2026 FIFA World Cup megathread (1 Viewer)

[titusbramble]

Yep we're getting close to when we will know who's going to be in the obscenely large because money BIGGEST AND BEST WORLD CUP EVER, with 48 countries descending on the continental US to watch Brazil or Argentina win because Euros can't travel.

WHEN?

June 11th to July 19th next year.

WHERE?

USA mostly, with some games also being played in Canada and Mexico. The latter two countries are primarily so the co-hosts can play at home in the group stages, but will host the occasional last 32/16 knockout tie.

WHY?
Sports betting late in to the night Euro time is fun. As is consumption of massive amounts of alcohol.

WHO?

Qualifiers still going on as of the creation of this post, some confederations are more advanced than others, but in at this stage are:

Asia (8) - Australia (count in Asia because reasons), Iran, Japan, Jordan (DEBUT!), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan (DEBUT!)
Africa (9) - Algeria, Cape Verde (DEBUT!), Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco. Senegal, South Afrida, Tunisia
North America (3+3) - Canada, Mexico, USA (all as hosts), 3 TBD
South America (6) - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
Oceania (1) - New Zealand
Europe (16) - England, 15 TBD
Intercontinental Royal Rumble Dumpster Fire (2) - 2 TBD

SCHEDULE ME LIKE I'M A FIVE YEAR OLD

OK then. No kickoff times have yet been determined. Draw will take place on December 5th. If using Euro date format irritates you, sue me

11/6 - Mexico v A2 (Mexico City), A3 v A4 (Zapopan)
12/6 - Canada v B2 (Toronto), B3 v B4 (Santa Clara), USA v D2 (Inglewood)
13/6 - 2x Group C (Foxboro, East Rutherford), D3 v D4 (Vancouver)
14/6 - 2x Group E (Philadelphia, Houston), 2x Group F (Arlington, Guadalupe)
15/6 - 2x Group G (Inglewood, Seattle), 2x Group H (Miami, Atlanta)
16/6 - 2x Group I (East Rutherford, Foxboro), 2x Group J (Kansas City, Santa Clara)
17/6 - 2x Group K (Houston, Mexico City), 2x Group L (Toronto, Arlington)
18/6 - A2 v A4 (Atlanta), Mexico v A3 (Zapopan), B2 v B4 (Inglewood), Canada v B3 (Vancouver)
19/6 - 2x Group C (Philadelphia, Foxboro), USA v D3 (Seattle), D2 v D4 (Santa Clara)
20/6 - 2x Group E (Toronto, Kansas City), 2x Group F (Houston, Guadalupe)
21/6 - 2x Group G (Inglewood, Vancouver), 2x Group H (Miami, Atlanta)
22/6 - 2x Group I (East Rutherford, Philadelphia), 2x Group J (Arlington, Santa Clara)
23/6 - 2x Group K (Houston, Zapopan), 2x Group L (Toronto, Foxboro)
24/6 - Mexico v A4 (Mexico City), A2 v A3 (Guadalupe), Canada v B4 (Vancouver), B2 v B3 (Seattle), 2x Group C (Atlanta, Miami)
25/6 - USA v D4 (Inglewood), D2 v D3 (Santa Clara), 2x Group E (Philadelphia, East Rutherford), 2x Group F (Arlington, Kansas City)
26/6 - 2x Group G (Seattle, Vancouver), 2x Group H (Houston, Zapopan), 2x Group I (Foxboro, Toronto)
27/6 - 2x Group J (Arlington, Kansas City), 2x Group K (Miami, Atlanta), 2x Group L (East Rutherford, Philadelphia)
28/6 - 1x Last 32 (Inglewood)
29/6 - 3x Last 32 (Foxboro, Guadelupe, Houston)
30/6 - 3x Last 32 (East Rutherford, Arlington, Mexico City)
1/7 - 3x Last 32 (Seattle, Atlanta, Santa Clara)
2/7 - 3x Last 32 (Vancouver, Toronto, Inglewood)
3/7 - 3x Last 32 (Kansas City, Arlington, Miami)
4/7 - 2x Last 16 (Philadelphia, Houston)
5/7 - 2x Last 16 (East Rutherford, Mexico City)
6/7 - 2x Last 16 (Seattle, Arlington)
7/7 - 2x Last 16 (Atlanta, Vancouver)
8/7 - DESIGNATED LIVER REST DAY
9/7 - 1x QF (Foxboro)
10 / - 1x QF (Inglewood)
11/7 - 2x QF (Miami, Kansas City)
12/7 - DESIGNATED LIVER REST DAY
13/7 - DESIGNATED LIVER REST DAY
14/7 - 1x SF (Arlington)
15/7 - 1x SF (Atlanta)
16/7 - DESIGNATED LIVER REST DAY
17/7 - DESIGNATED LIVER REST DAY
18/7 - Second Best Loser Playoff (Miami)
19/7 - SOCCER BOWL XXIII (East Rutherford)

 

[titusbramble]

Current outstanding qualification status as of late October:

Asia - UAE and Iraq play off next month to get into the intercontinental rumble
Africa - Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon and DR Congo play off next month to get into the intercontinental rumble
North America - Suriname, Jamaica and Honduras currently in the quali spots with Panama, Curacao and Costa Rica being the two from three to get into a playoff for further playoffs. Only Bermuda in the group stages are officially done though
South America - Bolivia ended seventh and are in the intercontinental rumble
Oceania - New Caledonia are in the intercontinental rumble and much comedy will probably ensue
Europe - It is a huge mess with two games left to go everywhere but Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Austria, Norway and Croatia currently look the safest to advance

 

[titusbramble]

Also reserved for future use

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I got my round of 16 tickets for July 5th in NJ. Scar from kidney removal healing nicely.

 

[El Floppo]

I got my round of 16 tickets for July 5th in NJ. Scar from kidney removal healing nicely.

how YOU doin

 

[Moe.]

Where @Mjolnirs with his qualification spreadsheet?

 

[B Maverick]

The Poll is flawed. England won't win it. And where is the "FIFA Scripted Winner" option? After them granting Argentina the win last time, its obviously going to go to Portugal this time.


VIVA RONALDO

 

[NewlyRetired]

The Poll is flawed. England won't win it. And where is the "FIFA Scripted Winner" option? After them granting Argentina the win last time, its obviously going to go to Portugal this time.


VIVA RONALDO

Scooby had an interesting conspiracy theory that Trump is threatening move the WC from blue states to get Infantino to create some FIFA dark magic that sees the US progress further than it should.

 

[B Maverick]

The Poll is flawed. England won't win it. And where is the "FIFA Scripted Winner" option? After them granting Argentina the win last time, its obviously going to go to Portugal this time.


VIVA RONALDO

Scooby had an interesting conspiracy theory that Trump is threatening move the WC from blue states to get Infantino to create some FIFA dark magic that sees the US progress further than it should.

Sorry but he isn't deep enough for that, its all just for political points and posturing.... But anyway too much politics

 

[CletiusMaximus]

The Poll is flawed. England won't win it. And where is the "FIFA Scripted Winner" option? After them granting Argentina the win last time, its obviously going to go to Portugal this time.


VIVA RONALDO

Would be Martinez' biggest win since Wigan in the FA Cup.

 

[The Z Machine]

I got my round of 16 tickets for July 5th in NJ. Scar from kidney removal healing nicely.

You win the lottery or you pay VIP prices?

 

[Scoresman]

Rooting for my people, Spain and Belgium as usual. Spain seems more likely. I will once again be rooting against England until they drop that "Bring it home" nonsense.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I got my round of 16 tickets for July 5th in NJ. Scar from kidney removal healing nicely.

You win the lottery or you pay VIP prices?

I did the visa presale lottery, got a slot and bought mid tier tickets at vip prices which are probably going to be terrible. But I’m 53 and have never seen a live World Cup game so I’m making sure my boys get to see one while it’s easy, if expensive.

Now it’s fingers crossed on the matchup. At least it’s an elimination game.

 

[Sand]

Gonna try to get a game in Atlanta. Don't care who, just want to get some tickets for a game or two. Got shut out of the presale lottery.

Cheering for USA, Ecuador, and Cape Verde. Blue Sharks!

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Are tickets even on sale yet?

 

[El Floppo]

Are tickets even on sale yet?

They had a first round of tickets available to people who won a Visa lottery. Thats what Nick bought. The rest of us didnt win the lottery.
New lottery opens up on Monday.

 

[Mjolnirs]

WHO?
Africa (9) - Algeria, Cape Verde (DEBUT!), Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, South Afrida, Tunisia

You left out Morocco.

Where @Mjolnirs with his qualification spreadsheet?

Still here. No guarantee it is 100% correct.
Some numbers:
28 of 48 qualified.
209 countries began qualifying, with CONMEBOL starting the earliest on 9/7/2023, 123 countries have been eliminated. That leaves 58 still alive.

703 matches have been played, 183 draws.
2174 total goals scored.
(eta updated some formulas)

If there is a way to attach it, I will. But I don't think there is.
If you want to see it, send me a message and I can send it.

 

[Sand]

New lottery opens up on Monday.

Link?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Are tickets even on sale yet?

https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/over-one-million-tickets-sold-following-visa-presale

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Are tickets even on sale yet?

They had a first round of tickets available to people who won a Visa lottery. Thats what Nick bought. The rest of us didnt win the lottery.
New lottery opens up on Monday.

And it’s all a crap shoot as to what games you get?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Are tickets even on sale yet?

They had a first round of tickets available to people who won a Visa lottery. Thats what Nick bought. The rest of us didnt win the lottery.
New lottery opens up on Monday.

And it’s all a crap shoot as to what games you get?

I think winning a lottery then gives you a time slot where you can then purchase games/packages of your choice, if available. There are multiple phases to the process and each phase offers slightly different choices. I believe phase 1 is complete and phase 2 is happening soon.

 

[AAABatteries]

Like most, I lost out on the lottery but definitely hoping to catch a game or two.

I need the field to get set so I can get the World Cup Drinking Guide updated.

@The Gator

 

[NewlyRetired]

I have been playing around with the different draw simulators and one thing seems very clear. The chances for any team to end up in a group of death is extremely extremely low. You would need almost a perfect roll it to happen.

As the great Ace Rothstein once said “The probability on one four wheel machine is a million and a half to one. On three machines in a row it is in the billions. It cannot happen….would not happen, you ****in momo!”