Z")
This is why the new group stage format sucks. If this result stays the same USA are basically through, even if they lose all their other matches in the group. One win and 3 GS that’s a best third place finish. The other games are dead rubbers for the most part. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/596 "2026-06-13T02:36:28Z")
I appreciate that, and perhaps it could be implemented in a less disruptive way (wait for a natural stop in the action; out-of-bounds or foul), but especially when the dive is as impactful as that one, I’d rather see the right call made. It is perhaps a self-correcting problem, as if it is enforced consistently then maybe simulation will become much less common, and the stoppages will … stop. We shall see. ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/597 "2026-06-13T02:37:20Z")
If they lose those games each 2-0 what happens? ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/598 "2026-06-13T02:38:04Z")
Easy, take note of simulations, review them at leisure at the end of the game and then sanction accordingly. No need to interrupt the game. ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/599 "2026-06-13T02:39:06Z")
ffs “After you, Alphonse” ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/600 "2026-06-13T02:39:16Z")
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