2026 FIFA World Cup Finals

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Famine

Famine

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Rule 12
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GTP_Famine
Another sportwashing World Cup is upon us, with the panem et circenses intended to distract from a host nation's issues for the Epsteinth time even as it tries to cheat by rescinding/refusing/reviewing visas for travelling players and staff from other nations. Sure worth making up a fake peace prize medal for that.

The first World Cup to be hosted by three nations - Canada, Mexico, and the USA - is also the first to feature 48 qualified teams, and therefore has 12 groups and an insane third-place ranking system to select eight more nations to qualify for the knockout stages. It'll get underway with host nation Mexico, playing South Africa in Mexico City, on June 11th, and end after 104 games in under three weeks on July 19th in New Jersey.

After 4,400sqkm Qatar broke Iceland's record by participating (as hosts) in the 2022 tournament to become the smallest nation by area to ever play in a World Cup, Qatar would have broken Iceland's record by qualifying for 2026 to become the smallest nation by area to ever qualify for a World Cup... if 4,000sqkm Cabo Verde hadn't done it a day earlier. Cabo Verde's record was then broken just over a month later when Curacao, at 444sqkm, came through CONCACAF qualifying. Curacao also takes Iceland's record for the smallest population country to ever qualify, with about half Iceland's population at 150k. These records are... likely to last a while.

Unsurprisingly, given that more than a fifth of the FIFA members qualified this time, 2026 also sees three of the five lowest ranked teams to ever qualify for a World Cup finals. Curacao is among them, at 82nd, but better-placed than Haiti (83rd, tied with South Africa in 2010) and the worst of the trio, 85th-placed New Zealand. The worst ever was North Korea in 2010 at 105th.

Jordan and Uzbekistan join Cabo Verde and Curacao as World Cup debutants, while the only previous world champion team to not qualify is Italy - which misses its third successive World Cup and, after being knocked out in the group stages in both 2014 and 2010, has now not played a knockout game at a World Cup finals since winning it in 2006. Italy is the only nation in the top 20 FIFA (men's) rankings aside from 20th place Denmark to fail to qualify. Only one of the countries that qualified for 2022's knockout stages - Poland - failed to qualify this time round.

Well... «sigh», let's get it underway, eh?


GROUP STAGE
Top two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage; best eight third-place teams also qualify.

GROUP A
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇲🇽 Mexico330060+69
2🇿🇦 South Africa311123-14
3🇰🇷 South Korea310223-13
4🇨🇿 Czechia301226-41

11/06/2026 1900 UTC: Mexico 2-0 South Africa (Match 1)
12/06/2026 0200 UTC: South Korea 2-1 Czechia (Match 2)
18/06/2026 1600 UTC: Czechia 1-1 South Africa (Match 25)
18/06/2026 2300 UTC: Mexico 1-0 South Korea (Match 28)
24/06/2026 2300 UTC: Czechia 0-3 Mexico (Match 53)
24/06/2026 2300 UTC: South Africa 1-0 South Korea (Match 54)

GROUP B
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇨🇭 Switzerland321073+47
2🇨🇦 Canada311183+54
3🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina311156-14
4🇶🇦 Qatar3111210-81

12/06/2026 1900 UTC: Canada 1-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina (Match 3)
13/06/2026 1900 UTC: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland (Match 8)
18/06/2026 1900 UTC: Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina (Match 26)
18/06/2026 2200 UTC: Canada 6-0 Qatar (Match 27)
24/06/2026 1900 UTC: Switzerland 2-1 Canada (Match 51)
24/06/2026 1900 UTC: Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar (Match 52)

GROUP C
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇧🇷 Brazil321071+67
2🇲🇦 Morocco321063+37
3🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland310214-33
4🇭🇹 Haiti300328-60

13/06/2026 2200 UTC: Brazil 1-1 Morocco (Match 7)
14/06/2026 0100 UTC: Haiti 0-1 Scotland (Match 5)
19/06/2026 2200 UTC: Scotland 0-1 Morocco (Match 30)
20/06/2026 0030 UTC: Brazil 3-0 Haiti (Match 29)
24/06/2026 2200 UTC: Scotland 0-3 Brazil (Match 49)
24/06/2026 2200 UTC: Morocco 4-2 Haiti (Match 50)

GROUP D
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇺🇸 United States320184+46
2🇦🇺 Australia31112204
3🇵🇾 Paraguay311124-24
4🇹🇷 Turkey310235-23

13/06/2026 0100 UTC: United States 4-1 Paraguay (Match 4)
14/06/2026 0400 UTC: Australia 2-0 Turkey (Match 6)
19/06/2026 1900 UTC: United States 2-0 Australia (Match 32)
20/06/2026 0300 UTC: Turkey 0-1 Paraguay (Match 31)
26/06/2026 0200 UTC: Turkey 3-2 United States (Match 59)
26/06/2026 0200 UTC: Paraguay 0-0 Australia (Match 60)

GROUP E
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇩🇪 Germany3201104+66
2🇨🇮 Cote d'Ivoire320142+26
3🇪🇨 Ecuador31112204
4🇨🇼 Curacao301219-81

14/06/2026 1700 UTC: Germany 7-1 Curacao (Match 10)
14/06/2026 2300 UTC: Cote d'Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador (Match 9)
20/06/2026 2000 UTC: Germany 2-1 Cote d'Ivoire (Match 33)
21/06/2026 0000 UTC: Ecuador 0-0 Curacao (Match 34)
25/06/2026 2000 UTC: Curacao 0-2 Cote d'Ivoire (Match 55)
25/06/2026 2000 UTC: Ecuador 2-1 Germany (Match 56)

GROUP F
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇳🇱 Netherlands3210104+67
2🇯🇵 Japan312073+45
3🇸🇪 Sweden31117704
4🇹🇳 Tunisia3003212-100

14/06/2026 2000 UTC: Netherlands 2-2 Japan (Match 11)
15/06/2026 0200 UTC: Sweden 5-1 Tunisia (Match 12)
20/06/2026 1700 UTC: Netherlands 5-1 Sweden (Match 35)
21/06/2026 0400 UTC: Tunisia 0-4 Japan (Match 36)
25/06/2026 2300 UTC: Japan 1-1 Sweden (Match 57)
25/06/2026 2300 UTC: Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands (Match 58)

GROUP G
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇧🇪 Belgium312062+45
2🇪🇬 Egypt312053+25
3🇮🇷 Iran30303303
4🇳🇿 New Zealand3012410-61

15/06/2026 1900 UTC: Belgium 1-1 Egypt (Match 16)
16/06/2026 0100 UTC: Iran 2-2 New Zealand (Match 15)
21/06/2026 1900 UTC: Belgium 0-0 Iran (Match 39)
22/06/2026 0100 UTC: New Zealand 1-3 Egypt (Match 40)
27/06/2026 0300 UTC: Egypt 1-1 Iran (Match 63)
27/06/2026 0300 UTC: New Zealand 1-5 Belgium (Match 64)

GROUP H
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇪🇸 Spain321050+57
2🇨🇻 Cabo Verde30302203
3🇺🇾 Uruguay302134-12
4🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia302115-42

15/06/2026 1600 UTC: Spain 0-0 Cabo Verde (Match 14)
15/06/2026 2200 UTC: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay (Match 13)
21/06/2026 1600 UTC: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia (Match 38)
21/06/2026 2200 UTC: Uruguay 2-2 Cabo Verde (Match 37)
27/06/2026 0000 UTC: Cabo Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia (Match 65)
27/06/2026 0000 UTC: Uruguay 0-1 Spain (Match 66)

GROUP I
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇫🇷 France3300102+89
2🇳🇴 Norway320187+16
3🇸🇳 Senegal310286+23
4🇮🇶 Iraq3003112-110

16/06/2026 1900 UTC: France 3-1 Senegal (Match 17)
16/06/2026 2200 UTC: Iraq 1-4 Norway (Match 18)
22/06/2026 2100 UTC: France 3-0 Iraq (Match 42)
23/06/2026 0000 UTC: Norway 3-2 Senegal (Match 41)
26/06/2026 1900 UTC: Norway 1-4 France (Match 61)
26/06/2026 1900 UTC: Senegal 5-0 Iraq (Match 62)

GROUP J
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇦🇷 Argentina330081+79
2🇦🇹 Austria31116604
3🇩🇿 Algeria311157-24
4🇯🇴 Jordan300338-50

17/06/2026 0100 UTC: Argentina 3-0 Algeria (Match 19)
17/06/2026 0400 UTC: Austria 3-1 Jordan (Match 20)
22/06/2026 1700 UTC: Argentina 2-0 Austria (Match 43)
23/06/2026 0300 UTC: Jordan 1-2 Algeria (Match 44)
28/06/2026 0200 UTC: Algeria 3-3 Austria (Match 69)
28/06/2026 0200 UTC: Jordan 1-3 Argentina (Match 70)

GROUP K
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🇨🇴 Colombia321041+37
2🇵🇹 Portugal312061+55
3🇨🇩 DR Congo311143+14
4🇺🇿 Uzbekistan3003211-90

17/06/2026 1700 UTC: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo (Match 23)
18/06/2026 0200 UTC: Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia (Match 24)
23/06/2026 1700 UTC: Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan (Match 47)
24/06/2026 0200 UTC: Colombia 1-0 DR Congo (Match 48)
27/06/2026 2330 UTC: Colombia 0-0 Portugal (Match 71)
27/06/2026 2330 UTC: DR Congo 3-1 Uzbekistan (Match 72)

GROUP L
PosCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England321042+27
2🇭🇷 Croatia32015506
3🇬🇭 Ghana31112204
4🇵🇦 Panama300304-40

17/06/2026 2000 UTC: England 4-2 Croatia (Match 22)
17/06/2026 2300 UTC: Ghana 1-0 Panama (Match 21)
23/06/2026 2000 UTC: England 0-0 Ghana (Match 45)
23/06/2026 2300 UTC: Panama 0-1 Croatia (Match 46)
27/06/2026 2100 UTC: Panama 0-2 England (Match 67)
27/06/2026 2100 UTC: Croatia 2-1 Ghana (Match 68)

THIRD-PLACE RANKING
Best eight teams qualify for Knockout Stage

PosGroupCountryPWDLG+G-GDPt
1K🇨🇩 DR Congo311143+14
2F🇸🇪 Sweden31117704
3L🇬🇭 Ghana31112204
4E🇪🇨 Ecuador31112204
5B🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina311156-14
6J🇩🇿 Algeria311157-24
7D🇵🇾 Paraguay311124-24
8I🇸🇳 Senegal310286+23
9G🇮🇷 Iran30303303
10A🇰🇷 South Korea310223-13
11C🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland310214-33
12H🇺🇾 Uruguay302134-12

KNOCKOUT STAGE
There are 495 possible combinations of third-place teams and their opponents. Nice and simple, FIFA. Nice and simple.

Second Round
R2 (Left)​
R3 (Left)​
R3 (Right)​
R2 (Right)​
🇩🇪 Germany
1₃​
⬐​
2​
Brazil 🇧🇷​
🇵🇾 Paraguay
1₄​
↦​
🇵🇾 Paraguay
Brazil 🇧🇷​
⤶​
1​
Japan 🇯🇵​
🇫🇷 France
3​
↦​
🇫🇷 France
Norway 🇳🇴​
↰​
1​
Cote d'Ivoire 🇨🇮​
🇸🇪 Sweden
0​
⬑​
2​
Norway 🇳🇴​
🇿🇦 South Africa
0​
⬐​
2​
Mexico 🇲🇽​
🇨🇦 Canada
1​
↦​
🇨🇦 Canada
Mexico 🇲🇽​
⤶​
0​
Ecuador 🇪🇨​
🇳🇱 Netherlands
1₂​
↱​
🇲🇦 Morocco
England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿​
↤​
2​
England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿​
🇲🇦 Morocco
1₃​
⤴​
1​
DR Congo 🇨🇩​
🇵🇹 Portugal
2​
⤵​
⬐​
3*​
Argentina 🇦🇷​
🇭🇷 Croatia
1​
↳​
🇵🇹 Portugal
Argentina 🇦🇷​
⤶​
2*​
Cabo Verde 🇨🇻​
🇪🇸 Spain
3​
↦​
🇪🇸 Spain
Egypt 🇪🇬​
↰​
1₂​
Australia 🇦🇺​
🇦🇹 Austria
0​
⬑​
1₄​
Egypt 🇪🇬​
🇺🇸 United States
2​
⤵​
⬐​
2​
Switzerland 🇨🇭​
🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina
0​
↳​
🇺🇸 United States
Switzerland 🇨🇭​
⤶​
0​
Algeria 🇩🇿​
🇧🇪 Belgium
3*​
↦​
🇧🇪 Belgium
Colombia 🇨🇴​
↤​
1​
Colombia 🇨🇴​
🇸🇳 Senegal
2*​
0​
Ghana 🇬🇭​

28/06/2026 1900UTC: 🇿🇦 South Africa 0-1 🇨🇦 Canada (Match 73)
29/06/2026 1700UTC: 🇧🇷 Brazil 2-1 🇯🇵 Japan (Match 76)
29/06/2026 2030UTC: 🇩🇪 Germany 1-1 🇵🇾 Paraguay - Paraguay win 4-3 on penalties after Extra Time (Match 74)
30/06/2026 0100UTC: 🇳🇱 Netherlands 1-1 🇲🇦 Morocco - Morocco win 3-2 on penalties after Extra Time (Match 75)
30/06/2026 1900UTC: 🇨🇮 Cote d'Ivoire 1-2 🇳🇴 Norway (Match 78)
30/06/2026 2100UTC: 🇫🇷 France 3-0 🇸🇪 Sweden (Match 77)
01/07/2026 0100UTC: 🇲🇽 Mexico 2-0 🇪🇨 Ecuador (Match 79)
01/07/2026 1600UTC: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England 2-1 🇨🇩 DR Congo (Match 80)
01/07/2026 2000UTC: 🇧🇪 Belgium 3-2 🇸🇳 Senegal - After Extra Time; 2-2 after 90 Minutes (Match 82)
02/07/2026 0000UTC: 🇺🇸 United States 2-0 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina (Match 81)
02/07/2026 1900UTC: 🇪🇸 Spain 3-0 🇦🇹 Austria (Match 84)
02/07/2026 2100UTC: 🇵🇹 Portugal 2-1 🇭🇷 Croatia (Match 83)
03/07/2026 0300UTC: 🇨🇭 Switzerland 2-0 🇩🇿 Algeria (Match 85)
03/07/2026 1800UTC: 🇦🇺 Australia 1-1 🇪🇬 Egypt - Egypt win 4-2 on penalties after Extra Time (Match 88)
03/07/2026 2000UTC: 🇦🇷 Argentina 3-2 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde - After Extra Time; 1-1 after 90 Minutes (Match 86)
04/07/2026 0130UTC: 🇨🇴 Colombia 1-0 🇬🇭 Ghana (Match 87)

Third Round

R3 (Left)​
QF (Left)​
QF (Right)​
R3 (Right)​
🇵🇾 Paraguay
0​
1​
Brazil 🇧🇷​
🇫🇷 France
1​
↦​
🇫🇷 France
Norway 🇳🇴​
↤​
2​
Norway 🇳🇴​
🇨🇦 Canada
0​
↱​
🇲🇦 Morocco
England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿​
↰​
2​
Mexico 🇲🇽​
🇲🇦 Morocco
3​
⤴​
⬑​
3​
England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿​
🇵🇹 Portugal
0​
⬐​
3​
Argentina 🇦🇷​
🇪🇸 Spain
1​
↦​
🇪🇸 Spain
Argentina 🇦🇷​
⤶​
2​
Egypt 🇪🇬​
🇺🇸 United States
1​
↱​
🇧🇪 Belgium
Switzerland 🇨🇭​
↤​
0₄​
Switzerland 🇨🇭​
🇧🇪 Belgium
4​
⤴​
0₃​
Colombia 🇨🇴​

04/07/2026 1700UTC: 🇨🇦 Canada 0-3 🇲🇦 Morocco (Match 90)
04/07/2026 2100UTC: 🇵🇾 Paraguay 0-1 🇫🇷 France (Match 89)
05/07/2026 2000UTC: 🇧🇷 Brazil 1-2 🇳🇴 Norway (Match 91)
06/07/2026 0000UTC: 🇲🇽 Mexico 2-3 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England (Match 92)
06/07/2026 1900UTC: 🇵🇹 Portugal 0-1 🇪🇸 Spain (Match 93)
07/07/2026 0000UTC: 🇺🇸 United States 1-4 🇧🇪 Belgium (Match 94)
07/07/2026 1600UTC: 🇦🇷 Argentina 3-2 🇪🇬 Egypt (Match 95)
07/07/2026 2000UTC: 🇨🇭 Switzerland 0-0 🇨🇴 Colombia - Switzerland win 4-3 on penalties after Extra Time(Match 96)

Quarter Finals
09/07/2026 2000 UTC: 🇫🇷 France 2-0 🇲🇦 Morocco (Match 97)
10/07/2026 1900 UTC: 🇪🇸 Spain 2-1 🇧🇪 Belgium (Match 98)
11/07/2026 2100 UTC: 🇳🇴 Norway 1-2 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England (Match 99)
12/07/2026 0100 UTC: 🇦🇷 Argentina 3-1 🇨🇭 Switzerland - After Extra Time; 1-1 after 90 minutes (Match 100)

Semi Finals
14/07/2026 1900 UTC: 🇫🇷 France 0-2 🇪🇸 Spain (Match 101)
15/07/2026 1900 UTC: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England 1-2 🇦🇷 Argentina (Match 102)

Third-Place Play-Off
18/07/2026 2100 UTC: 🇫🇷 France 4-6 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England

World Cup Final
🇪🇸 Spain 1-0 Argentina 🇦🇷
(After Extra Time; 0-0 at 90')
19/07/2026 1900 UTC​


TOP SCORERS
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Kylian Mbappe (🇫🇷)
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Lionel Messi (🇦🇷)
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Erling Haaland (🇳🇴)
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Jude Bellingham (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Harry Kane (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Ousmane Dembele (🇫🇷)
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Mikel Oyarzabal (🇪🇸)
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Vinicius Junior (🇧🇷)
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Ismaila Sarr (🇸🇳)
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Julian Quinones (🇲🇽)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Jonathan David (🇨🇦)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Deniz Undav (🇩🇪)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Johan Manzambi (🇨🇭)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Ismael Saibari (🇲🇦)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Matheus Cunha (🇧🇷)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Brian Brobbey (🇳🇱)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Elijah Just (🇳🇿)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Yoane Wissa (🇨🇩)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Kai Havertz (🇩🇪)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Cody Gakpo (🇳🇱)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Folarin Balogun (🇺🇸)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Cristiano Ronaldo (🇵🇹)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Raul Jiminez (🇲🇽)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Romelu Lukaku (🇧🇪)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Charles De Ketelaere (🇧🇪)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Lautaro Martinez (🇦🇷)
⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Bukayo Saka (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
⚽️⚽️ - Yasin Ayari (🇸🇪)
⚽️⚽️ - Cyle Larin (🇨🇦)
⚽️⚽️ - Crysencio Summerville (🇳🇱)
⚽️⚽️ - Daichi Kamada (🇯🇵)
⚽️⚽️ - Ayase Ueda (🇯🇵)
⚽️⚽️ - Maxi Araujo (🇺🇾)
⚽️⚽️ - Daniel Munoz (🇨🇴)
⚽️⚽️ - Ruben Vargas (🇨🇭)
⚽️⚽️ - Ermin Mahmic (🇧🇦)
⚽️⚽️ - Nicolas Pepe (🇨🇮)
⚽️⚽️ - Anthony Elanga (🇸🇪)
⚽️⚽️ - Papa Gueye (🇸🇳)
⚽️⚽️ - Leandro Trossard (🇧🇪)
⚽️⚽️ - Ramin Rezaeian (🇮🇷)
⚽️⚽️ - Marko Arnautovic (🇦🇹)
⚽️⚽️ - Riyad Mahrez (🇩🇿)
⚽️⚽️ - Amad Diallo (🇨🇮)
⚽️⚽️ - Bradley Barcola (🇫🇷)
⚽️⚽️ - Habib Diarra (🇸🇳)
⚽️⚽️ - Youri Tielemans (🇧🇪)
⚽️⚽️ - Breel Embolo (🇨🇭)
⚽️⚽️ - Emam Ashour (🇪🇬)
⚽️⚽️ - Azzedine Ounahi (🇲🇦)
⚽️⚽️ - Soufiane Rahimi (🇲🇦)
⚽️⚽️ - Malik Tillmann (🇺🇸)
⚽️⚽️ - Mostafa Zico (🇪🇬)
⚽️⚽️ - Mikkel Merino (🇪🇸)
⚽️⚽️ - Dan Ndoye (🇨🇭)
⚽️⚽️ - Pedro Porro (🇪🇸)
⚽️⚽️ - Enzo Fernandez (🇦🇷)
⚽️ - Ladislav Krejci (🇨🇿)
⚽️ - Hwang In-Beom (🇰🇷)
⚽️ - Oh Hyeon-Gyu (🇰🇷)
⚽️ - Jovo Lukic (🇧🇦)
⚽️ - Mauricio (🇵🇾)
⚽️ - Giovanni Reyna (🇺🇸)
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⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ - Own Goals (🇺🇸 🇶🇦 🇧🇪 🇳🇴 🇦🇹 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇧🇦 🇭🇹 🇳🇱 🇦🇺 🇦🇷)

NAUGHTIEST BOYS
🟥 - Yaya Sithole (🇿🇦)
🟥 - Themba Zwane (🇿🇦)
🟥 - Cesar Montes (🇲🇽)
🟥 - Tarik Muharemovic (🇧🇦)
🟥 - Homam El Amin (🇶🇦)
🟥 - Assim Omer Madibo (🇶🇦)
🟥 - Miguel Almiron (🇵🇾)
🟥 - Nathan Ngoy (🇧🇪)
🟨🟨 - Teboho Mokoena (🇿🇦)
🟨🟨 - Sidny Lopes Cabral (🇨🇻)
🟨🟨 - Diego Gomez (🇵🇾)
🟥 - Rebin Sulaka (🇮🇶)
🟥 - Agustin Canobbio (🇺🇾)
🟨🟨 - Mohanad Lasheen (🇪🇬)
🟥 - Piero Hincapie (🇪🇨)
☎️ - Folarin Balogun (🇺🇸)
🟥 - Jarell Quansah (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
🟨🟥 - Breel Embolo (🇨🇭)
🟨🟥 - Enzo Martinez (🇦🇷)
🟥 - Leandro Paredes (🇦🇷)
 
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I got France winning it, I think Spain also has a chance with an outside possibility of Brazil. I have my doubts about the US squad doing anything remotely meaningful since they only look so-so. They're not bad, and I suspect they'll be 1st or 2nd in their group, but I don't see them going deep into the tournament.

I can also pretty much assure you that it's not coming home, and England will disappoint fans everywhere because, of course, they will.
 
I'm hoping Spain will win it. I also hope that the extreme temperatures, severe thunderstorms popping up, and the bad quality of some of these pitches here in the US won't be a determining factor but I'm afraid it will.
 
Germany and ABE for me, just like all World Cups that Wales don't qualify for.

That said, after back-to-back Russia and Qatar WCs, I didn't think I'd hate one three times in a row. No offence to Canada and Mexico but the US deserves empty stadiums and constant booing.
 
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I thought Sweden qualifying for the world cup was a bad April fools joke, as they didn't win a single game in the qualifying tournament and finished last in group B.
 
I got all of this being a nightmare. I can't wait to see how logistics are ruined and cities (I'm looking at you New York) are turned into a gridlock hellscape.
 
I think Spain are clear and obvious favorites, but I also think that its hard to rule out the likes of France, England, Argentina or Portugal.

What about dark horses, I think Norway can go far and Turkey have some good young attacking players too.

I know there is a lot of controversy about USA being the co-hosts but once the Football starts I think it will be fine, the Football will do the talking.
 
Scotland's opener against Haiti kicks off at 2am local time - a major disappointment after 28 YEARS of waiting since the last time Scotland qualified for a World Cup. It also happens to coincide with the Le Mans 24h, so I know where my priorities lie.

Scotland played Curacao in a friendly last week and won comfortably* (well, only after going 1-0 down and Curacao getting a player sent off...), and I don't think anyone is underestimating Haiti. Otherwise it's a very tough group with Brazil and Morocco, but with an extra qualifying spot up for the grabs in 8/12 groups, hopefully a decent win over Haiti will be enough to see Scotland progress to the KO stages for the first time - albeit an expanded KO stage.

-

My family and I will be supporting Scotland and England, and my best mate is Spanish, so I will be rooting for them too, just so that I have someone to support in the Final :P

And good luck @Jordan - whip some Argentine butt for us 😅
 
My prediction for the group winners:
Group A - Mexico ✅
Group B - Canada/Switzerland✅
Group C - Brazil✅
Group D - Turkey🚩
Group E - Germany✅
Group F - Japan🚩
Group G - Belgium✅
Group H - Spain✅
Group I - France✅
Group J - Argentina✅
Group K - Portugal🚩
Group L - England.✅

Countries eliminated after the group stage:
South-Africa🚩, Qatar✅, Haiti✅, Australia🚩, Curaçoa✅, Sweden🚩, New Zealand✅, Saudi Arabia✅, Iraq✅, Jordan✅, Uzbekistan✅, Panama✅, DR Congo🚩, Tunisia✅, Algeria🚩 & Czech Republic.✅

Predictions further are near impossible with 495 (!) possible combinations in the round of 32 depending on which numbers 3 advance...
However for now I will say I think Spain, France maybe Germany have the best odds. England is in a weird state, don't see Portugal, Belgium, Croatia advancing to the semi's. Argentina edit1 & Brazil end edit 1 also not sure how to rank them. Quarter/semi finals?

I'll adjust this post for:

Round of 32: Germany🚩, France✅, Canada✅, Morocco✅, Portugal ✅ , Austria🚩, USA✅, Belgium✅, Brazil✅, Norway✅, Mexico✅, England ✅ , Argentina✅, Egypt✅, Switzerland✅ & Ghana🚩

Round of 16: France✅, Morocco✅, Spain (after penalties)✅🚩, Belgium✅, Norway✅, England✅, Argentina ✅ & Switzerland✅

Quarter finals: France ✅ , Belgium (after penalties)🚩🥹, England✅, Argentina✅

Semi finals: I'm hoping Spain but guessing France🚩, England (Argentina has been lucky for 3 knock-out matches in a row..)🚩

Third place match: France

Final: Spain

edit2 -> prediction round of 32 + groupwinners right/wrong + eliminated countries right/wrong
edit3 -> Round of 32 right/wrong + prediction round of 16
edit4 -> Round of 16 right/wrong + prediction quarter finals
edit5 -> Quarter finals right/wrong + prediction semi-final
edit6 -> semi final right/wrong + prediction third place + final
 
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The 2026 Finals have been hit with the first cheating scandal already...

IMG_6952.webp
 
Famine
Famine
rescinding/refusing/reviewing visas for travelling players and staff from other nations
Click to expand...

And referees:

www.bbc.co.uk

World Cup 2026: Somali referee Omar Artan to miss tournament after being barred from entering US

Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, is dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the United States.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
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And, as @DDK-Racing says above, fans:

www.bbc.com

World Cup 2026: Fifa working to resolve revoked Iran tickets

Fifa has said it is working to "maximise opportunities for Iranian supporters to attend matches" after the country's World Cup group-stage ticket allocation was revoked just days before the tournament.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
I mean, it's not just an American thing. The Canadians also barred Iranians entry:

I kind of get it, though. The IRGC is classified as a terrorist organization, and countries only allow friendly terrorists to cross their borders, not unfriendly ones (and I'm being completely serious too).

FIFA should probably quit awarding the World Cup to countries with known political, humanitarian, and ethical controversies.
 
Joey D
I mean, it's not just an American thing. The Canadians also barred Iranians entry:

I kind of get it, though. The IRGC is classified as a terrorist organization, and countries only allow friendly terrorists to cross their borders, not unfriendly ones (and I'm being completely serious too).

FIFA should probably quit awarding the World Cup to countries with known political, humanitarian, and ethical controversies.
Click to expand...
Didn't help that since the selection, US boarded the crazy train. FIFA won't ever select the "good" countries for the event because there is no money coming from them.
 
Blitz24
Didn't help that since the selection, US boarded the crazy train. FIFA won't ever select the "good" countries for the event because there is no money coming from them.
Click to expand...
I don't know about that. FIFA voted for the US in 2018, and we were already aboard the crazy train. But it wasn't like the other option of Morocco was any better and would've been just as bad, if not worse, now.
 
Joey D
I don't know about that. FIFA voted for the US in 2018, and we were already aboard the crazy train. But it wasn't like the other option of Morocco was any better and would've been just as bad, if not worse, now.
Click to expand...
Morocco are joint hosts for 2030 with Spain and Portugal and then 2034 is Saudi.
 
MagpieRacer
Morocco are joint hosts for 2030 with Spain and Portugal and then 2034 is Saudi.
Click to expand...
Don't forget Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will host a few matches in 2030 to help make Africa, Europe, North America and South America all be ineligible for hosting 2034 so the choice was New Zealand or highest bidder in the Middle East.

That said, from a Sporting and Infrastructure point of view, Saudi was definitely higher on the list of "hasn't hosted a World Cup but would be worthy of it". For every other reason though it's definitely a dodgy choice.


Still, it's amazing how America is doing everything it can to make this the most unsportswashed event of the 21st century by basically making every decision to undermine the integrity (I know odd word to use about FIFA, but go with it) of the competition, the experience for fans and the lack of welcome for all visitors and their respective cultures.

Even Putin knows how to hide all of this mess for big events. His Olympics and World Cups were genuine triumphs and he at least waited a few months before going back to his normal.

The Brazilians fans drowned out the US national anthem with anti-Trump chanting during the latest friendly. How much further will that happen at this overpriced tournament?
 
World Cup starts today with Mexico v South Africa at the Azteca.

I've been thinking of posting the match schedule for the first round of group games but without the kick-off times on them as we know the times will be different everywhere.
 
MUSC4EVER
World Cup starts today with Mexico v South Africa at the Azteca.

I've been thinking of posting the match schedule for the first round of group games but without the kick-off times on them as we know the times will be different everywhere.
Click to expand...
If we could tag it to the first post it would be worth it. That way I can try to count 4 hours back for the matches in NJ.
 
Blitz24
If we could tag it to the first post it would be worth it. That way I can try to count 4 hours back for the matches in NJ.
Click to expand...
Will the spoilered Matches blob I've just put in (for Group A only so far) suffice?
 
Famine
Will the spoilered Matches blob I've just put in (for Group A only so far) suffice?
Click to expand...
Doesn't list venue (although I believe none of group A is in East Rutherford).
 
Blitz24
Doesn't list venue (although I believe none of group A is in East Rutherford).
Click to expand...
Yeaaaaaah, but I don't really care about that, and it doesn't really affect how/where/when to watch/listen to the games.

Honestly it's a struggle to care about this World Cup at all, and already was before Infantino continued his deep-premolaring of the Ku Klux Tan.
 
All of Group A's games are either taking place in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara or Atlanta.
 

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