# 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:** 57
**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 18, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1121 "2026-06-18T02:09:27Z")
Mexico vs South Korea tomorrow is definitely one to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1122 "2026-06-18T02:31:45Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > …and its raining. Did they still have a hydration break? ---
**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 18, 2026, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1123 "2026-06-18T02:51:29Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Did they still have a hydration break?. Oh, definitely. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1124 "2026-06-18T03:00:14Z")
IIRC, dehydration breaks are mandated irrespective of the weather at any particular locale because in _some_ of the venues, the heat is way to effin’ high for effete Europeans to bear, so to be fair, everybody gets a drinky-poo whether they need it or not. ---
**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 18, 2026, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1125 "2026-06-18T03:27:07Z")
Aw snap, was hoping Uzbekistan could pull off the underdog draw. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1126 "2026-06-18T04:28:55Z")
What a great effort to get the cross in for the last Colombia goal. Show that to any kids you’re coaching as an example of putting in full work right to the end. ---
**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 18, 2026, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1127 "2026-06-18T05:34:47Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > the best PK finisher ever, That would be Matt Le Tissier. 48 taken, 47 scored. And apparently the one he missed was a wonder save from the keeper. ---
**Author:** ![Pheoinix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@Pheoinix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pheoinix)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1128 "2026-06-18T07:50:08Z")
In the Euro 2016 Final between France and Portugal I didn’t know who to support, since I’m not a fan of either Ronaldo or the French national team. I jokingly said to a friend, the best outcome would be for Ronaldo to go off injured and Portugal to win whithout him. And that’s exactly what happened 😅 ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1129 "2026-06-18T08:20:19Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > I believe the law is still that if you have a parent or grandparent from a country that isn’t your own you also qualify to play for them (which is pretty mad). So in theory you could qualify to play for 7 countries if you think about it. I thought about it. Probably way too much 🤪 and came up with 11 different countries one could play for: 8 grandparents, 2 parents, and the player himself. While I _did_ think too much, I didn’t think very deeply at all so I’m sure I missed something obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Chelonaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Chelonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chelonaut)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1130 "2026-06-18T08:46:50Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > 8 grandparents, 2 parents, and the player himself Are you counting step-grandparents? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1131 "2026-06-18T08:48:40Z")
See? Thats just the sort of idiotic mistake I was afraid of! Ok… 7 countries. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1132 "2026-06-18T10:21:11Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > I like Kane, but I think “it’s coming home” is annoying and it’s funny that England is bad at penalties. I really think it’s weird how everyone non-English thinks ‘It’s coming home’ is a song of arrogance, when the whole point/lyrics is about hope of winning but then the heartache of always losing. And the title is only because it was written for the 96 Euros which England hosted, so the game was ‘coming home’ to where it was invented, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Pheoinix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@Pheoinix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pheoinix)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1133 "2026-06-18T10:41:28Z")
If you can get a passport of a particular nation you can represent them at football. So there are different criteria for different countries, some are easier to qualify for than others. Regarding the four UK nations, technically anyone with a UK passport can represent any of them, but they have an agreement that someone born in the UK can only represent another part of the UK if they have a parent or grandparent from that country. British passport holders born outside the UK can choose any of the four teams. ---
**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 18, 2026, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1134 "2026-06-18T11:21:13Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I really think it’s weird how everyone non-English thinks ‘It’s coming home’ is a song of arrogance, when the whole point/lyrics is about hope of winning but then the heartache of always losing. And the title is only because it was written for the 96 Euros which England hosted, so the game was ‘coming home’ to where it was invented, that’s all. Seconded. The original tone of the song has been forgotten by a lot of people. ---
**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 18, 2026, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1135 "2026-06-18T11:37:09Z")
> [@Pheoinix](#): > > In the Euro 2016 Final between France and Portugal I didn’t know who to support, since I’m not a fan of either Ronaldo or the French national team. I jokingly said to a friend, the best outcome would be for Ronaldo to go off injured and Portugal to win whithout him. And that’s exactly what happened 😅 How exactly did you make that happen? (asking for a friend) ---
**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 18, 2026, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1136 "2026-06-18T11:37:32Z")
There have already been some great goals scored in the first to (obligatory nod to Messi) and there will be more to come, I’m sure. But I hope that sweet touch for Columbia’s first goal last night doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. FIFA saving the best for last today. A South Korea win would cap today’s viewing off nicely. ---
**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 18, 2026, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1137 "2026-06-18T11:43:41Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > That would be Matt Le Tissier. You misspelled Gonzalo Montiel. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1138 "2026-06-18T11:56:05Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > But I hope that sweet touch for Columbia’s first goal last night doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. I just have to correct this because it irks me every time I see it. Col **u** mbia South Carolina in the US does not have its own team, but Col **o** mbia the country does. And yes that was nice goal `//i\\` ---
**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 18, 2026, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1139 "2026-06-18T12:08:10Z")
Maybe I wasn’t talking about the song, but about all the fans repeating the slogan. ---
**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 18, 2026, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1140 "2026-06-18T12:55:31Z")
I make that damn mistake all the time. 🤒 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=56) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=58)