World cup 2026

[mr.bluesky]

The ball was never over the line 

A good yard over the line 
Doesn't matter we scored another one anyway just to make sure .
Always remember Roger Hunt was the nearest attacking player to it and he turned away with his arm up in the air so he could see it had crossed the line, if it hadn't he would have tried to follow it up.

[Stevelondon]

A good yard over the line 
Doesn't matter we scored another one anyway just to make sure .
Always remember Roger Hunt was the nearest attacking player to it and he turned away with his arm up in the air so he could see it had crossed the line, if it hadn't he would have tried to follow it up.

I’d forgotten how bad the pitch was.

I’m now watching the very exciting match between England v New Zealand.
I’m on the edge of my seat.
How I can actually spend time writing this when the game is so enthralling….. I’ll never know. 🤷🏼

[chuck_88]

Scotland are going to win the World Cup.

Up 4 nil at half time, I have never seen the like 

[timsussex]

Just building up the level of hope to make the inevitable early exit  even more disappointing

[webpunter]

I’d forgotten how bad the pitch was.

I’m now watching the very exciting match between England v New Zealand.
I’m on the edge of my seat.
How I can actually spend time writing this when the game is so enthralling….. I’ll never know. 🤷🏼

The pitch today looks dreadful
The pitches for lower tier english clubs rising up the pyramid [where they have 4G 5G] expense related look better
Amazingly the same [i.e. better] north of the ice wall, which is fair enuf as limited daylight hours in deepest winter so the grass doesnt grow

I know its only a friendly & the pitch doesn't help but crikey England look very average
Enthralling indeed

[webpunter]

Just building up the level of hope to make the inevitable early exit  even more disappointing

England Scotland both ?

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[Davey Dykes]

Scotland absolutely need to play Gannon Doakes from the start in the first game.

Che Adams has done himself absolutely no harm, but does he get a game in front of Shankland?  Going to depend on formation but I don't see us playing a conventional front 2, thinking support will be coming from midfield and McTominay is likely first name on the sheet just now. Lyndon Dykes very much in a supporting role for me.

Goalies, I think Craig Gordon should get the shout but Angus Gunn has done very little wrong when called on so happy whoever gets the gloves.

[chuck_88]

Scotland absolutely need to play Gannon Doakes from the start in the first game.

Che Adams has done himself absolutely no harm, but does he get a game in front of Shankland?  Going to depend on formation but I don't see us playing a conventional front 2, thinking support will be coming from midfield and McTominay is likely first name on the sheet just now. Lyndon Dykes very much in a supporting role for me.

Goalies, I think Craig Gordon should get the shout but Angus Gunn has done very little wrong when called on so happy whoever gets the gloves.

100% he has to start, he is the only player in the squad with electrifying pace so he has to play.

Bolivia are of a similar world ranking to Haiti, I think we have to go with the same set up as last night against them with 2 up top.

We will need to play more defensively against Morocco and Brazil but we absolutely need 3 points against Haiti to stand a chance of making the knockout stages.

I would go with the same team that started last night, only change I would foresee is McGinn coming in and Ferguson dropping back to the bench.

[ulstersubbie]

100% he has to start, he is the only player in the squad with electrifying pace so he has to play.

Bolivia are of a similar world ranking to Haiti, I think we have to go with the same set up as last night against them with 2 up top.

We will need to play more defensively against Morocco and Brazil but we absolutely need 3 points against Haiti to stand a chance of making the knockout stages.

I would go with the same team that started last night, only change I would foresee is McGinn coming in and Ferguson dropping back to the bench.

Bolivia were piss poor but I'll take 4-0 any day of the week. As for McGinn I just hope he brings his A game to the matches coming up, he went missing a lot of the time during the qualifiers. What I want to see is us starting on the front foot, into the opposition from the off, we're far too cautious at times and this has cost us dearly in past tournaments.   🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[chuck_88]

Bolivia were piss poor but I'll take 4-0 any day of the week. As for McGinn I just hope he brings his A game to the matches coming up, he went missing a lot of the time during the qualifiers. What I want to see is us starting on the front foot, into the opposition from the off, we're far too cautious at times and this has cost us dearly in past tournaments.   🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Agreed they were poor, 8 of that starting 11 played in the team that beat Brazil last year. Mind you that’s probably more an indication of how far Brazil have sank as opposed to Bolivia being any good 

[Stevelondon]

Reports that Christian Erickson collapsed this evening.     Let’s hope he’s ok.

[mr.bluesky]

Reports that Christian Erickson collapsed this evening.     Let’s hope he’s ok.

Yes I posted about this on the 2025/26 season thread

[Vice Admiral]

Believe it or not there are more Panamanian hookers in the country than Croats.

Surely hookers should be on a rugby thread rather than a football thread?

Anyway, I haven't come here to make feeble jokes – though why give up the habit of a lifetime? – nor indeed to stir up controversy.

However ...

Am I the only person who, while taking an interest in "proper" football – that is, the various English and Scottish leagues – couldn't care tuppence who wins the World Cup?  (Which I described on another thread as an upstart competition less than a hundred years old.)

It’s five and a half weeks of torture – worse than the bloody Olympics.

Yes, on the one hand I like the citizens of this sceptred isle, this earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, this other Eden to feel good about life.

On the other hand if we win the bally thing we’ll never hear the end of it.  The triumphalism will go on for years.  And Sir Starmer will probably take the knee and insist on us having a Bank Holiday.

I accept that a World Cup thread is unlikely to be the best place to attract support for this view.  But am I a total outlier?  Or are there others who think that the best outcome would be for England to lose on penalties in the semi-finals – or, indeed, to be kicked out of the competition for sending a bloke with a pair of binoculars to spy on the Ghana team at their training ground in Foxborough, Massachusetts?

[Davey Dykes]

Absolutely no one is forcing you to watch, nor even comment. 

[Iamforreal]

Surely hookers should be on a rugby thread rather than a football thread?

Anyway, I haven't come here to make feeble jokes – though why give up the habit of a lifetime? – nor indeed to stir up controversy.

However ...

Am I the only person who, while taking an interest in "proper" football – that is, the various English and Scottish leagues – couldn't care tuppence who wins the World Cup?  (Which I described on another thread as an upstart competition less than a hundred years old.)

It’s five and a half weeks of torture – worse than the bloody Olympics.

Yes, on the one hand I like the citizens of this sceptred isle, this earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, this other Eden to feel good about life.

On the other hand if we win the bally thing we’ll never hear the end of it.  The triumphalism will go on for years.  And Sir Starmer will probably take the knee and insist on us having a Bank Holiday.

I accept that a World Cup thread is unlikely to be the best place to attract support for this view.  But am I a total outlier?  Or are there others who think that the best outcome would be for England to lose on penalties in the semi-finals – or, indeed, to be kicked out of the competition for sending a bloke with a pair of binoculars to spy on the Ghana team at their training ground in Foxborough, Massachusetts?

You're not alone, is quite over rated as a competition especially with so many teams.
Also brings out idiot patriotism, talking about hooligans who smash things and looking for trouble all the time when England is playing, happens in most countries also, not only here I must add.
I enjoy the later stages of the competition, but it's not a deal breaker, give me PL every day and is so much better.
Let's be honest, most of the matches are crap, especially in the group stages.
Still want England to win and I wish them all the best but too many times people and media expect them to win, however very rarely they are favourites.

[shed]

In England we are not as patriotic about our football team compared to other countries. Particularly the south American. Premier league is always the main priority and national games can be seen as an inconvenience on the PL.. Also our expectations can be too high and we can become critical far too early in the competition. Spain, France and Germany national teams can be more important than their local leagues. Reason being there is only one team that generally wins in their country league such as RM/Barca, Bayern and PSG. Premier league is ultra competitive.

[mr.bluesky]

France v Northern Ireland on BBC 3 at the moment. France looking impressive but NI still holding on 0-0 at the moment.

[webpunter]

France v Northern Ireland on BBC 3 at the moment. France looking impressive but NI still holding on 0-0 at the moment.

Crikey the French team haven't yet departed to the US for acclimatization training
They must be feeling confident
Just as well the match was played in Paris
Coz NI have a track record of things kicking off at home
Match abandoned against England crowd trouble 

[webpunter]

In England we are not as patriotic about our football team compared to other countries. Particularly the south American. Premier league is always the main priority and national games can be seen as an inconvenience on the PL.. Also our expectations can be too high and we can become critical far too early in the competition. Spain, France and Germany national teams can be more important than their local leagues. Reason being there is only one team that generally wins in their country league such as RM/Barca, Bayern and PSG. Premier league is ultra competitive.

Well said Sir hit the nail on the head 
Ultra competitive indeed which is one of the reasons why the Prem generates the biggest TV incomes making the clubs powerful on the european stage
There are but a few matches in Spain & Germany which generate much interest as the outcomes fairly predictable
In comparison the Prem throws up unexpected results & banging matches pretty frequently

The self serving PL are cuntish of the highest order & indeed an inconvenience

Things are looking up for Utd with Amorim spanish archer
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Hopefully you will be joining the 2026/27 footy thread
Utd could be top two or higher see what happens at the noisy neighbours with Pep gorne

Anyways thanks for the 4 points this season
MOT
 

[timsussex]

I see the Africa Ref of the year wont be officiating at the world cup having been refused entry to USA presumably because he from Somalia - better save my comments for the politics thread - other than say  FIFA and Infantino have  no shame

[mr.bluesky]

Crikey the French team haven't yet departed to the US for acclimatization training
They must be feeling confident
Just as well the match was played in Paris

I hope England don't meet France in the knockout stages, they will rip our defence apart on that performance. I can see why they are one if not the favourites to win the tournament. How on earth has England missed out on Hat trick scorer Michael Olise, he was born in England, came through English club academies, played for English teams yet chooses to play for France  no disrespect to Anthony Gordon but he's not in the same class as Olise

[Stevelondon]

I hope England don't meet France in the knockout stages, they will rip our defence apart on that performance. I can see why they are one if not the favourites to win the tournament. How on earth has England missed out on Hat trick scorer Michael Olise, he was born in England, came through English club academies, played for English teams yet chooses to play for France  no disrespect to Anthony Gordon but he's not in the same class as Olise

That’s just a simple case of the bloke wanting to play for France rather than England.

Last night he certainly outshone his two more famous forwards.

[Bangman]

Usually when the world cup is about to start  i would see a lot of flags, bunting, excited fans out and about. I'm driving up and down London and there's NO Buzz or excitement at all. Never seen this in 4 decades. I'm wondering is it just London?.
Hasnt started yet and it feels as this is The Worst world cup ever....is it because

1. Poor timings, im not staying up for the 12am, 1am, 2am, 3am, 4am, 5am games.. might not even finish the 11pm games if I have work the next day.
2. Concrete stadiums with fake grass, players have already complained the balls not bouncing properly.
3. £150 approx for a train ticket on the match day, (usually £3), High ticket price for the visiting fans is one thing, but this is a joke for travellers.
4. I read the iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was detained for most of the day, similar with the Iranian players and team.
5. There was a shooting, 9 people injured in Missuouiri, next to England's training camp.
6. I've seen so many videos today  including Ian wright who is pissed off that a Top, well known experienced African Referee, has been denied entry. Visa issues for other countries that are in the tournament (Haiti, Venezuela, Iran etc), lots of fans won't attend.

Long list of other reasons...

Embarassing for Fifa.

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[Jumping Jack Flash]

I get what you’re saying about flags etc but the last couple of tournaments hasn’t produced the flags from cars, windows and pub gardens like in previous years. In many ways it has died out and people aren’t buying into the hype anymore. That’s what too many disappointments do!

There’s also the fact that England don’t play their first game for another 8 days. It will probably ramp up a bit by next Wednesday though.

Personally I will watch the England games and possibly the games involving Scotland but that’s about it for the group stages. If either side progresses to the knockout stage then I will watch them regardless of the kick off time. I’ve no interest in the games involving the lesser football nations though, Cape Verde springs to mind!

[myothernameis]

Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry to US for World Cup, but if Somali  had qualified for the world cup, would they be denied entry to USA

The Iranian players and support, getting fully scrutinized, and when they enter the USA for there game, by the end of the game they must leave.   Seems some of the players, were part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, and ICE have said, they wont be allowed in, but only time will tell

[webpunter]

I get what you’re saying about flags etc but the last couple of tournaments hasn’t produced the flags from cars, windows and pub gardens like in previous years. In many ways it has died out and people aren’t buying into the hype anymore. That’s what too many disappointments do!

There’s also the fact that England don’t play their first game for another 8 days. It will probably ramp up a bit by next Wednesday though.

Personally I will watch the England games and possibly the games involving Scotland but that’s about it for the group stages. If either side progresses to the knockout stage then I will watch them regardless of the kick off time. I’ve no interest in the games involving the lesser football nations though, Cape Verde springs to mind!

England matches 9pm & 10pm phew ....
Influenced by advertising revenue targeting the highest possible viewing figures

That's harsh on Cape Verde
The smallest nation to ever qualify for a WC only 150,000 population 

 

[WARSZAWA16]

I always get nostalgic when the World Cup starts.
Takes me back to 1966.
Just for the younger followers, World Cup Willie is not something you catch in a Mexican brothel.

[Vice Admiral]

Am I the only person who, while taking an interest in "proper" football – that is, the various English and Scottish leagues – couldn't care tuppence who wins the World Cup?  (Which I described on another thread as an upstart competition less than a hundred years old.)

It’s five and a half weeks of torture – worse than the bloody Olympics.

Yes, on the one hand I like the citizens of this sceptred isle, this earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, this other Eden to feel good about life.

On the other hand if we win the bally thing we’ll never hear the end of it.  The triumphalism will go on for years.  And Sir Starmer will probably take the knee and insist on us having a Bank Holiday.

I accept that a World Cup thread is unlikely to be the best place to attract support for this view.  But am I a total outlier?  Or are there others who think that the best outcome would be for England to lose on penalties in the semi-finals – or, indeed, to be kicked out of the competition for sending a bloke with a pair of binoculars to spy on the Ghana team at their training ground in Foxborough, Massachusetts?

I missed this at the time, but it was mentioned last night on Sky News.  At the World Cup draw in Washington in December, Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, apparently said that the 2026 World Cup is “simply the greatest event that humanity, that mankind, has ever seen and will ever see”. 

I’m sorry to puncture your delusions, Gianni, mate, but from where I’m sitting your greatest-ever-event-in-the-history-of-the-world is just a lot of overpaid blokes hoofing a ball about in a stadium full of dudes with more money than sense.  It isn’t landing men on the moon.

Football got lucky.  It could have been croquet or curling.  And then where would we be?

(On the same day, incidentally, the infantile one awarded President Donald Trump FIFA’s first-ever – and almost certainly last-ever – “Peace Prize”.  But that was before the Donald started bombing Iran back to the Stone Age.)

[myothernameis]

Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US for the World Cup despite holding a valid visa, and now the Trump administration stated Artan was deemed a "national security threat" by US Customs and Border Protection due to alleged links with, suspected members of terror organisations.

It wouldn't surprise me if this information is wrong, but if it was true, you present proof of this, but Somali referee Omar Artan, may still get to referee at the world cup

Canada have come forward and have said, Omar Artan is more than welcome to referee the games in Vancover.  But will it happen, guess thuis is now down to FIFA, and if they want to move forward

[Stevelondon]

Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US for the World Cup despite holding a valid visa, and now the Trump administration stated Artan was deemed a "national security threat" by US Customs and Border Protection due to alleged links with, suspected members of terror organisations.

It wouldn't surprise me if this information is wrong, but if it was true, you present proof of this, but Somali referee Omar Artan, may still get to referee at the world cup

Canada have come forward and have said, Omar Artan is more than welcome to referee the games in Vancover.  But will it happen, guess thuis is now down to FIFA, and if they want to move forward

The infant one will not want to upset his mate Donald. So I can’t see FIFA letting the Somali ref do his job in Canada or Mexico. 🤷🏼

[DastardlyDick]

The infant one will not want to upset his mate Donald. So I can’t see FIFA letting the Somali ref do his job in Canada or Mexico. 🤷🏼

Surely if FIFA just swap refs it's nothing to do with Trump? 

[bigden40]

Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US for the World Cup despite holding a valid visa, and now the Trump administration stated Artan was deemed a "national security threat" by US Customs and Border Protection due to alleged links with, suspected members of terror organisations.

It wouldn't surprise me if this information is wrong, but if it was true, you present proof of this, but Somali referee Omar Artan, may still get to referee at the world cup

Canada have come forward and have said, Omar Artan is more than welcome to referee the games in Vancover.  But will it happen, guess thuis is now down to FIFA, and if they want to move forward

The ref pool is headed by Peirluigi Collina and he requires all of his refs to be at the same training base in Miami, so it’s not viable for the guy to ref in other locations. 

It would be wrong of us to judge individual immigration decisions given that we are not privy to the information that informed that decision.  There’s no obligation to provide any “proof” to the public.  If he wanted to appeal it via FIFA they had that option but they have so far chosen not to do so. 

The CBP statement mentioned ties to the terror organisation al-Shabab, if he doesn’t have these ties he may just have had the misfortune to have a similar name to someone on the sanction/watch lists.

[bigden40]

Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry to US for World Cup, but if Somali  had qualified for the world cup, would they be denied entry to USA

The Iranian players and support, getting fully scrutinized, and when they enter the USA for there game, by the end of the game they must leave.   Seems some of the players, were part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, and ICE have said, they wont be allowed in, but only time will tell

In addition to Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Cote D'Ivoire are all impacted by travel bans.  But other than officials/backroom team for Iran there hasn’t been much impact on the player squad and supporting teams for any of those counties.  I think one Haiti player had some entry issues but that was about it.

Iran squad are based in Mexico and only got same day entry/exit visas for their matches in the US. 

[Blackpool Rock]

Just been something on the news about some Scotland fans having difficulty getting into the US but i'm guessing it will also apply to fans from other countries too including England however the Scots are heading out earlier as their 1st game is only a few days away

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[bigden40]

Just been something on the news about some Scotland fans having difficulty getting into the US but i'm guessing it will also apply to fans from other countries too including England however the Scots are heading out earlier as their 1st game is only a few days away

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I imagine anyone travelling on an ESTA (40-odd countries) might be impacted by any tightening of the checks being done.

[DastardlyDick]

The ref pool is headed by Peirluigi Collina and he requires all of his refs to be at the same training base in Miami, so it’s not viable for the guy to ref in other locations. 

I didn't know that.
Wondered what had happened with Collina - he was an awesome ref in Serie A back in the day.

[Blackpool Rock]

I didn't know that.
Wondered what had happened with Collina - he was an awesome ref in Serie A back in the day.

Yeah and you'd think twice before uttering "Oh fuck off ref"   





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[myothernameis]

England game against Costa Rica, in Orlando has been delayed, due to thunder & lightning and heavy rain, flooding in places and pitch

[mr.bluesky]

Yeah and you'd think twice before uttering "Oh fuck off ref"   





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Used to watch Italian football when it was on channel 4 back in the day, he was an outstanding ref

[mr.bluesky]

England game against Costa Rica, in Orlando has been delayed, due to thunder & lightning and heavy rain, flooding in places and pitch

This is going to be a big problem with this World cup with the games played in America. I don't remember all these problems back in 1994 when the USA last staged it 

[Blackpool Rock]

This is going to be a big problem with this World cup with the games played in America. I don't remember all these problems back in 1994 when the USA last staged it 

No I don't remember it being an issue either, possibly different venues (certainly more) with higher risk of bad weather plus an extra degree or whatever in world temperature 

[Stevelondon]

Looks like the weather is going to cause the England game to be cancelled this evening.

Oh wait a minute. I think they are now saying it is going to happen 🤷🏼

[bigden40]

This is going to be a big problem with this World cup with the games played in America. I don't remember all these problems back in 1994 when the USA last staged it 

You’re obviously forgetting Ireland v Mexico, played in 41 degrees with Ireland players ready to drop.  Games were played in extremely hot midday temperatures to suit European audiences. 

As for storms, back in 1994 games wouldn’t have been stopped for thunder and lightning but across American sports the norm has changed since then.

[myothernameis]

Looks like the weather is going to cause the England game to be cancelled this evening.

Oh wait a minute. I think they are now saying it is going to happen 🤷🏼

All female ref/lines person in charge of the game 

[mr.bluesky]

All female ref/lines person in charge of the game 

Can't be any worse that a lot of the refs I've seen in the Championship this season

[john122350]

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[mr.bluesky]

All female ref/lines person in charge of the game 

I thought she had a good game, after all she did award us a penalty 

[Blackpool Rock]

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I only had the footy on in the background last night for a bit of the match as I was writing up a review however Anthony Gordon did look good going forward on the wing last night, I previously questioned whether he's good enough for Barca but perhaps and hopefully his class shines through in the WC.
OK so it may have only been Costa Rica but if he's also able to make inroads against the better teams then that could be very useful

He did seem to go down quite easily a few times and indeed the penalty he was awarded was rescinded, looks like he may be replacing Jack Grealish in falling over and winning penalties and dangerous free kicks when he feels the slightest touch.
While I don't like players going down too easily let's face it other teams have always and will continue to do it against us so perhaps it's just putting the playing field back level 

I do think that in the last 2 or 3 tournaments and indeed the modern way of playing in the Prem where teams play possession and pass the ball left to right (boring as fuck to watch) rather than running forward has resulted in far less free kicks in dangerous positions which IMO have always produced a decent amount of goals.
I don't actually have any data to back this up so perhaps someone will produce some data showing it's bollocks but that's just my feeling from my own observations     

[Blackpool Rock]

I thought she had a good game, after all she did award us a penalty 

Quite fit too   

[Thephoenix]

I only had the footy on in the background last night for a bit of the match as I was writing up a review however Anthony Gordon did look good going forward on the wing last night, I previously questioned whether he's good enough for Barca but perhaps and hopefully his class shines through in the WC.
OK so it may have only been Costa Rica but if he's also able to make inroads against the better teams then that could be very useful

He did seem to go down quite easily a few times and indeed the penalty he was awarded was rescinded, looks like he may be replacing Jack Grealish in falling over and winning penalties and dangerous free kicks when he feels the slightest touch.
While I don't like players going down too easily let's face it other teams have always and will continue to do it against us so perhaps it's just putting the playing field back level 

It was great to see someone have the confidence to run at players.
His penalty was one of the best I've seen for a while.
Power and precision as penalties should be.
Not like some of the current antics, which would be better in The Ministry For Funny Walks.



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