2026 World Cup Thread

Silver lining (maybe)

Since the group stage matches are now going to be...ummm....shall we say "less interesting", perhaps tickets on the secondary market will be affordable.....maybe.
 
A boomer just gave himself a participation trophy. See, they can change...oof.

f2k63059xf5g1.jpeg
 
Moog said:
Now that the draw is over (sure there are playoffs still) .....my first thoughts are:
Wow! The groups are so diluted, and very top heavy.

Group J with Argentina is comical....what a clown show!
Group D USA.....well if the USA can't easily get out of that group, then I dunno.

Group I is the most interesting to me: Haaland vs. Mbappe

I don't see a group of death.

FIFA needs to fix this for the next World Cup Draw.
Too many teams, and the host countries getting the first three groups automatically with top seeds is just @ss!


Group stage at best is a few interesting matches to watch.
Feels like a money grab.


The whole draw felt forced and amateur hour.
Dumbed down for the stupid. Embarrassing.


Anyway....onward to the matches!
Click to expand...
50 Cent No GIF by DAZN North America


Top heavy, sure, but...it could get weird, then fun. =) Hoping for the best.
 
That was the strangest show ever and showcased about 15 reasons why the world may hate the US.

I don't really see a group of death either. Seems with 48 teams the groups are diluted.

No excuse for the US not to get out of the group. But still is the US.
 
Kevin Hart getting panned as host of World Cup draw: ‘Cringe’
By Christian Arnold
Published Dec. 5, 2025, 12:57 p.m. ET

98
The whole world is watching — and it just feels awkward.

Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum are hosting the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday, with viewers in just about every country around the world tuning in, and the reviews quickly came flooding in on social media with soccer fans wondering what Hart was doing there.

The comedian and actor tried to play up his soccer chops during his monologue.


“I am proud to be here as a soccer fan,” Hart said. “Wait, correction. I should not say soccer. The rest of the world calls it football. I do know my Messi from my Michael Jordan, I know my Cristiano from my Stephen Curry, I know my Bellingham from my Tom Brady.”



That’s Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and England’s Jude Bellingham for the uninitiated.

But some soccer fans weren’t buying it, and cringed at who was picked to represent the event being held at the Kennedy Center in
Washington D.C.

I just don't get where is Landon Donovan
Or Klinsmann to represent USA
Or at least some former players who played in EPL or Germany
 
So now there's one more knockout round, correct, since 32 teams advance? We have a round of 32 instead of round of 16.

P.S. I hear that now anyone attending gets a FIFA Peace Prize. Is that true?
 
www.beinsports.com

Egypt protests Pride plans for World Cup game

Egypt’s Football Association said it has sent a letter to FIFA urging the governing body to prevent any LGBTQ+ Pride-related activities during the national team’s World Cup match against Iran in Seattle next June.
www.beinsports.com www.beinsports.com

Remember the last world cup in Qatar when FIFA stated that beer must be sold.
Qatar "agreed".....but then later as World Cup began, banned beer sales citing "respect for host nation's culture"? ....and FIFA could do nothing about it.

Well welcome to the US&A.......You upset that US&A fans don't hate gays like you do?
Oh well....anyway..... US&A would like you to "respect the host nation's culture".

You go Seattle! Land of the Free!

...oh and (clutch your pearls) all those people sporting rainbow gear in the stands will be drinking.........beer!
 
Games at Sofi stadium
Opening
USA-Paraguy

New Zealand -Iran

Belgium -Iran

Switzerland vs. TBD (Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia-Herzegovina) - Thursday, June 18 at 12 p.m.

U.S.A. vs TBD (Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo) - Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
LoL good luck to sell those tickets even for half prices

Playoffs could be completely different story
Spain, Argentina or Mexico might play at Sofi stadium
USA -Argentina I can only imagine what potentially price is going to be
 
ucsdguy1 said:
I saw this too. I'm getting closer to just wanting to boycott the whole thing
Click to expand...
Not sure what you mean by boycott the whole thing.

I for one am going to watch for the love of the beautiful game.
I can't help it, but FIFA can get f*cked!

I'm done with FIFA's ticket lotteries, and mad machinations for tickets.
I "may" look to purchase on the secondary market if the prices are right (for me).

Otherwise I will be watching matches on TV.
 
dneprovec said:
Games at Sofi stadium
Opening
USA-Paraguy

New Zealand -Iran

Belgium -Iran

Switzerland vs. TBD (Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia-Herzegovina) - Thursday, June 18 at 12 p.m.

U.S.A. vs TBD (Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo) - Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
LoL good luck to sell those tickets even for half prices

Playoffs could be completely different story
Spain, Argentina or Mexico might play at Sofi stadium
USA -Argentina I can only imagine what potentially price is going to be
Click to expand...
Gee wiz!!! Why so many Iran matches in LA!??!?!?!? :sarcasm:



Of course Iran ended up in LA.
Why you ask? Because there is now way Iranian fans will be allowed into the US&A because you know all Muslims are evil and such. So the next best thing is to have Iran play in the US&A where there are the most Iranian peeps......hence LA. FIFA at least wants fans in the stadium for the matches.

Now for the rest of the matches, FIFA wants celebrities, influencers, tech bros, big money fans, etc.
FIFA clearly does not want the un-washed football fans in the stadiums.
 
Moog said:
Not sure what you mean by boycott the whole thing.

I for one am going to watch for the love of the beautiful game.
I can't help it, but FIFA can get f*cked!

I'm done with FIFA's ticket lotteries, and mad machinations for tickets.
I "may" look to purchase on the secondary market if the prices are right (for me).

Otherwise I will be watching matches on TV.
Click to expand...
Mostly that. I know it'll be too hard to not watch matches, but still
 
Moog, my guy, you're fired up. Good. I get it. Last week I met the IT guy out to fix my computer (i'm still remote-brag) and shared that John Oliver shows give me nightmares. Every. Single. One. We sat in silence for about two minutes.

If there is any comfort in this, some of my favorite day drinking memories are watching the World Cup at a bar/pub. Either with strangers or friends, it's a good vibe. So, they can't take that from us, right?

Oh dang, do I know why the caged bird sings? eff.
Broad City Adult Humor GIF
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Now Chirping

Share this page

Back
Top