# 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:** 38
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/741 "2026-06-14T19:00:33Z")
It’s pretty much mandated by the tiebreakers. The U.S. women have run up the score in opening group-stage matches at the WWC from time to time, and you pretty much have to score big against the group’s minnow in the first game in case one of the other teams in the group do the same thing in a later game and snatch a tiebreaker from you. Maybe it’d be better if they took the floor(log\_2) of the goal differential (edit: formula, and of each game), so there’s less incentive (and return) to run the score way up based on the goal differential tiebreaker. EDIT: Ninja’ed by **Snarky\_Kong**! ---
**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:** [June 14, 2026, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/742 "2026-06-14T19:01:46Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > ELO Note, it’s not an acronym, it’s named after its inventor. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/743 "2026-06-14T19:03:53Z")
I’m watching on Telemundo, and they appear to have stopped at the 90th minute. It makes sense that in a lopsided match like this, they wouldn’t add the penalty time like they usually do. Is there some kind of rule for when they specifically decide to cut off the match at 90 and not add the extra time? ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/744 "2026-06-14T19:07:05Z")
The feed on Fox ran to 90’+5. The Germans had a free kick from the midline of the field just outside the penalty area, which mercifully came to nought (and kept my first post of the day relevant as well). ---
**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 14, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/745 "2026-06-14T19:10:21Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Anyone betting as such? I put small amounts on both France and The Netherlands. Which means that neither team will make the semis, let alone the finals. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/746 "2026-06-14T19:19:19Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Which means that neither team will make the semis, let alone the finals. And thanks from me as that is NOT who I am pulling for. I don’t bet at all, but would place $100 if I had to on England. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/747 "2026-06-14T19:41:38Z")
I think I’ve seen my favorite commercial of this world cup. Mr. Posh Spice at a McDonald’s drive-thru, gets his meal in a bag, says “please be Beckham, please be Beckham” while getting the commemorative cup out, and then says, with a note of disgust and amazing timing, says “Henry… _again_.” Not gonna send me to a McDonald’s, but I lol’ed. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2026, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/748 "2026-06-14T20:47:15Z")
Weird that the refs are wearing yellow jerseys when the Japanese goalkeeper is wearing yellow too, no? I’d have expected the refs to have to use a different color jersey if there are players wearing anything approaching yellow on the field. ---
**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 14, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/749 "2026-06-14T21:28:09Z")
The Netherlands/Japan game has certainly opened up in the second half. A good game to watch. Netherlands leads 2-1 at the 68 minute mark. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/750 "2026-06-14T21:28:56Z")
Yeah, it’s been fun. My daughter is very upset because blue is her favorite color (at least today it is). ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/751 "2026-06-14T21:48:19Z")
Game tied! 2-2 ---
**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 14, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/752 "2026-06-14T21:51:43Z")
This match was so slow at the start that I put it on mute. The second half has been fantastic! ---
**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 14, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/753 "2026-06-14T21:53:05Z")
Someone failed to tell the Japanese that they were supposed to lose. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/754 "2026-06-14T21:57:01Z")
Yeah, this has to feel like a loss for Netherlands and a win for Japan… ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/755 "2026-06-14T21:58:37Z")
The second half was better than the first. Fair play to Japan for tying it with minutes left. I wouldn’t go as far as to say this might feel like a loss to the Dutch, but they had the lead twice. ---
**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 14, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/756 "2026-06-14T21:58:44Z")
The Japanese seemed to think so, preferring to park the bus in the last few seconds rather than make a Hail Mary play for a last-second win. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/757 "2026-06-14T22:04:30Z")
Why not? Tie or beat Sweden (#42) and smoke Tunisia (#58) and you’re through. This was the toughest match they had in Group. ---
**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 14, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/758 "2026-06-14T22:13:35Z")
If I were the coach I’d have given it the Old College Try and gone for it. But there’s a reason nobody pays me to coach soccer. ---
**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 14, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/759 "2026-06-14T22:24:34Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > group-stage matches at the WWC from time to time, and you pretty much have to score big against the group’s minnow in the first game in case one of the other teams in the group do the same thing in a later game and snatch a tiebreaker from you. This. I remember the 2019 Women’s World Cup, there was a thread where a lot of posters were giving the USA shit for “running up the score” against Thailand (13-0). And I’m over here shouting “every last goal is precious beyond measure!” Then there was the time Australia (men) beat American Samoa 31-0. There was even a movie about it. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10767052/?ref\_=ext\_shr\_lnk](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10767052/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk) Next Goal Wins is actually a pretty OK movie. It takes some pretty extreme liberties with the facts but a cute movie nonetheless. I now know more about American Samoa than I ever thought I would. “The people are deeply religious, hard working, and deeply religious.” ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/760 "2026-06-14T22:32:19Z")
Yes the second half definitely more exciting than the first. Though the first half was interesting in how the Japan defense kept shutting down the Netherlands offense. This is the first time Japan scores a draw against the Netherlands having lost the last two time the national teams played. They have only played 3 times, so it does not mean much, still a better result for Japan than for the Netherlands. `//i\\` [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=39)