2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

That bright yellow Aussie kit is difficult to distinguish from the American one in this sunshine.

[Phantom255x]

LOL, 2nd game in a row where the US goes up 1-0 thanks to an own goal.

Both times though the U.S. deserved it, great pressure and the opponent didn't have much of a choice

[Who]

I am surprised how defensive Australia are when they are goal down. I wonder how long they will wait before they start trying to attack. I hope they don't wait until the last 15-20min to try and get an equalizer.

Edit: 2-0. Now Australia gotta attack.

[Phantom255x]

Australia tried to muck it up in the second half, but they didn't really generate many great chances, maybe just two in the second half. It is weird though, they fell behind 1-0 and still seemed passive and acting like it was still 0-0 or they were up 1-0. Almost like they were playing to go into halftime down 1-0 but then it became 2-0

[Phantom255x]

Am I crazy to think the USA have a real chance at making the quarterfinals, or even semifinals? Look at this potential path, assuming they finish first in the group which is very likely:



Maybe Uruguay is tough, but the rest of the bracket for the first few knockout games are not terrible at all. Also, these are the most likely R32 opponents, seems Bosnia, Qatar or Switzerland are the most likely ones. The first two would be ideal especially Qatar lol

[Who]

Am I crazy to think the USA have a real chance at making the quarterfinals, or even semifinals? Look at this potential path, assuming they finish first in the group which is very likely:



Maybe Uruguay is tough, but the rest of the bracket for the first few knockout games are not terrible at all. Also, these are the most likely R32 opponents, seems Bosnia, Qatar or Switzerland are the most likely ones. The first two would be ideal especially Qatar lol

I hear Uruguay are not that good. Well organized but can't score goals. Don't create much and no goal-scorers. That this is a weak Uruguay side. Austria might be more likely to come out of that bracket than Uruguay.

I think the USA would be favoured in each of those rounds. Last 32, last 16, last 8. Semi Finals looks likely.

[ozgod]

Am I crazy to think the USA have a real chance at making the quarterfinals, or even semifinals? Look at this potential path, assuming they finish first in the group which is very likely:



Maybe Uruguay is tough, but the rest of the bracket for the first few knockout games are not terrible at all. Also, these are the most likely R32 opponents, seems Bosnia, Qatar or Switzerland are the most likely ones. The first two would be ideal especially Qatar lol

I hear Uruguay are not that good. Well organized but can't score goals. Don't create much and no goal-scorers. That this is a weak Uruguay side. Austria might be more likely to come out of that bracket than Uruguay.

I think the USA would be favoured in each of those rounds. Last 32, last 16, last 8. Semi Finals looks likely.

One of the greatest things about tournaments like this is that it all comes down to who plays better on the day. Sometimes teams can put Cinderella runs together...think about Bulgaria in 1994 (though they had Stoichkov), South Korea in 2002 (though they probably got a friendly whistle) and Morocca last tournament. I think it's not beyond the realms of possibility if the bracket works out for them. They look much more composed defensively than they did last tournament, or indeed in the last few months, and they are much more dangerous up front. The issue is that the deeper into the tournament you go you come up with teams that have genuine gamebreakers like Messi or Vini, and they don't have just one of those they have multiples. But we'll see what happens 

[ozgod]

So after trying to cheat to get Tim Ream yellow carded last game, Paraguay striker Miguel Almiron is sent off with a straight red for covering his mouth during an altercation with a Turkiye player. Apparently you can't do that anymore because a lot of players (mainly Latin American) use it to make racial epithets. So he got sent off. Not a bad contribution for 2 games, yellow for cheating and a red for abuse 

Listen to the referee send him off, this is the angriest I've ever heard any referee in any sport when sending someone off 

AFTER REVIEW.
NUMBER 10. PARAGUAY.
COVER HIS MOUTH.
DECISION IS ... RED CARD

https://www.reddit.com/r/sports/s/I263xs1bVq

[ozgod]

Shame the Sweaties lost to Morocco...I was hoping for a win or a draw to keep the party going in Boston another night, but knowing them they will be partying anyway 

[Phantom255x]

Shame the Sweaties lost to Morocco...I was hoping for a win or a draw to keep the party going in Boston another night, but knowing them they will be partying anyway 

That referee for the game was horrific. It's like he wanted World War 3 to start right there on the field, he didn't call any fouls even if they were egregious tackles or pushes on a player. Like why have a ref if they aren't even gonna call that or control the game.

But the worst part, Scotland should have gotten a penalty kick and the ref just ignored it and said no. I'm surprised VAR didn't look at it or change it either, it looked obvious to me and most people thought the same.

[Moranis]

US wins group as Turkey becomes 2nd team eliminated.  Paraguay scored fastest goal of tourney so far at 1 minute 5 seconds, lost a guy in stoppage time, and yet hung on 1-0 playing the whole 2nd half down a man.  Paraguay vs. Australia becomes battle for 2nd. Should be a good one.

[Phantom255x]

US wins group as Turkey becomes 2nd team eliminated.  Paraguay scored fastest goal of tourney so far at 1 minute 5 seconds, lost a guy in stoppage time, and yet hung on 1-0 playing the whole 2nd half down a man.  Paraguay vs. Australia becomes battle for 2nd. Should be a good one.

Turkey took 62 shots and scored 0 goals in two games. They also had an insane convoy right before heading to the World Cup, all for it to fizzle in a week lol.

USA is in a great spot, not only can they rest guys and not have to worry next week vs. Turkey, but based on a lot of the permutations, it seems very likely the U.S. will play the winner of Qatar vs. Bosnia in the Round of 32 on July 1. That's very favorable for them regardless. Now if Qatar and Bosnia play to a draw, then it could get a little dicey since it could mean Ecuador, Senegal or even Netherlands (UGH). But if Bosnia beats Qatar which they should, that'll be the matchup.

The 3rd place setup and how matches are decided is confusing, but if anyone needs it this site LIVE updates the potential knockout stage matchups based on updates to the standings/tables and bracket after every game: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/world-cup/schedule#KnockoutStage

[ozgod]

Nederland hammering Sverige so far, 3-0 just after halftime

[Phantom255x]

That's gotta sting. You beat Tunisia 5-1 and feel good, only to lose the next match 5-1 lol