The World Cup 2026 Thread

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

The World Cup starts this coming Thursday 11th June.

48 Teams are taking part with the event being held by co-hosts the USA, Canada and Mexico.

[Charger]

Indeed.

But sadly due to the time difference I can't really watch any games...

Part from the first one of the day as it starts at 11pm here...and I gotta go to work at 12:30...

All footsy related games should ALWAYS be played in Europe goddamnit!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

It is very inconsiderate... we invented the game for crying out loud !!!

Kick offs seem a little random being anywhere from 5pm through to 5am, I may give the overnight time slots a miss but England has earlier time slots.

[Zzzptm]

Locally, it's 11am to 11pm start times, with the latest ones being Pacific Coast timezone games, I'm guessing for the APAC folks out there.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on Group B, the Group of Death, with deadly opponents Canada, Bosnia, Qatar, and Switzerland facing off in a do-or-die contest that's winner-take-all with wait hang on that's not a very competitive bracket...

Honestly, the bracket rounds look like warm-up games for most teams I expect to go into elimination rounds.

[Charger]

Well finally managed to watch two matched yesterday as the kick offs were on time...

Germany took an expected easy win from Curacao...

and Holland and Japan gave quite the thriller. (my bet for this one was 1-1)

Two matches again today that I can watch...

Spain vs Kap Verde

&

Belgium vs Egypt


Spain should just roll over Kap Verde but Belgium isn't half the team it was 10 years ago so who knows....Egypt might prove a tough opponent for them.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I've not actually seen a whole match yet! Probably saw about 20 mins of the Germany game and didn't see ANY of the goals!!

The enthusiasm for this tournament hasn't quite kicked in yet, maybe when the matches become more crucial for qualifying!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I suppose that's the first shock of the tournament... Spain 0-0 Cape Verde from what I saw (again not much) it was Spain trying to score thru a brick wall / parked bus!!

[Charger]

Spain still doesn't know how to deal with a bus defence! It is odd...they've fallen victim to it time and time again...one would imagine they'd try something different by now...instead it's just pass here pass there and move nowhere.

Gotta say though Cap Verde sure scouted them well.

[Vyn]

Kansas City was selected to host some games for this year's World Cup. It's...interesting how people here seem to be responding. On the one hand, you have the folks who understand what the World Cup is, and are excited about it due to knowledge and insight. Then there is a much larger group of people who picture the World Cup as a second-tier soccer championship since the local KC team has never been in it. Then an even larger group of people who don't care, they just see another excuse to get drunk.

Then, there is a small group of people who are protesting the World Cup and the fact that KC is hosting some games. They think it is all designed to bring loose European values to the USA so the Muslims can immigrate and take over.

Seriously.

The lead up saw the city of Kansas City, MO, push efforts to "clean up" and so forth. Through all of the interviews and news accounts, over the past two years, not one person ever asked the mayor or any council members, or just posed the question to the internet, why the city can't be in a clean, maintained state all the time? Clearly there is money to do it...

[Zzzptm]

The Dallas World Cup games will be in Arlington. No impact on traffic for me, since I live in Dallas.

Will I watch the matches? Likely not. The group matches aren't offering any inspiring matchups and the elimination rounds require a payment. From the FIFA website:

"However, for full tournament coverage, a paid TV or streaming subscription will be required."

[Charger]

From the FIFA website:

"However, for full tournament coverage, a paid TV or streaming subscription will be required."

Well that absolutely blows!

All games are free to watch here!


And as I expected Egypt did bring the hurt down to Belgium. 1-1 is a huge win for them and something of a loss to Belgium I am sure.

Entertaining second half though!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

That was a pretty good show from England beating Croatia 4-2. It makes a change, we usually have a cagey first game probably ending 0-0, particularly against a decent side like Croatia. I think conceding 2 might irritate some, but as far as I'm concerned the result is more important.

I think both Croatia and Portugal (who drew 1-1 against DR Congo earlier) are in a rebuilding phase with their past heroes a little long in the tooth now.

[Charger]

I think England played one of their best matches in a looooong time last night!