# 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:** 44
**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 15, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/861 "2026-06-15T23:55:04Z")
Metaphorical spirit! ---
**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 15, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/862 "2026-06-15T23:56:10Z")
Well it just helped Uruguay! ---
**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 16, 2026, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/863 "2026-06-16T00:06:45Z")
The Saudi goalkeeper was certainly the Man of the Match. He had nine saves, including a whole bunch in the last 10-15 minutes. ---
**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 16, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/864 "2026-06-16T00:30:51Z")
The rest of the world could learn a lesson or two from the Japanese. > **[Japanese fans clean Dallas Stadium after World Cup opener against Netherlands](https://www.fox4news.com/news/japanese-fans-clean-dallas-stadium-after-world-cup-opener-against-netherlands)** > > Following a 2-2 World Cup draw against the Netherlands, Japanese soccer fans continued their viral post-match tradition by cleaning up trash at Dallas Stadium. ---
**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 16, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/865 "2026-06-16T00:34:18Z")
They do this in every World Cup. Read in twitter “You know the World Cup has truly begun when the articles about the Japanese cleaning stadiums start to appear” ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/866 "2026-06-16T00:37:40Z")
They do it at the Olympics as well. ---
**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 16, 2026, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/867 "2026-06-16T01:56:03Z")
I want Iran to do well. I guess we should avoid politics in general, but as an American, I don’t think we have shown any cause or gain in bombing them. Now they are here for the World Cup, I wish them the best. Would be comically hilarious if they played USA in a knock out round. Yikes. ---
**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 16, 2026, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/868 "2026-06-16T02:01:54Z")
They would get robbed so far that it wouldn’t be even funny I fear. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2026, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/869 "2026-06-16T02:02:20Z")
IIRC the second place teams in those groups play each other in the Round of 32, so it could happen. Let’s just finish first… ---
**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 16, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/870 "2026-06-16T02:25:23Z")
I am torn between fuck Trump/go Iran, and hating a regime that executes gays (or avoid execution by coercing gender surgery) and persecutes minorities and women. There’s really not a good answer to this. ---
**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 16, 2026, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/871 "2026-06-16T02:26:00Z")
Fair! And New Zealand is a great country, so I support them with no reservations. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/872 "2026-06-16T02:28:05Z")
and Pumpkin Head denies their ref entry because of alleged “terrorist ties”! go figure ---
**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:** [June 16, 2026, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/873 "2026-06-16T02:31:19Z")
E. Just scored again! (Sorry, couldn’t resist) ---
**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 16, 2026, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/874 "2026-06-16T03:04:49Z")
4 good games today. All ending in a draw. ---
**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 16, 2026, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/875 "2026-06-16T04:03:41Z")
I have a ticket to the upcoming Japan-Sweden game. I’m glad that as a germophobic cleanliness OCD person I will be in good company after the game and I will bring my trash bags and gloves. ---
**Author:** ![Pheoinix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@Pheoinix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pheoinix)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/876 "2026-06-16T08:37:12Z")
It depends on the circumstances in the group. 4 points (a win and a draw) will nearly always be enough for a third place team to qualify, while 2 points (two draws) will nearly always see them eliminated. Three points (one win or three draws) usually means it comes down to goal difference. ---
**Author:** ![Pheoinix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@Pheoinix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pheoinix)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/877 "2026-06-16T08:44:56Z")
It would be like South Korea v Italy 2002 on steroids ---
**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:** [June 16, 2026, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/878 "2026-06-16T08:52:11Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > You can’t sub on the fly like hockey, so not exactly, but keepers will go up the field to help out, especially if there’s a corner kick. I’m not a Carlisle Utd fan, but this is my favourite goal of all time… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KejwqhLDeOs/hqdefault.jpg "Jimmy Glass: Carlisle United Legend") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KejwqhLDeOs) ---
**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 16, 2026, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/879 "2026-06-16T13:06:40Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > and Pumpkin Head denies their ref entry because of alleged “terrorist ties”! go figure Did that happen? I knew they were struggling to get visas for all their staff beyond players. ---
**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 16, 2026, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/880 "2026-06-16T13:14:49Z")
This chart of odds is great if you want to know what the odds-makers are seeing. It updates during the tournament, but this particular one is NOT updated for Monday, June 15 matches yet. > **[Every team's championship, group odds for the 2026 World Cup](https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/48386952/espn-soccer-futbol-world-cup-betting-odds-championship-groups)** > > Odds for all 48 teams to advance from their group through the knockout stage and to win the 2026 World Cup. I don’t bet, but I like to know odds since it is a pretty realistic and accurate way to see what our current maths, etc. are showing. These oddmakers have a very big interest in making sure their odds reflect reality. If I gambled, I’d put $200 on USA to win the whole thing. Firstly, it pays out a few thousand if they do win. Secondly, I want them to win. Thirdly, it’s just wild enough of a bet for fun without being apeshit crazy. Still, 40-1 odds is not a wise choice, folks! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=43) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=45)