FIFA WORLD CUP 2026

[Armour of God]

The FIFA world cup.
It's the biggest sporting event in the world for the biggest sport in the world.
Football aka soccer

It starts on the 11th of June and finishes on the 19th of July.
There are some differences this world cup.
One is that it's hosted in 3 countries, USA, Canada and Mexico.
Another change is that it's gone from 32 teams to 48 teams. So there are more teams, more groups, more matches and an extra knock-out round of 32. So a team needs to survive 8 matches to win the tournament now.

Who will win. Well, as always, the past winners are the favourites. Spain, France, Argentina, England and Germany. Surprisingly, Italy failed to qualify for the third straight world cup.

A dark horse to win it is the country where both my parents are from, Portugal. They have always relied on Cristiano Ronaldo, the greatest player of all time in my opinion, and have been successful in the last 10 years winning the Euro cup in 16 and the Nations league in 19 and 25.
This time around they have a really good team as well, with top quality players in all positions. My hopes are with them as always.

As for my home country, Australia, they will do well just to make it into the knock-out rounds. Their team is not very good and are in America's group.

What are your thoughts on the tournament?
Who do you think will win it and why?

 

[Rita]

I would like to see England win so that we don’t keep living off the adoration from 1966 !!! lol
They have played better in the last few tournaments, and with Italy not playing this time round, who knows.

 

[Armour of God]

I would like to see England win so that we don’t keep living off the adoration from 1966 !!! lol
They have played better in the last few tournaments, and with Italy not playing this time round, who knows.

England is always a chance. They always look good on paper but seem to screw up somehow. The game is not played on paper its played on grass.
England invented the game but 1966 is the only time they ever won it. Maybe this could be the year for England.
Hope is all that anyone can have at this point.

 

[Rita]

England is always a chance. They always look good on paper but seem to screw up somehow. The game is not played on paper its played on grass.
England invented the game but 1966 is the only time they ever won it. Maybe this could be the year for England.
Hope is all that anyone can have at this point.

They always seem to be hit or miss - no continuity, but they tended to come through in the end in most of the games last time. It’s absolutely nerve racking being an England fan watching the important games. We always have hope, but we are all kind of use to a whole lot of disappointment too.
France we’re pretty good last time round.

 

[markalan]

 

[Armour of God]

View attachment 85459

Look closely at that flag...
It's a Kiwi flag...
That kangaroo is a fraud...

 

[markalan]

Look closely at that flag...
It's a Kiwi flag...
That kangaroo is a fraud...

not a fraud ... a hybrid

 

[Armour of God]

not a fraud ... a hybrid

Na the roo is a fraud.
That's a New Zealand flag.

 

[Armour of God]

not a fraud ... a hybrid

That kangaroo is a traitor
Holding the Kiwi flag

 

[markalan]

England have no chance ... they don't even know the name of the game let alone how to play it

 

[Armour of God]

England have no chance ... they don't even know the name of the game let alone how to play it

I still can't get over that kangaroo.
His unforgivable.
Did you notice the flag was wrong?

 

[Armour of God]

England have no chance ... they don't even know the name of the game let alone how to play it

@Rita

I agree. England are rubbish at all sports, especially soccer. They invented the game but can't even play it. They have no chance

 

[Rita]

@Rita

I agree. England are rubbish at all sports, especially soccer. They invented the game but can't even play it. They have no chance

Sorry I disagree with that statement. We have reached the last two semi finals in the World Cup. The lionesses have won the euros twice and the men’s team reached the final last time, lost to Spain.
To say we are rubbish at all sports is just ridiculous, and it’s ‘ Football ‘ not Soccer
Didnt We beat America at the Ryder cup !!
Did you know that we are the first country to win the cricket World Cup, football World Cup and Rugby World Cup . We won Wimbledon ………..

 

[Armour of God]

Sorry I disagree with that statement. We have reached the last two semi finals in the World Cup. The lionesses have won the euros twice and the men’s team reached the final last time, lost to Spain.
To say we are rubbish at all sports is just ridiculous, and it’s ‘ Football ‘ not Soccer
Didnt We beat America at the Ryder cup !!
Did you know that we are the first country to win the cricket World Cup, football World Cup and Rugby World Cup . We won Wimbledon ………..

Hahaha.
You took the bait.
Us Aussies love giving it to the poms.

 

[ProDeo]

I would like to see England win so that we don’t keep living off the adoration from 1966 !!! lol
They have played better in the last few tournaments, and with Italy not playing this time round, who knows.

The famous goal, was the ball in or out

 

[Armour of God]

The famous goal, was the ball in or out

Ha good question.
I've seen goals like that scored before. The ball hits the underside of the crossbar and creates heaps of spin causing the ball to bounce away from the goal.
In the end England won 4-2 anyway, they won the 66 world cup fair and square.

For me the most controversial world cup goal will always be Maradona's hand of god against Engalnd in 86. It would never have stood with today's VAR technology.

How about the USA?
Do they have any chance of winning this world cup at home?
Football isn't big in the states. Why not?
Who do you think will win it?

PS, I just noticed your Dutch.
The orange ones. Maybe the best football nation never to win a world cup. They were good in the 70s with Johan Cruyff, reached the final a few times but never won it. As a kid Van Basten was one of my favourite players and I loved the Dutch team of the 90s

 

[Wrangler]

How about the USA?
Do they have any chance of winning this world cup at home?
Football isn't big in the states. Why not?

There is a commercial in the States for beer at a bar showing Americans winning the world cup. When I saw it, I immediately inferred the Left would go wild, not wanting such an accomplishment to be on Trump's watch. That's how un-American they are.

Soccer isn't big in the US for the same reason hockey isn't. The scoring it too low. Americans like the rush like in basketball, every minute is a score. A 1-0 or 2-1 game is B-O-R-I-N-G for most so-called fans.

 

[Armour of God]

Soccer isn't big in the US for the same reason hockey isn't. The scoring it too low

I hear this reason all the time but baseball is low scoring and so is ice hockey and they're 2 of the big 4 sports in the states

 

[Rita]

Hahaha.
You took the bait.
Us Aussies love giving it to the poms.

lol, I did wonder - but thought I would add my comments anyway.
Lets see who gets knocked out first , Australia , USA , England , I suppose I had better add Scotland.

 

[Rita]

Ha good question.
I've seen goals like that scored before. The ball hits the underside of the crossbar and creates heaps of spin causing the ball to bounce away from the goal.
In the end England won 4-2 anyway, they won the 66 world cup fair and square.

For me the most controversial world cup goal will always be Maradona's hand of god against Engalnd in 86. It would never have stood with today's VAR technology.

How about the USA?
Do they have any chance of winning this world cup at home?
Football isn't big in the states. Why not?
Who do you think will win it?

PS, I just noticed your Dutch.
The orange ones. Maybe the best football nation never to win a world cup. They were good in the 70s with Johan Cruyff, reached the final a few times but never won it. As a kid Van Basten was one of my favourite players and I loved the Dutch team of the 90s

Did you have to mention Maradona - that was such a frustrating match to watch.
I was quite young in 66 and not really into football, but must admit the game was played much better back in the day. I remember Johan Cruyff.
Use to admire Pele