# 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:** 70
**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 21, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1381 "2026-06-21T01:38:38Z")
Give a guy a shove in the back with your elbow and he falls to the pitch holding his angle, begging for a pen. Classic old school! ---
**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 21, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1382 "2026-06-21T01:39:03Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I am also watching! It’s not the most attractive game so far, but it’s a David vs. Goliath situation, and that’s always thrilling. And David is doing fine, what with their keeper! ---
**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 21, 2026, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1383 "2026-06-21T01:47:30Z")
This is a rear guard action for the ages, but I’m totally expecting Ecuador to score a late winner. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1384 "2026-06-21T01:48:32Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The beauty of 2014 semifinals was that no matter what, there was going to be a spicy Final. Going into the semis, that is. 29 minutes into the actual play the beauty was looking at the faces around the bar and seeing how many expressions can signify _ **WTF IS THIS.** _ ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1385 "2026-06-21T01:49:09Z")
[![](https://media.tenor.com/c38TM2FzGDkAAAAC/hold-stonk-hold.gif) ](https://media.tenor.com/c38TM2FzGDkAAAAC/hold-stonk-hold.gif) ---
**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 21, 2026, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1386 "2026-06-21T01:49:35Z")
Sure can happen, but I would be disappointed The underdog doing so well. ETA: now it’s settled, first point for Curacao in a WC ever, after having scored their first goal against Germany in their first game, I think all of their dreams came through. ---
**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 21, 2026, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1387 "2026-06-21T01:56:14Z")
What a result for Curacao!!! ---
**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 21, 2026, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1388 "2026-06-21T01:59:40Z")
I wonder if, in the knockout rounds, we’re going to see underdogs deliberately park the bus, hold superior teams to a 0-0 draw, to take their chances in a penalty shootout. ---
**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 21, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1389 "2026-06-21T02:00:27Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I wonder if, in the knockout rounds, we’re going to see underdogs deliberately park the bus, hold superior teams to a 0-0 draw, to take their chances in a penalty shootout Greece has entered the chat. ---
**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 21, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1390 "2026-06-21T02:00:57Z")
It has been the underdog strategy for decades. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1391 "2026-06-21T02:03:38Z")
For me anyway, that was the most exciting match I have seen and yeah the Curaçao goalie was great, but the Ecuador goalie had a bunch of nice saves too. I think that is what made it exciting, all of those shots of goal and chances that ended up being stopped. `//i\\` ---
**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 21, 2026, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1392 "2026-06-21T02:05:13Z")
[![](https://i.redd.it/ux7380x7ci8h1.jpeg) ](https://i.redd.it/ux7380x7ci8h1.jpeg) ---
**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 21, 2026, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1393 "2026-06-21T02:05:57Z")
It’s not too far-fetched to imagine a Curacao-Ivory Coast outcome that propels Curacao into the Round of 32. ---
**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 21, 2026, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1394 "2026-06-21T02:06:33Z")
So that draw locked Germany into first in the group, which means I’ll be seeing them in nine days in my neighborhood. Exciting! (since I’m a Germany fan) ---
**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 21, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1395 "2026-06-21T02:19:38Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > It’s not too far-fetched to imagine a Curacao-Ivory Coast outcome that propels Curacao into the Round of 32. If Curacao wins that game, they are virtually assured of getting to R32, either by finishing second in the group, or a strong 3rd place finish. But a draw would eliminate them. (If my calculations are correct, of course.) ---
**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 21, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1396 "2026-06-21T02:19:49Z")
They’d have to win. Pretty far fetched to me. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1397 "2026-06-21T02:54:48Z")
In that underdog spirit - neat to see Iran upset the Belgians tomorrow. ---
**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 21, 2026, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1398 "2026-06-21T04:14:13Z")
That save is as close as you could possibly cut it. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1399 "2026-06-21T04:14:58Z")
Just one more pixel and it would have been in. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/9QLzMZq.png "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/9QLzMZq) ---
**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 21, 2026, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1400 "2026-06-21T04:30:38Z")
I didn’t see this part of the game - would have been scored by which team? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=69) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=71)