# World Cup 2022 - discussion, predictions, and thoughts **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-soccer-fifa\ **Created:** [November 6, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476 "2022-11-06T20:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 38
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/741 "2022-11-30T00:00:45Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Mildly unfortunate that the World Cup is, without question, the most absolutely butt-_ugliest_ trophy in the Entire History of All Trophies. šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø I thought it was an antique car jack or Qatarā€™s version of a garden gnome. The winner should have it melted down and re-poured into the shape of a Budweiser bottle. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/742 "2022-11-30T00:11:33Z")
I donā€™t think so, because ā€œhe was 21 cms offside and 1 cm outside even the tolerance distanceā€ is not the same as ā€œhe was 0.5 cms offsideā€, I think it would be worth a try. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/743 "2022-11-30T00:14:24Z")
Blasphemy! Itā€™s the absolutely most beautiful object in the universe. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/744 "2022-11-30T00:48:00Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Mildly unfortunate that the World Cup is, without question, the most absolutely butt-_ugliest_ trophy in the Entire History of All Trophies. Wait what, do you want Brazil to give back the old measly Jules Rimet cup? [![](https://assets.goal.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt6565309ba02476a1/60dacd2e5c97640f943f3494/ecc1a54335af30bfd1154be09bcbd8c0351aa2c2.jpeg) ](https://assets.goal.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt6565309ba02476a1/60dacd2e5c97640f943f3494/ecc1a54335af30bfd1154be09bcbd8c0351aa2c2.jpeg) ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/745 "2022-11-30T00:48:58Z")
They canā€™t, I think it was stolen. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/746 "2022-11-30T00:49:29Z")
By PelĆ©? šŸ˜‚ ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/747 "2022-11-30T00:56:05Z")
Normal thieves, they then melted down for the gold. > [@Wikipedia](#): > > On 19 December 1983, the wooden rear of the cabinet was opened by force with a crowbar and the cup was stolen again.[[17]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup_Trophy#cite_note-17) Four men were tried and convicted in absentia for the crime.[[18]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup_Trophy#cite_note-ap-18) The trophy has never been recovered, and it is widely believed to have been melted down and sold.[[19]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup_Trophy#cite_note-newtrophy-19) Only one piece of the Jules Rimet Trophy has been found, the original base which FIFA had kept in a basement of the federationā€™s ZĆ¼rich headquarters prior to 2015.[[20]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup_Trophy#cite_note-20) ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/748 "2022-11-30T00:57:54Z")
Itā€™s really a pity that such a unique object couldnā€™t be kept safe and got melted down for material value. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/749 "2022-11-30T01:01:01Z")
Ages of some of the US players for the next WC: - Sergino Dest - 26 - Antonee Robinson - 29 - Tyler Adams - 27 - Yunus Musah - 23 - Weston McKennie - 28 - Giovanni Reyna - 24 - Christian Pulisic - 28 - Brenden Aaronson - 26 - Timothy Weah - 26 All of these guys have the potential to be starting for Champions League clubs at that time. Musah and Adams in particular really impress the hell out of me. If a real striker materializes in that time that could be a heck of a team. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/750 "2022-11-30T01:17:42Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Ages of some of the US players for the next WC: And theyā€™ll probably be playing at home. Although, now that I think about it, the host country gets an automatic entry into the World Cup, right? What happens with the joint U.S./Mexico/Canada bid? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/751 "2022-11-30T01:20:18Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > What happens with the joint U.S./Mexico/Canada bid? Did Japan and Korea both get automatic entries in 2002? If so, I guess all 3 would get it. One would assume at least 2 of the 3 would get in anyway, right? If that limits the number of other Confacaf spots, it could be an issue for Costa Rica and some others. ETA: World Cup is going to 48 teams in 2026 anyway. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/752 "2022-11-30T01:22:54Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Did Japan and Korea both get automatic entries in 2002? Yes, they did. It is unclear what FIFA will do with 2026. > **[Do World Cup hosts automatically qualify for the tournament? Euros &...](https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/do-world-cup-hosts-automatically-qualify-for-the-tournament/blt550ef68c6581844b)** > > GOAL has what you need to know about the rules for automatically qualifying for a tournament ā€“ and what happens in the event of multiple hosts ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/753 "2022-11-30T01:24:13Z")
Itā€™s a 48 team tournament. 6 CONCACAF slots including 3 automatic qualifiers. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/754 "2022-11-30T01:29:01Z")
Yeah, but it sounds like a terrible concept. 16 groups of 3 teams? With 2 out of the 3 in each group advancing to a KO round of 32. I can think of all kinds of problems with this format. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/755 "2022-11-30T01:52:07Z")
Collusion will certainly be much easier. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/756 "2022-11-30T02:24:34Z")
Why no Italy this year? ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/757 "2022-11-30T02:33:02Z")
Crashed out in UEFA qualifying, including losing a last possible lifeline to North Macedonia. North Macedonia also beat Germany somewhere along the way, so nice underdog team. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/758 "2022-11-30T02:33:09Z")
Didnā€™t qualify. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/759 "2022-11-30T03:12:54Z")
Rules are rules. Itā€™s for the players to stay within them. They get paid millions of dollars after all. The rule isnā€™t totally being off side itā€™s any scoring part of a players body. A decade ago when we started using replays in cricket (called Decision Review System or DRS) we heard similar complaints. What happens, players started minding themselves. And the game goes on. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/760 "2022-11-30T03:28:58Z")
Totally. And the best thing about pre-programmed or AI making the decision (as opposed to a human viewing a video replay), such as offside in soccer or ball tracking in cricket, is that there is no specific human to blame. So even when the outcome is still incorrect (still much rarer than human umpires), players seem to accept the result. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=39)