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FIFA World Cup 2026 - It's Called Football, Not Soccer!

T8SC

T8SC

Member
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Welcome to the Official NeoGAF FIFA World Cup 2026 OT

With the regular season over, it's now time to look forward to the FIFA World Cup. We already have a "Football OT" here for those who aren't aware, but I understand there will be a lot of people watching the World Cup who aren't regular football fans so, this is to separate the regular football talk (Summer transfers, next season etc) from the big event.

The tournament takes place from the 11th June to 19th July. It will be hosted by 16 cities across the United States, Canada & Mexico. This is the first tournament to include 48 teams, up from the previous 32.

Group stage: 11–27 June
Round of 32: 28 June–3 July
Round of 16: 4–7 July
Quarter-finals: 9–11 July
Semi-finals: 14–15 July
Third-place play-off: 18 July
World Cup Final: 19 July

World-Cup-Host-City-Venues-e1763591521271.jpg


The groups & teams within are below, along with the knockout progress towards the final.

groups-confirmed-for-2026-world-cup--besoccer.png


The top 5 teams which are the most likely to win the tournament are Spain, France, Brazil, England & Portugal, as observed by their current odds at the bookmakers.

Popular players at the tournament include:

Kylian Mbappe - France
Harry Kane - England
Lionel Messi - Argentina
Lamine Yamal - Spain
Erling Haaland - Norway
Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal
Vinicius Junior - Brazil
Luka Modrić - Croatia

Breakthrough talents to watch out for:

Nico Paz (21) - Argentina
Arda Guler (21) - Turkey
Lamine Yamal (18) - Spain
Nico O'Reilly (21) - England
Yan Diomande (19) - Ivory Coast
Désiré Doué (20) - France
Ibrahim Maza (20) - Algeria
Estêvão (18) - Brazil

Sources:

FIFA
BBC
Sky Sports
CBS Sports
TNT Sports
The Guardian
The Telegraph
Al Jazeera

ronaldo-siii-ronaldo-celebration.gif
​
 
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spons said:
Will be hilarious to see the Netherlands struggle their way through this.
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I'm hoping for another "Battle of Lusail". The Dutch always enter the tournament full of confidence, thinking they'd actually stand a chance. Once things go downhill, they play incredibly bitchy. It's similar to England, but the English don't play dirty. They just whine in disbelief because they realise they were just hyped up by their own media and fell for it again.
 
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If I recall, I made the last world cup thread. Keep up with this daily as when the games start, I want to see highlights of every match posted every day.

Hell of a UCL final and much deserved PSG 2 time European champions.

Now we get the main course. I watched some of the friendlies yesterday, especially the Ecuador v Saudi Arabi match. To my surprise, Ecuador won as I expected a better version of them but all the top talent is resting for the big tournament.

Can we all joke about how Neymar got called up and didn't deserve it only to be out probably until at least the Morocco game. That means all friendlies leading up to and including a group stage match.

Excited to see Erling Haaland in his first world cup.

Argentina's journey to repeat and truly send Messi off with a bang. Hopefully the team plays for him like they did last time because even a 38y old Messi is still unmatched in his pitch awareness and finesse.

The USNNT just to see if they can surprise us and get out of the group and maybe into the round of 16.

So many nations to name with key players who have been on the come up like Olise Doué and so many more.

Ronaldo hoping he doesn't trip over himself trying to do things he can't do anymore.

All the great commentary and reactions from the pundits especially El Chiringuito and tío Soria.

Lamine Yamal hopefully make a proper return in good health from that injury about a month ago.

The atmosphere of all those countries and energy representing their squads.

We're in for a hell of a next couple months of sports too. This, UFC 250, tennis, the WNBA. Oh and the NBA D league finals.
 
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KyoZz said:
PSG is not representative of France. In fact, true French people are ashamed of this team and its animals supporters. And I'll stop there before I get into politics, IYKYK.


But we have Eva Green

Eva Green Fashion GIF by James Bond 007
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PSG is a relatively new team in terms of tradition. That thing was born in the 90s for world football when they signed two of the main players of world champion São Paulo (Raí and Leonardo).

The problem is that they behaves as if they've been waiting in line to win something since 1910.
 
KyoZz said:
We (France) are about to win this thing

France Flag GIF by Nike Football
France Kiss GIF by FIFA
Happy France GIF by FIFA


And I can't wait for Zidane to become the new national team coach btw.
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Great up front. Probably the best attacking options for any team in the WC.

Bang average midfield and William Saliba aside, average defence.

Glass cannons.
 
IDKFA said:
Great up front. Probably the best attacking options for any team in the WC.

Bang average midfield and William Saliba aside, average defence.

Glass cannons.
Click to expand...
I am rooting for other nations more but it's hard to argue with an Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, Doue front line. You're right about their midfield and backline weakness.

Germany Finland friendly about to start and USA Senegal starts in an hour at 3:30EST AND Brasil Panama in 2 hours.
 
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LiquidMetal14 said:
I am rooting for other nations more but it's hard to argue with an Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, Doue front line.
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A team needs to be strong all round. With the midfield and defence lacking, I can't see France winning it.

I'm of course supporting my nation, England. Can't see us winning it personally with that squad selection, but I think we have a good shout to get to the semis.
 
Whoever wins, I just hope it's someone new, tired of the same teams wining over and over my entire life. I'm rooting for USA, Mexico, Japan. Japan is the most likely out of the 3, though. I'll be happy if any new team wins it.

Edit: Except for Spain, but they've always been one of the best teams (along with The Netherlands) to never win it until they did.
 
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Of what I would consider the "funnest" teams to watch, Spain would be right up there. It's basically Barča light. No RMA players either (laughing in Cristobal Soria fashion).

I still like Argentina and find France to be the perceived favorite but agree with those opinions that their mid field and back line are vulnerable.

I like Portugal too even if Ronaldo is a selfish player who trips over himself consistently. I'm just a fan of them without Ronaldo but with him, I find them less favorable. I have to give CR7 his die versus Neymar though. He has earned a place as at least a veteran bench player unlike Neymar walking around in the Brasil pregsme as if he's tbe godfather. It's just a shame these players don't have a veteran Ronaldo Nazario or Ronaldinho to look up to.
 
Come on TC, let's get some updates and links to box scores of even the friendlies happening from here on out.

USA 3 SENEGAL 2, no ones talking or am I the only fan of futbol here? That was against a solid and mostly A side for Senegal. That first half was the most impressive I've seen the team in a while and can't recall the last time that squad played together. I'm slightly more hopeful and not just Mercy rooting for them as what they've done in the build up to this world cup has been so lackluster. And they're ranked around 16 too ahead of other counties. Today's showing overall makes me question that less.
 
LiquidMetal14 said:
Come on TC, let's get some updates and links to box scores of even the friendlies happening from here on out.

USA 3 SENEGAL 2, no ones talking or am I the only fan of futbol here? That was against a solid and mostly A side for Senegal. That first half was the most impressive I've seen the team in a while and can't recall the last time that squad played together. I'm slightly more hopeful and not just Mercy rooting for them as what they've done in the build up to this world cup has been so lackluster. And they're ranked around 16 too ahead of other counties. Today's showing overall makes me question that less.
Click to expand...
Pretty good performance against the African Champs.
 
The Fartist said:
Whoever wins, I just hope it's someone new, tired of the same teams wining over and over my entire life. I'm rooting for USA, Mexico, Japan. Japan is the most likely out of the 3, though. I'll be happy if any new team wins it.

Edit: Except for Spain, but they've always been one of the best teams (along with The Netherlands) to never win it until they did.
Click to expand...

final Portugal vs Netherlands, neither have won it and its a battle of nuremberg rematch
 
Goalkeeper tactical timeouts to be banned at World Cup.

Players at the 2026 World Cup will be stopped from going to the technical area to talk to coaches when goalkeepers are injured, Fifa referees' chief Pierluigi Collina has revealed.

The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has also approved a request to change video assistant referee (VAR) protocol to allow reviews of attacking fouls that happen before the ball is in play.

The 'goalkeeper tactical timeout' has become a hot topic in recent years. It is used by a manager to get new instructions to his players, or to impact the momentum of the opposition.

Goalkeeper Timeouts

Good. Arsenal did this in the UCL final with Raya getting "cramp".
 
T8SC said:
Goalkeeper tactical timeouts to be banned at World Cup.

Players at the 2026 World Cup will be stopped from going to the technical area to talk to coaches when goalkeepers are injured, Fifa referees' chief Pierluigi Collina has revealed.

The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has also approved a request to change video assistant referee (VAR) protocol to allow reviews of attacking fouls that happen before the ball is in play.

The 'goalkeeper tactical timeout' has become a hot topic in recent years. It is used by a manager to get new instructions to his players, or to impact the momentum of the opposition.

Goalkeeper Timeouts

Good. Arsenal did this in the UCL final with Raya getting "cramp".
Click to expand...
You know what, yes I'm a fan of this and anything that makes the game a little less loaded with dumb stuff I'm all for. It's too bad that you couldn't penalize flopping a little bit more although I have to admit, it hasn't been as bad or at least it hasn't been as bad with the big name actors.

You almost have to admire players like even Haaland who took a foul against arsenal I believe from Gabriel and even the pundits were saying that if he stayed down it would have probably been a red card but he doesn't necessarily play like that. It's one of the reasons I respect him more on top of his off the field the charisma.

But they did mention this on some of the shows about tactical time wasting. I'm mostly with this rule as it discourages the waste and that's it be a rule now to not just tolerate potentially fake injuries. But you can still talk to your players throughout the match and get the message out about tactical changes without having to resort to such antics.

You know they're going to have hydration brakes and things like that so I would just say to take advantage of things like that a lot. You don't want to introduce dumb stuff like time outs as that's too much of a break in the action.
 
We'll see if most of the games will be played with empty seats. Donnie says it best

President Donald Trump was asked to respond to the price of the U.S. team's opening game against Paraguay on June 12, which comes to $1,000.

"I wouldn't pay it either, to be honest with you," he said.
Click to expand...
 
It will be too hot for England to keep playing well, and we will get knocked out at some point, and i've read and heard the price of the tickets is insane, where i am, there is no buzz for this World Cup at all.
 
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Big names who won't be at the World Cup

  • Luis Suarez (Not selected)
  • Xavi Simons (Injured)
  • Phil Foden (Not selected)
  • Cole Palmer (Not selected)
  • Hugo Ekitike (Injured)
  • Rodrygo (Injured)
  • Eder Militao (Injured)
  • Serge Gnabry (Injured)
  • Kaoru Mitoma (Injured)
  • Harry Maguire (Not selected)
  • Eduardo Camavinga (Not selected)
 
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World Cup warm-up matches:

30 May
Ecuador v Saudi Arabia | Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, USA
Mexico v Australia | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, USA
Scotland v Curaçao | Hampden Park | Glasgow, Scotland
Korea Republic v Trinidad and Tobago | BYU South Field | Provo, USA

31 May
Brazil v Panama | Maracana | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cabo Verde v Serbia | Estadio de Restelo | Lisbon, Portugal
Germany v Finland | MEWA Arena | Mainz, Germany
Japan v Iceland | Japan National Stadium | Tokyo, Japan
Switzerland v Jordan | AFG Arena | St. Gallen, Switzerland
USA v Senegal | Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, USA
Czechia v Kosovo | epet ARENA | Prague, Czechia

1 June
Austria v Tunisia | Ernst-Happel Stadion | Vienna, Austria
Canada v Uzbekistan | Commonwealth Stadium | Edmonton, Canada
Norway v Sweden | Ullevaal Stadion | Oslo, Norway
Türkiye v North Macedonia | Sukru Saracoglu Stadium | Istanbul, Türkiye
Colombia v Costa Rica | Estadio El Campin | Bogota, Colombia

2 June
Croatia v Belgium | Stadion Rujevica | Rijeka, Croatia
Wales v Ghana | Cardiff City Stadium | Cardiff, Wales
Haiti v New Zealand | Inter Miami CF Stadium | Fort Lauderdale, USA
Morocco v. Madagascar | Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium | Rabat, Morocco

3 June
Congo DR v Denmark | Stade Maurice Dufrasne | Liege, Belgium
Netherlands v Algeria | Stadion Feijenoord | Rotterdam, Netherlands
Panama v Dominican Republic | Estadio Rommel Fernandez | Panama City, Panama
Korea Republic v El Salvador | America First Field | Sandy, USA

4 June
France v Côte d'Ivoire | Stade de la Beaujoire | Nantes, France
Guatemala v Czechia | Sports Illustrated Stadium | Harrison, USA
Spain v Iraq | Estadio Riazor | A Coruna, Spain
Sweden v Greece | Strawberry Arena | Stockholm, Sweden
Mexico v Serbia | Estadio Nemesio Diez | Toluca, Mexico

5 June
Canada v Republic of Ireland | Saputo Stadium | Montreal, Canada
Haiti v Peru | Nu Stadium | Miami, USA
Paraguay v Nicaragua | Defensores del Chaco Stadium | Asuncion, Paraguay

6 June
Argentina v Honduras | Kyle Field | College Station, USA
Australia v Switzerland | Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego, USA
Belgium v Tunisia | King Baudouin Stadium | Brussels, Belgium
Brazil v Egypt | Huntington Bank Field | Cleveland, USA
Curaçao v Aruba | Ergilio Hato Stadium | Willemstad, Curaçao
El Salvador v Qatar | BMO Stadium | Los Angeles, USA
England v New Zealand | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, USA
Portugal v Chile | Estadio Nacional | Lisbon, Portugal
Scotland v Bolivia | Sports Illustrated Stadium | Harrison, USA
USA v Germany | Soldier Field | Chicago, USA
Venezuela v Türkiye | Inter Miami CF Stadium | Fort Lauderdale, USA
Panama v Bosnia and Herzegovina | Energizer Park | St. Louis, USA

7 June
Colombia v Jordan | Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego, USA
Croatia v Slovenia | Stadion Varteks | Varazdin, Croatia
Ecuador v Guatemala | ScottsMiracle-Gro Field | Columbus, USA
Morocco v Norway | Sports Illustrated Stadium | Harrison, USA

8 June
France v Northern Ireland | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | Lille, France
Peru v Spain | Estadio Cuauhtemoc | Puebla, Mexico
Netherlands v Uzbekistan | Icahn Stadium | New York City, USA

9 June
Argentina v Iceland | Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, USA
Saudi Arabia v Senegal | Toyota Field | San Antonio, USA
Congo DR v Chile | Estadio Municipal de La Linea de la Concepcion | Cadiz, Spain

10 June
England v Costa Rica | Inter&Co Stadium | Orlando, USA
Guatemala v Austria | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, USA
Portugal v Nigeria | Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa | Leiria, Portugal
 
T8SC said:
Big names who won't be at the World Cup

  • Luis Suarez (Not selected)
  • Xavi Simons (Injured)
  • Phil Foden (Not selected)
  • Cole Palmer (Not selected)
  • Hugo Ekitike (Injured)
  • Rodrygo (Injured)
  • Militao (Injured)
  • Gnabry (Injured)
  • Mitoma (Injured)
  • Maguire (Not selected)
  • Camavinga (Not selected)
Click to expand...
Damn, no Mitoma 😔
 
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