# 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:** 72
**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, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1421 "2026-06-21T16:26:23Z")
I wonder if SA is aware that there’s a back post that can be vulnerable from time to 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 21, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1422 "2026-06-21T16:26:23Z")
Yes, fair. If they win this by more than Uruguay, then a draw is good enough for 1st. Still think Yamal comes off at half. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1423 "2026-06-21T16:26:24Z")
Spain seems to be ok at this game. ---
**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 21, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1424 "2026-06-21T16:27:37Z")
Good point! ---
**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, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1425 "2026-06-21T16:36:19Z")
Man, really hoping to see some magic from Yamal. It feels like all the other stars have delivered something magic so far. I guess not Dembele, but France has more players capable of that magic. ---
**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, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1426 "2026-06-21T16:50:15Z")
It’s not exactly superstition, more of an anxiety management strategy, it keeps the inner monkey calm to “know” he’s doing something. ---
**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, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1427 "2026-06-21T16:53:24Z")
Ah, I see, many players themselves have such rituals, for example when putting on and tying their shoes, without probably being superstitious. Just to get into the familiar routine. ---
**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, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1428 "2026-06-21T16:58:01Z")
Well but in their case it may actually help the team, in mine is just so I don’t keel over from a heart attack. ---
**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, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1429 "2026-06-21T16:59:58Z")
I feel you, mate. I’m also always a nervous wreck when Germany plays. Have you noticed that I don’t post during a German game, just like you when Argentina plays? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1430 "2026-06-21T17:08:45Z")
Do the USA have anything to play for against Turkiye Thursday? Beyond, that is, noble principles of good sportsmanship and fair play and all that? From where I sit, unless they lose by a disastrous number of goals, the worst outcome for them is a slightly stronger opponent in the Round of 32. ---
**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, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1431 "2026-06-21T17:09:37Z")
I wasn’t paying attention in the first half, but at second half kickoff there are at least 80% of the seats empty. Could be in the bathroom or concessions. > [@HeyHomie](#): > > Do the USA have anything to play for against Turkiye Thursday? Beyond, that is, noble principles of good sportsmanship and fair play and all that? From where I sit, unless they lose by a disastrous number of goals, the worst outcome for them is a slightly stronger opponent in the Round of 32. No outcome in the US Turkiye can change anything for either team. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1432 "2026-06-21T17:12:11Z")
Curaçao are a bit friskier than one might think, and they’ve had some decent results here and there. Probably they’re going to get beat pretty soundly, but the think their attack is good enough to give them a puncher’s chance at a goal or two. Or maybe I’m just biased by their sneaking a draw with Canada in Gold Cup 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1433 "2026-06-21T17:23:48Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Do the USA have anything to play for against Turkiye Thursday? Beyond, that is, noble principles of good sportsmanship and fair play and all that? From where I sit, unless they lose by a disastrous number of goals, the worst outcome for them is a slightly stronger opponent in the Round of 32. The locations of the teams in the bracket is predetermined. The winner of Group D (USA) will play one of the third place teams as determined by an arcane algorithm and that is based entirely on the results of the third place teams. Nothing the US does can change anything about that. ---
**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, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1434 "2026-06-21T17:24:12Z")
I hadn’t!, let me send you a hug, and hope we both survive another world cup 🙂 ---
**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, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1435 "2026-06-21T17:28:21Z")
Torres continues to not finish. ---
**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, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1436 "2026-06-21T17:32:21Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I hadn’t!, let me send you a hug, and hope we both survive another world cup 🙂 Let’s hope we don’t meet in this tournament, or this romance could soon end… 😉 ---
**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, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1437 "2026-06-21T17:35:35Z")
Nah, unless one of us gets specially nasty and I don’t think it would happen. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1438 "2026-06-21T17:46:43Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Have you noticed that I don’t post during a German game, just like you when Argentina plays? I did. Missed your contributions yesterday during the game. The board in general was surprisingly silent during the Germany - Ivory Coast game. YouTube showed me the reason why later. I felt sorry for the Ivorians. ---
**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, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1439 "2026-06-21T17:47:28Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Nah, unless one of us gets specially nasty and I don’t think it would happen. Neither the two of us, nor our respective teams, I guess. ---
**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, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1440 "2026-06-21T17:56:32Z")
I preemptively apologize for any word, gesture or action employed by Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez, he has a condition you know… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=71) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=73)