# 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:** 50
**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 17, 2026, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/981 "2026-06-17T01:24:55Z")
Looks like Messi is in top form tonight. ---
**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 17, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/982 "2026-06-17T01:45:05Z")
His passing has been off. Wonderful goal though, obviously. ---
**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 17, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/983 "2026-06-17T01:50:26Z")
So apparently the South Korean team is no longer speaking to their own country’s media after two journalists were caught on a hot mic disparaging Son Heung-Min. The Korean Football Association is strongly supporting the players. (How is it even possible for someone to be so evil as to disparage Son Heung-Min?! These people are monsters!) ---
**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 17, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/984 "2026-06-17T02:20:00Z")
Yeah, they’re definitely ignoring fouls that would be called in more tightly refereed matches. I have mixed feelings about that. (ETA Stuart Holden must be reading this thread, he just said the same) ---
**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 17, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/985 "2026-06-17T02:37:59Z")
Want to see the replay. Looks soft, but probably still a foul in real time. ---
**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 17, 2026, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/986 "2026-06-17T02:40:00Z")
Unreal ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2026, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/987 "2026-06-17T02:40:52Z")
Hat trick for Messi! ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2026, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/988 "2026-06-17T02:41:27Z")
This Lionel Messi chap seems a fine footballer. Maybe make a name for himself someday. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/989 "2026-06-17T02:42:51Z")
Any bets as to how wide **Frodo** ’s grin is right now? ---
**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 17, 2026, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/990 "2026-06-17T02:44:01Z")
Rampant. ---
**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 17, 2026, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/991 "2026-06-17T03:05:43Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > That man is a monster, he can disappear for most of the match and then score 3 goals like it was nothing, I still have nightmares about him. > [@Frodo](#): > > A monster I said. > [@Frodo](#): > > The other monster strikes! > [@Frodo](#): > > Monster. It looks like we still have our own Grendel… ---
**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 17, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/992 "2026-06-17T03:07:03Z")
😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁😁 😁 😁 😁 ---
**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 17, 2026, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/993 "2026-06-17T03:09:09Z")
❀ ---
**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 17, 2026, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/994 "2026-06-17T03:26:31Z")
wish we had a 9-inch wide cheshire cat grin emoticon option on SDMB ---
**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 17, 2026, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/995 "2026-06-17T03:33:47Z")
So do I! ---
**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 17, 2026, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/996 "2026-06-17T04:53:58Z")
I hadn’t realized Mbappe already has 14 World Cup goals to his name. At this rate, yes, he’s going to destroy the record and finish with 30+ goals when he’s all done. ---
**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 17, 2026, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/997 "2026-06-17T05:33:00Z")
A relaxed Messi and Argentina is very dangerous. All the pressure off of them since they already won two Copa Americas and one World Cup. Messi is 39 and knows this is his last. No pressure, just all out having fun and giving it all the all. ---
**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 17, 2026, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/998 "2026-06-17T10:51:42Z")
Messi had 1 goal after his first 2 WCs. Mbappe had 12. Argentina really screwed themselves in the 2010 edition by not having a proper coach. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2026, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/999 "2026-06-17T11:30:24Z")
Mbappe has a second gear when he’s open in the box. Defender is running with him then, whoosh, he’s gone. β€œIf he’s even, he’s leavin’.” De Paul (another Inter Miami player, I learned, which meant that Argentina technically had as many MLS guys in its lineup as the US) made an outrageously good pass to Messi for his first goal. But Leo, lol, man. ---
**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 17, 2026, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1000 "2026-06-17T11:59:15Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Sorry, Miro, I’m afraid you’re about to lose your record. And Messi still lurks in the background with 13 WC goals so far. What did I say about my predictometer the other day? I called this one! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=51)