OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread

[OldEngland]

The last four teams are France, Spain, England and Argentina. These are probably the four of the best and most consistent teams over the last decade.

Argentina have won their last 3 tournaments. They are the reigning world cup winners from 2022 They won the last 2 Copa Americas in 2021 and 2025, and were knocked out by France in the L16 of the 2018 WC.
France were the 2018 WC winners and 2022 finalists. They lost to Spain in the SF of the 2024 European Championships, and Switzerland in L16 of 2020.
Spain are the reigning European Champions from 2024 and lost in SFs in 2020 to win̈ners Italy . They were knocked out in the L16 of the 2022 and 2018 WCs on penalties by Morocco and Russia.
England reached the final of the 2020 and 2024 Euros, and SF of the 2018 WC. They lost to France in the QFs of 2022. Unlike the other 3 teams, they haven't won an international tournament in 60 years.

England vs Argentina is a really interesting game, as they rarely play each other. The last game was over 20 years ago They have met on the WC 3 times in the last 40 years, 1986 and 1998 were infamous for Maradona's hand of God and wonder goal, and for Beckham's red card. England won the last meeting in 2002.

France and Spain have played twice in the last two years. A Euro SF and Natiins Lesgue final, with Spain winning both. The 2025 one was 5-4.

Should be two great semi-finals. Any of those four teams could win it all.

 

[wynpalmer]

ARG won, but not without controversy and accusations of favoritism. SWS hung in there for 90 + and gave ARG all they could handle.

Did that SWS player deserve a red card? It appeared that some of the SWS players were going to go after the referee who made the call. 5 minutes after the SWS goal tying the game, SWS is suddenly down to 10 players and it seemed like all their momentum was gone.

The referee absolutely made the right call. There was no contact and the Swiss player threw himself to the ground then writhed in "pain", clearly trying to fool the ref.
This was an obvious case of simulation, something that the football authorities are trying to deal harshly with as it's a real plague on the game. The rule says that if a yellow is issued in this circumstance that it is a case of mistaken identity and should be transferred to the actual culprit- the simulator. Embolo brought this upon himself and deserved what he got. He already had one yellow so the outcome was not open to debate.
There should have been no controversy. The Swiss players would have been better directing their ire at Embolo.

 

[XLIX]

England* should not be in the final 4. That ball hit the wire as sure as God made green apples.

If they had even the slightest shred of integrity, they would forfeit their position.

 

[Triumph]

The referee absolutely made the right call. There was no contact and the Swiss player threw himself to the ground then writhed in "pain", clearly trying to fool the ref.
This was an obvious case of simulation, something that the football authorities are trying to deal harshly with as it's a real plague on the game. The rule says that if a yellow is issued in this circumstance that it is a case of mistaken identity and should be transferred to the actual culprit- the simulator. Embolo brought this upon himself and deserved what he got. He already had one yellow so the outcome was not open to debate.
There should have been no controversy. The Swiss players would have been better directing their ire at Embolo.

Thanks for the detailed and thorough explanation.

My soccer buddies are convinced that Messi and his team get all the breaks because the FIFA President wants Messi to win another WC.

 

[1960Pats]

The referee absolutely made the right call. There was no contact and the Swiss player threw himself to the ground then writhed in "pain", clearly trying to fool the ref.
This was an obvious case of simulation, something that the football authorities are trying to deal harshly with as it's a real plague on the game. The rule says that if a yellow is issued in this circumstance that it is a case of mistaken identity and should be transferred to the actual culprit- the simulator. Embolo brought this upon himself and deserved what he got. He already had one yellow so the outcome was not open to debate.
There should have been no controversy. The Swiss players would have been better directing their ire at Embolo.

I don't watch much soccer but I've been watching some of the WC. Flopping is one thing that turns me off. The first time I remember seeing a lot of flopping was the Philthadelphia Flyers in hockey. The NHL seems to have that under control now.

One good thing that I noticed over the years in my limited viewing is the level of ability of the players. They're all better now than in the past.

 

[Triumph]

The last four teams are France, Spain, England and Argentina. These are probably the four of the best and most consistent teams over the last decade.

Argentina have won their last 3 tournaments. They are the reigning world cup winners from 2022 They won the last 2 Copa Americas in 2021 and 2025, and were knocked out by France in the L16 of the 2018 WC.
France were the 2018 WC winners and 2022 finalists. They lost to Spain in the SF of the 2024 European Championships, and Switzerland in L16 of 2020.
Spain are the reigning European Champions from 2024 and lost in SFs in 2020 to win̈ners Italy . They were knocked out in the L16 of the 2022 and 2018 WCs on penalties by Morocco and Russia.
England reached the final of the 2020 and 2024 Euros, and SF of the 2018 WC. They lost to France in the QFs of 2022. Unlike the other 3 teams, they haven't won an international tournament in 60 years.

England vs Argentina is a really interesting game, as they rarely play each other. The last game was over 20 years ago They have met on the WC 3 times in the last 40 years, 1986 and 1998 were infamous for Maradona's hand of God and wonder goal, and for Beckham's red card. England won the last meeting in 2002.

France and Spain have played twice in the last two years. A Euro SF and Natiins Lesgue final, with Spain winning both. The 2025 one was 5-4.

Should be two great semi-finals. Any of those four teams could win it all.

It seems like Argentina is running on fumes and scaping by.

 

[Bill Lee]

The last four teams are France, Spain, England and Argentina. These are probably the four of the best and most consistent teams over the last decade.

Argentina have won their last 3 tournaments. They are the reigning world cup winners from 2022 They won the last 2 Copa Americas in 2021 and 2025, and were knocked out by France in the L16 of the 2018 WC.
France were the 2018 WC winners and 2022 finalists. They lost to Spain in the SF of the 2024 European Championships, and Switzerland in L16 of 2020.
Spain are the reigning European Champions from 2024 and lost in SFs in 2020 to win̈ners Italy . They were knocked out in the L16 of the 2022 and 2018 WCs on penalties by Morocco and Russia.
England reached the final of the 2020 and 2024 Euros, and SF of the 2018 WC. They lost to France in the QFs of 2022. Unlike the other 3 teams, they haven't won an international tournament in 60 years.

England vs Argentina is a really interesting game, as they rarely play each other. The last game was over 20 years ago They have met on the WC 3 times in the last 40 years, 1986 and 1998 were infamous for Maradona's hand of God and wonder goal, and for Beckham's red card. England won the last meeting in 2002.

France and Spain have played twice in the last two years. A Euro SF and Natiins Lesgue final, with Spain winning both. The 2025 one was 5-4.

• Should be two great semi-finals. Any of those four teams could win it all.

For the next round, a quick Google about betting odds suggest:

• Tue: France strongly favored over Spain
• Wed: England slightly favored over Argentina

Keep in mind this is just where the money is flowing, not what the experts think.