# 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:** 47
**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, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/921 "2026-06-16T19:33:02Z")
Hopefully after I’m dead and buried, but it doesn’t look good ☹ ---
**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, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/922 "2026-06-16T19:36:38Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > God damn is France’s starting 11 stacked. What’s the best front 4 of all time? 1970 or 2002 Brazil? 1954 Hungary? Senegal looks better so far, though. 33 minutes in. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/923 "2026-06-16T19:37:26Z")
Haha! Why do they keep the clock running during the ~~commercial time out~~ hydration break? That seems really silly. Unlimited subs would really liven up the game, in my view, but I’m only a casual watcher. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Senegal looks better so far, though. 33 minutes in. Definitely. That Senegal forward is quite zippy, and France has been sloppy. ---
**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, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/924 "2026-06-16T19:39:25Z")
Unlimited subs would favour teams with deeper benches, so France in this WC for example would be almost guaranteed to win. It would cut on surprises like Spain-Cape Verde for example if the middling Cape Verde players have to face waves of superior fresh Spanish 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, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/925 "2026-06-16T19:39:29Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Why do they keep the clock running during the ~~commercial time out~~ hydration break? That seems really silly. Wait, they do? ---
**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:** [June 16, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/926 "2026-06-16T19:41:24Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Wait, they do? Yes, they do, that’s one of the quirks of football. The clock is never stopped, like in basketball. But the two minutes for water breaks will be put into extra time. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/927 "2026-06-16T19:41:28Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Unlimited subs would favour teams with deeper benches Fair. On the other hand, maybe Team USA would focus more on skills and less on fitness. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Wait, they do? Yes. Originally, it was only used when really necessary – very hot days, but every game in the WC this time will have them, so they’re essentially commercial timeouts. ---
**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, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/928 "2026-06-16T19:41:50Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > So, now there are commercial breaks and five subs instead of 3. When are they going full American-style sport? 5 subs started during Covid and has since been formalized in the five major leagues plus the MLS. ---
**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, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/929 "2026-06-16T19:53:18Z")
Damn! I swore after the last time I would not get nervous again for the world cup, after all all I could ask for had been given to me… But noooo, 5 hours to the debut and I’m getting the jitters, it’s not fair!. The obscure Argentinian football blog I follow, that represents the darkest corner of our fandom had one comment, showing profound respect for the national team’s past achievement and glory: > Argentina? They’re playing at half speed, but they should WIN… or else DIE ETA: IOW the famous Irish-Argentinian player Ganen O’Mueran. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/930 "2026-06-16T19:55:41Z")
I can’t believe Senegal just missed that open netter. ---
**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, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/931 "2026-06-16T20:03:56Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I can’t believe Senegal just missed that open netter Agreed. Senegal has had two really good chances. Hit the post on the first and then totally missed the empty net right before halftime. A goal there, obviously, would have been huge. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/932 "2026-06-16T20:21:10Z")
LOL Mbappe, what a scrub. ---
**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, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/933 "2026-06-16T20:25:48Z")
I agree with the NO PENALTY call on the field and am glad they confirmed it instead of overturning 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:** [June 16, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/934 "2026-06-16T20:26:18Z")
tfw when you have arguably the best right winger in the world and you instead have him playing as a midfielder… ---
**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:** [June 16, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/935 "2026-06-16T20:27:09Z")
I’m rooting for Senegal here but that should have been a penalty. ---
**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, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/936 "2026-06-16T20:27:11Z")
I can’t see the match (not on on-air tv and I’m on the work computer which precludes more errm “inventive” solutions) but The Guardian says it should be a penalty. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/937 "2026-06-16T20:28:50Z")
On the theory that you can trip someone by getting in their way w/o contact, or are they claiming contact? ---
**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, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/938 "2026-06-16T20:29:53Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > On the theory that you can trip someone by getting in their way w/o contact, or are they claiming contact? > [@The Guardian Live Blog](#): > > **Yup, Mane catches Mbappe’s trailing leg with his thigh.** The ref comes over to consult the screen… ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/939 "2026-06-16T20:30:40Z")
Yeah, there was absolutely contact. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/940 "2026-06-16T20:30:57Z")
I didn’t see contact. Was just about to say that France is penetrating way easier than Spain did and Senegal wouldn’t be able to hold and there we go. Mbappe now 3 back of Klose. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=46) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=48)