OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread

[NormZauchin]

Hard to write about this WC without politics, that's for sure!

But even leaving all of the shenanigans and corruption aside, my heart sinks at the prospect: games played in an unsuitable climate at an unsuitable time of year at unsuitable times of day in stadia that haven't been properly prepared for football. The 1994 U.S. World Cup was possibly the worst ever and, with the inclusion of a ton of teams that should never have been allowed to take part, I anticipate that the games will be even lower in quality.

I might get involved once it's going, especially since I think I'm going to be in Germany for a lot of it, and they get pretty excited during World Cups (outdoor viewing at the Fanmeile and so on). And perhaps some outside team will win my heart -- maybe Morocco or Japan or Sweden. Till then, I will just hope that the cheats, simulators and divers all lose. (No chance!)

I took my kids, both of whom played soccer, to the 1994 World Cup. Saw the Saudi-Belgium match at RFK. And, luckily saw what is considered to be one of the ten greatest goals in World Cup history, a 69-meter run through the entire Belgium team by Said Al Owairan to win the game for Saudi Arabia.

 

[JayNM]

South Korea played a really good game

Czech Republic is not the easiest of matchups

 

[Triumph]

If people are flying in from other Continents, They likely left Their car at home.

Around here, FIFA is not allowing fans to drive to the stadium and park on site.

All fans can only enter stadium grounds via FIFA buses. So, tailgating is out.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Thread 'World Cup 26'

Dec 6, 2025

My team is coming to Foxborough for 2 games!!! Cmon Scotland!

Hoping I can somehow get tickets and finally get to Gillette!

Gonna be an amazing month of soccer anyway!

• Shed83
• Replies: 12
• Forum: Other Sports Forum

My apology if I got it wrong, I thought you wanted this thread moved out of the main forum.

 

[borg]

That South African team was displeasing to the senses.
Single A ball quality

Just watched a fascinating documentary about the French team's self-implosion during the 2014 Brazil World cup.

Same tournament Luis Suarez took a bite out of an Italian defender.

Let the drama/shenanigans begin.

If there was a prop bet for a team Most Likely to Implode , I'd put a few coins on Senegal. They have fresh Implosion pedigree.

 

[sb1]

No Italy again... wonder why they've declined so much at the national level? And they won Euro 2020.... @italian pat patriot

 

[Mike the Brit]

No Italy again... wonder why they've declined so much at the national level? And they won Euro 2020.... @italian pat patriot

What the football world won't be missing:

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

South Korea ftw

 

[JayNM]

No Italy again... wonder why they've declined so much at the national level? And they won Euro 2020....

not revealing young talent for a long time as they failed to organize their academies, Serie A has no money compared to the other places bc they did some bad deals for TV money, rampant corruption making, they dont allow foreign money to come in easy

Also, the game is much more "attacking" in the way that forwards press up front. Italy has made their game on defense and low lines, which clashes with the modern game

Shame, Milan, Inter, Juve, Napoli and Rome are great teams

 

[borg]

Serie A ......doesn't allow foreign money to come in easy

9 of 20 teams owned by foreigners (8 American / 1 Canadian)

 

[Sect140]

No Italy again... wonder why they've declined so much at the national level? And they won Euro 2020.... @italian pat patriot

It’s amazing that Italy once again didn’t qualify considering FIFA added 16 teams to the tournament.

 

[Sect140]

Around here, FIFA is not allowing fans to drive to the stadium and park on site.

All fans can only enter stadium grounds via FIFA buses. So, tailgating is out.

Where is here for you? Local media here in Massachusetts were saying the same thing awhile back, but FIFA came out and explained that they will set up inner and outer security boundaries and tailgating is allowed outside the outer security boundary, I read an article quoting one of Krafts VP’s, I think he was the head of comms for the Kraft group. His message was that public transportation is highly recommended for people that have traveled to Mass. He went on to say that if you live locally and attend the Patriot or Revolution games and concerts at Gillette than come down the same way you usually do. The Gillette website states that the game Saturday at 9:00pm the parking lots open at 5:00pm. There will only be 5,000 parking spaces available instead of the 20,000 in Krafts parking lot, but that doesn’t include the private lots. I’m guessing Kraft owned lots on the side of the stadium will be blocked off.

 

[Bill Lee]

Thanks, I actually knew that but typed it wrong. His family arrived in Boston today, we are going out tomorrow night, they come over every summer for a month, his wife is from Manchester. His sisters future son-in-law has season tickets to Newcastle, that is my goal to get to a match in Newcastle.

Cool, I know some people from there too:

Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I also know some from 'the other' Manchester:

Manchester, New Hampshire - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And my cousin's girlfriend is also from Manchester!

Manchester, Connecticut - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Huckleberry1]

No Italy again... wonder why they've declined so much at the national level? And they won Euro 2020.... @italian pat patriot

It's a brutal region to come out of. They need to create an at large tournament for the last 16 spots in the tournament, that would pretty much guarantee that the best teams in the world are in the tournament.

 

[Brotherblues]

not revealing young talent for a long time as they failed to organize their academies, Serie A has no money compared to the other places bc they did some bad deals for TV money, rampant corruption making, they dont allow foreign money to come in easy

Also, the game is much more "attacking" in the way that forwards press up front. Italy has made their game on defense and low lines, which clashes with the modern game

Shame, Milan, Inter, Juve, Napoli and Rome are great teams

Also the regional limitations. A lot of worse teams than Italy are in the World Cup.

But that's what opens the door for teams like Panama to sneak in so I find it hard to complain.

Here in Panama the expectations are to celebrate if we score a single goal in the whole tourney.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Thanks, I actually knew that but typed it wrong. His family arrived in Boston today, we are going out tomorrow night, they come over every summer for a month, his wife is from Manchester. His sisters future son-in-law has season tickets to Newcastle, that is my goal to get to a match in Newcastle.

The lone game I watched live was in Newcastle. Many years ago against Scunthorpe when Newcastle was relegated. I believe they jumped back up the next year.
Really enjoy the international tourneys, but not a cub fan.
Canadian Open and a World Cup game today for us Canucks. Big sports day in Toronto.

 

[Triumph]

Where is here for you? Local media here in Massachusetts were saying the same thing awhile back, but FIFA came out and explained that they will set up inner and outer security boundaries and tailgating is allowed outside the outer security boundary, I read an article quoting one of Krafts VP’s, I think he was the head of comms for the Kraft group. His message was that public transportation is highly recommended for people that have traveled to Mass. He went on to say that if you live locally and attend the Patriot or Revolution games and concerts at Gillette than come down the same way you usually do. The Gillette website states that the game Saturday at 9:00pm the parking lots open at 5:00pm. There will only be 5,000 parking spaces available instead of the 20,000 in Krafts parking lot, but that doesn’t include the private lots. I’m guessing Kraft owned lots on the side of the stadium will be blocked off.

Ticket prices would choke a horse and thats controlled by FIFA too.

 

[JayNM]

9 of 20 teams owned by foreigners (8 American / 1 Canadian)

Yeah, but it is a struggle to get in compared to other places, and i also meant fot transmission rights.

Their bureaucray is crazy rigid

 

[Guts]

No Italy again... wonder why they've declined so much at the national level? And they won Euro 2020.... @italian pat patriot

their league has fallen in quality and they haven't produced world class players like 20 years ago

 

[Guts]

While most of you have nothing look forward to for July, us real football lovers come together again to celebrate the biggest sport spetacle of the world

World Cup babyyy

And this time is being held in your (well most of "your") home country. And Mexico. And Canada. Do you think the USMNT has any chance of going far? Pulisic will have to work extra time to carry you all.

I think, of all teams, Portugal is my pick. I just love their midfield. Spain, France and (homer-take) Brazil come next

Whilst as a Brazilian I can't contain my excitement for when it comes around, this world cup has had already many strange things occurring:

-the US barred from entry Africa's best referee.
-Senegal's national team was stripped while arriving at airport.
-Iraq has to land, play and depart from games in US soil in 24 hours.
-International supporters having a hard time coming to support their team, making some games still being empty. For the World Cup.

48 teams for first time. Kinda cool to see Cape Verde, Curaçau and Uzebekistan in the tourney. They really shouldn't be playing the World Cup, though.

It is a bit funny that after Russia hosted the games, then Qatar, it is the US who has least "freedom" optics, but hey, it is 2026, we are all living in a dystopian reality.

As of now, Mexico and South Africa are playing, to begin the show.

Are you excited for it? Because it is being held in the US, are some of you more interested in the games?

Let's get this **** going. VEM HEXA

Portugal has the midfield Vitinha, Joa Neves, and Bruno are as legit as they get and also have a horse in Nuno Mendez in the LB spot. CR7 still scoring at age 40 lol and the Elite bench too but im still iffy they always underwhelm in the WC

France on paper is the most stacked ive seen since Brazil 2002 they're A+ players everywhere but they'd have to make it to the final for a unprecedented 3 straight times

Spain is overrated in my opinion and rely too much on a 18 year old Lamine as much as an alien as he is but thst could bring just hating I hate him being a Madrid fan lol

My dark horse team is Norway they cruised through the qualifiers and have the viking Haaland and Odegaard whose quality

You can never count out Brazil or Argentina the defending champs

My love team is Mexico since thats my roots but we aren't doing much id love a quarterfinal appearance