2026 FIFA World Cup megathread (12 Viewers)

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Can we have Mourinho show up to shatter Iker's confidence before this interview?

 

[Sand]

You'd think in the world of AI they could translate in real time?

 

[zoobird]

Who are teams in pots 2, 3 and 4 to hope to avoid?

Pot 2 probably Morocco and Colombia

Pot 3 Iceland

Pot 4 the 4 European playoff qualifiers (stupid that these were put in pot 4)

 

[QuizGuy66]

US groups of interested.

If we are 1st we get a 3rd place opponent.
329 times out of 465 we get Group B 3rd place (if the 3rd place teams in group B makes the knockout basically it is a mortal lock that we play that team 9.
39 times we get 3rd place from Group E
11 times we get 3rd place from Group F
52 times we get 3rd place from Group I
64 times we get 3rd place from Group J

If we are 2nd in the group we play the 2nd place team from Group F

If we are 3rd place:
We play 1st place from Group E 212 out of 330.

We play 1st place from Group I 99 out of 330 - and go to the Meadowlands I think.

We play 1st place from Group K 19 times out of 330.

We avoid the teams from Group A (Mexico) and Group C and Group H and Group L in all scenarios in terms of the round of 32.

-QG

No Mexico or Brazil or Spain or England for us in round of 32.

3rd place could doom us to play France at the Meadowlands. More likely it would be Germany yet again.

-QG

 

[QuizGuy66]

I still don't understand why we have to wait until tomorrow for the matchups? They are placing the teams in slots 1/2/3/4 today so we should know every game today.

Just venues and times for the games NR.
-QG

 

[GregR]

Who are teams in pots 2, 3 and 4 to hope to avoid?

Every team in the Group A is hard except for the 3 hosts. Everyone wants to draw one of the 3 hosts

Right, I meant the teams that will fill in spots 2, 3 and 4 in each group, which of those do the US want to avoid if possible.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Who are teams in pots 2, 3 and 4 to hope to avoid?

Pot 2 probably Morocco and Colombia

Pot 3 Iceland

Pot 4 the 4 European playoff qualifiers (stupid that these were put in pot 4)

Norway is absolutely the team every one wants to avoid in pot 3 IMO

 

[QuizGuy66]

They also need a 2 Euro or a Euro/CAF group in this round

-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

I still don't understand why we have to wait until tomorrow for the matchups? They are placing the teams in slots 1/2/3/4 today so we should know every game today.

Just venues and times for the games NR.
-QG

but we already know every venue for every game. It was announced a while ago

 

[B Maverick]

"Shaq, now is the time to get your hands mixed in with the balls."

 

[QuizGuy66]

We are getting Croatia
-QG

 

[Sleestak]

Swiss are happy - Canada's group

 

[Charlie Steiner]

Please not Senegal, please not Senegal...

 

[Sleestak]

Fix is in!!!

 

[QuizGuy66]

BRA vs MAR put em with Italy!
-QG

 

[Sammy3469]

Thank you Shaq!

 

[NewlyRetired]

yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TLEF316]

Yeah BIG break for us

 

[QuizGuy66]

Hooray for the fix
-QG

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

So fixed. LOL

 

[NewlyRetired]

Make Shaq the president!

 

[Sand]

WOW what a great draw!

 

[QuizGuy66]

Guarantees a double euro group in the first 2 so the draw won't break yet.
-QG

 

[Sand]

Germany got probably the toughest pot 2 draw.

 

[El Floppo]

Aussie!

 

[Sleestak]

WOW what a great draw!

Aussies agree

 

[QuizGuy66]

Everybody wants Austria
-QG

 

[B Maverick]

Nice draw for Belgium since Iran won't be let in. Can you imagine when they get Haiti too?

 

[NewlyRetired]

See they already know who is playing when. They just announced it on that last draw

 

[Sleestak]

Senegal vs France - WC 2002 rematch, right?

 

[Sand]

WOW what a great draw!

Aussies agree

 

[QuizGuy66]

France Senegal is fun
-QG

 

[El Floppo]

Aussie!

Cant wait for payback for them kicking the **** out of CP and injuring him in that last friendly

 

[NewlyRetired]

US will play Australia in the second game in Seattle

 

[Sleestak]

Group K looking interested so far.

 

[QuizGuy66]

See they already know who is playing when. They just announced it on that last draw

The know the order just setting times and which of the two possible venues for each game
-QG

 

[GregR]

Oof Portugal. Have a friend there I watch their games with when we can.

 

[zoobird]

See they already know who is playing when. They just announced it on that last draw

They know which match-ups will be the final round of group play match-ups...not which of the two possible games is which (location/day/time). I think.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

WOW what a great draw!

Aussies agree

I mean, any of the hosts are who a Pot 2 team would want. I'm sure the Socceroos would rather be playing us than Spain or something.

 

[QuizGuy66]

No playoff team for England. Some minnow is getting a tough group there.
-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

ok now just dodge Norway and the draw should be ok even if we get unlucky with Italy

 

[QuizGuy66]

Okay so let's go Scotland! Then New Zealand!
-QG

 

[Sammy3469]

No playoff team for England. Some minnow is getting a tough group there.
-QG

Best thing for England and Croatia. Takes out GD scenarios and assures 2 other minnows

 

[El Floppo]

And honestly...from the little ive seen of thos pot 2 teams, US got the weakest. Great pick

 

[QuizGuy66]

They will be skipping pots a bunch here - hopefully the computer is set up right.
-QG

 

[GregR]

For any other of the more casual fans than you die hards, here's the elimination round format:

https://digitalhub.fifa.com/transform/3d58b67b-e7e3-4cb6-b491-2a67af25db58/FIFA-World-Cup-2026-Final-Draw-Pathways-graphic-1x1?&io=transform:fill,width:1024&quality=75

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I'm just saying that Shaq seemed to really be concentrating on the ball he wanted when he drew for Group D. The counter-argument is that if I wanted to fix a World Cup draw, Shaq is not among the first I would think to entrust it to.

 

[QuizGuy66]

No playoff team for England. Some minnow is getting a tough group there.
-QG

Best thing for England and Croatia. Takes out GD scenarios and assures 2 other minnows

Paraguay would be tough here.
-QG

 

[QuizGuy66]

I'm just saying that Shaq seemed to really be concentrating on the ball he wanted when he drew for Group D. The counter-argument is that if I wanted to fix a World Cup draw, Shaq is not among the first I would think to entrust it to.

Shaq has been an extremely capable businessman. The Big Aristotle is perfect for this.
-QG

 

[El Floppo]

No playoff team for England. Some minnow is getting a tough group there.
-QG

Best thing for England and Croatia. Takes out GD scenarios and assures 2 other minnows

Paraguay would be tough here.
-QG

US dismantled Paraguay a couple weeks ago.