# 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:** 78
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1541 "2026-06-22T18:56:00Z")
Mbappe is just 27. Reckon he likely has two World Cups and a chance for three. ---
**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 22, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1542 "2026-06-22T18:58:15Z")
His game is built around speed and sharpness. He’ll be 31 at the next World Cup. Considering the insane depth France usually has I can’t see them relying on a 35 year old at the one after. I’m not even sure he starts at the next WC. ---
**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 22, 2026, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1543 "2026-06-22T18:59:42Z")
Ronaldo had to reinvent himself to a static #9 to be relevant so long. I don’t think Mbappe can do that - Ronaldo was always elite at heading. I’d be shocked it’s he’s not a starter at 31 though. I think he’ll end up with like 25 when all is said and done. Messi with a brace. ---
**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 22, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1544 "2026-06-22T19:10:52Z")
I survived!, we suffered too much perhaps, but Grendel… well, there is nothing more to say at this point. ---
**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 22, 2026, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1545 "2026-06-22T19:12:57Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > a deep Argentina run We’ll have to see what happens when we face one of the TOP top teams, we have many players coming back from injuries and others are old and/or no longer playing in top leagues. I’m on record as saying that getting into the top 4 would be a great result for us. ---
**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 22, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1546 "2026-06-22T19:15:14Z")
Can’t believe Messi has five goals already in just two games. He’d already be getting at least a share of the Golden Boot in four World Cups for that. ---
**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 22, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1547 "2026-06-22T19:48:12Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > - Keep competitive balance in the bracket where possible Looking into it further, I see how they fixed the imbalance created by having four of the group winners play a 2nd place instead of 3rd place team in the round of 32. They set it up so that the 4 1st place teams playing a 2nd place team will get another 2nd place team in the round of 16 (the winners of the 2nd place vs 2nd place matchups), wile the other 1st place teams (the ones that played a 3rd place team in the round of 32) get one of the winners of the other 1st vs. 3rd place games. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1548 "2026-06-22T19:51:00Z")
There are 6 games left. Is it crazy to think Messi could challenge Just Fontaine’s legendary 13 goals? Regardless it’s an unbelievable start. ---
**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 22, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1549 "2026-06-22T19:54:54Z")
It’s definitely possible, especially since Argentina is guaranteed to face a 2nd place team in the round of 16 instead of a group winner (should they win 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 22, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1550 "2026-06-22T19:55:03Z")
Looking at projections it appears their most likely knockout games are: Cape Verde → Belgium → Colombia and winning those puts you in the semi-finals. Obviously that path isn’t guaranteed, but if they avoid Spain, Germany, England, France, Brazil, and the Netherlands before the last 2 games that’s a pretty nice draw. ---
**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 22, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1551 "2026-06-22T19:56:20Z")
There are only 6 games left _if you go all the way to the final/3rd place game_ that’s not by any means guaranteed. ---
**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 22, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1552 "2026-06-22T19:57:24Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Looking at projections it appears their most likely knockout games are: Cape Verde → Belgium → Colombia and winning those puts you in the semi-finals. Obviously that path isn’t guaranteed, but if they avoid Spain, Germany, England, France, Brazil, and the Netherlands before the last 2 games that’s a pretty nice draw. They had a good draw because they ended up in one of the four groups where the group winner has to play a 2nd place team in the round of 32. FIFA balanced that out by making the path forward for those four teams easier in the round of 16. ---
**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 22, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1553 "2026-06-22T20:01:13Z")
How long is the no-Argentine-scoring-but-Messi streak going to keep up… ---
**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 22, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1554 "2026-06-22T20:09:37Z")
That’s another thing to fear, the dreaded Messi-dependence ---
**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 22, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1555 "2026-06-22T20:30:16Z")
As a Barça fan that is a bitter-sweet dependence I know well. All I can tell you at this stage is that I would rather depend on Messi than on any other player in the world today. Except, perhaps, Lamine Yamal on a good day. ---
**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 22, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1556 "2026-06-22T20:33:26Z")
Hey, you forgot Deniz Undav, he only ever has to play for 30 minutes in a game to have at least as many assist/goal points as Messi. 😉 ---
**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 22, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1557 "2026-06-22T20:34:03Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I would rather depend on Messi than on any other player in the world today. I would have just an eensy more reliance on Mbappe, myself. Messi really had to snake that ball in for the second goal. ---
**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 22, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1558 "2026-06-22T20:46:41Z")
Not expecting Mbappe to do much passing in this game after that Messi performance. ---
**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 22, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1559 "2026-06-22T20:52:30Z")
I think the difference is that in Messi’s case, all his Argentinian team mates are his disciples and first and foremost want to make him score. Mbpappé is an excellent and major player for France, but he just doesn’t have that standing (yet), and frankly there are quite some others in the French offense who are just as likely to score anytime. ---
**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 22, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/1560 "2026-06-22T20:56:00Z")
The Delta between Messi and anyone else on Argentina is also much much better than the delta between Mbappe and Dembele or Olise or Barcola or Doue or… god damn are France stacked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=77) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=79)