2026 FIFA World Cup megathread (3 Viewers)

[Moe.]

Yeah I do not think the playoffs are going to be chalky, weird stuff happens

 

[Sand]

I like the draw for Curacao. CIV is not as good as usual. Ecuador they might have played at some point as a regional team.
-QG

Ecuador was 2nd in Conmebol - formidable opponent there.

Which WC venues are being played at stupid thousand feet?

I lived there - it wasn't that bad.

 

[QuizGuy66]

I like the draw for Curacao. CIV is not as good as usual. Ecuador they might have played at some point as a regional team.
-QG

Ecuador was 2nd in Conmebol - formidable opponent there.

Yeah but from Pot 4 nothing was going to be too good for them. Hoping they draw Germany on a 109-degree humid day in their first game
-QG

 

[Dr_Zaius]

* The US hit the absolute dream draw of Australia. Not only were they the weakest in Pot 2 they are a team the US matches up with very very well

I'd think the US would be pretty fired up for this game too given how rough the Aussies were in the last friendly.

 

[Chemical X]

aaron judge almost looks as big as shaq, he used to play CF which is gd amazing.

 

[NewlyRetired]

* The US hit the absolute dream draw of Australia. Not only were they the weakest in Pot 2 they are a team the US matches up with very very well

I'd think the US would be pretty fired up for this game too given how rough the Aussies were in the last friendly.

yeah, @El Floppo mentioned that earlier. They were really dirty, especially for a friendly. They kicked Pulisic all over the field. Hopefully the ref will be strong in that game.

 

[zoobird]

* The US hit the absolute dream draw of Australia. Not only were they the weakest in Pot 2 they are a team the US matches up with very very well

I'd think the US would be pretty fired up for this game too given how rough the Aussies were in the last friendly.

yeah, @El Floppo mentioned that earlier. They were really dirty, especially for a friendly. They kicked Pulisic all over the field. Hopefully the ref will be strong in that game.

We had a fight at the end of the Paraguay friendly...so if nothing else, things should be fiesty in our group

 

[NewlyRetired]

So the three scheduled games against Belgium, Portugal and Germany, really are not comps for anyone in our group.

I am going to guess the game that has a TBD opponent is going to be against New Zealand or Colombia.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Yeah I do not think the playoffs are going to be chalky, weird stuff happens

I favor Wales over this version of Italy.

 

[Sammy3469]

Spain looks like they got sort of boned for the Round of 16 match. They probably get Algeria or Austria to start, but then probably get the winner of Colombia/Croatia (if it goes chalk) in the Round of 16. The quarters there have the US and Belgium group winners filtering in, so that should be a bonus; but there's a decent chance that quarter in general provides the suprise Semi team.

England also got boned since their presumed round of 16 match could be in Mexico City against Mexico. I do sort of really want that just to hear the crying about piss bags.

 

[NewlyRetired]

So the three scheduled games against Belgium, Portugal and Germany, really are not comps for anyone in our group.

I am going to guess the game that has a TBD opponent is going to be against New Zealand or Colombia.

 

[Sammy3469]

Brazil seems like they got the "easiest" semifinal path (assuming it goes chalk) with Japan/Tunisia to Ecuador/Norway to the winner of Mexico/England in Miami after those two have played in Mexico City.

 

[zoobird]

Spain looks like they got sort of boned for the Round of 16 match. They probably get Algeria or Austria to start, but then probably get the winner of Colombia/Croatia (if it goes chalk) in the Round of 16. The quarters there have the US and Belgium group winners filtering in, so that should be a bonus; but there's a decent chance that quarter in general provides the suprise Semi team.

England also got boned since their presumed round of 16 match could be in Mexico City against Mexico. I do sort of really want that just to hear the crying about piss bags.

That would be great. Easily my two least favorite fan bases, but I'd love for Mexico to knock England out.

 

[NewlyRetired]

. PEngland also got boned since their presumed round of 16 match could be in Mexico City against Mexico. I do sort of really want that just to hear the crying about piss bags.

Oh my god make this happen….

No one needs any reminder of what happened the last time England played in Azteca (RIP Diego)

 

[NewlyRetired]

That would be great. Easily my two least favorite fan bases, but I'd love for Mexico to knock England out.

Oh yeah, this would be the ultimate hate watch.

But I would root for our puto friends as well.

 

[titusbramble]

So the three scheduled games against Belgium, Portugal and Germany, really are not comps for anyone in our group.

I am going to guess the game that has a TBD opponent is going to be against New Zealand or Colombia.

I don't think pulling three games against European opposition when there was a fair chance you'll run into two of them is unreasonable, and frankly going against stronger opposition than you'd face as a comp isn't unreasonable either. Besides, it's a two way process, there's a disproportionate number of CONCACAF teams in the event and those three also have a fair chance of drawing one

 

[NewlyRetired]

So the three scheduled games against Belgium, Portugal and Germany, really are not comps for anyone in our group.

I am going to guess the game that has a TBD opponent is going to be against New Zealand or Colombia.

I don't think pulling three games against European opposition when there was a fair chance you'll run into two of them is unreasonable, and frankly going against stronger opposition than you'd face as a comp isn't unreasonable either. Besides, it's a two way process, there's a disproportionate number of CONCACAF teams in the event and those three also have a fair chance of drawing one

You may have misunderstood me. I was not complaining, I was just stating a fact based on playing style. I have zero complaints about the quality of the opponents. That is a great line up.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

OMG, what a draw.

 

[NewlyRetired]

OMG, what a draw.

I never thought I would say it but it was worth sitting through that ultimate cringe fest before the real draw started.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I never thought I would say it but it was worth sitting through that ultimate cringe fest before the real draw started.

lol... I had no idea it was on until I came here and saw the last few comments. Then I went scurrying to find the details.

No true group of death this time, right? Maybe if you squint England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama? But Croatia and Ghana aren't what they used to be and that doesn't really compare to some of the doozies in the past IMO.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I never thought I would say it but it was worth sitting through that ultimate cringe fest before the real draw started.

lol... I had no idea it was on until I came here and saw the last few comments. Then I went scurrying to find the details.

No true group of death this time, right? Maybe if you squint England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama? But Croatia and Ghana aren't what they used to be and that doesn't really compare to some of the doozies in the past IMO.

Harder to get group of death with 48 teams and some 3rd place teams advancing.

France Senegal and Norway are a sick top 3 in their group. The playoff team is going to be fed on for GD similar to the Panama group.

 

[titusbramble]

I never thought I would say it but it was worth sitting through that ultimate cringe fest before the real draw started.

lol... I had no idea it was on until I came here and saw the last few comments. Then I went scurrying to find the details.

No true group of death this time, right? Maybe if you squint England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama? But Croatia and Ghana aren't what they used to be and that doesn't really compare to some of the doozies in the past IMO.

Harder to get group of death with 48 teams and some 3rd place teams advancing.

France Senegal and Norway are a sick top 3 in their group. The playoff team is going to be fed on for GD similar to the Panama group.

Would be extremely easy to rig it for all those three teams to get 4 points. No need to curbstomp the playoff team.

 

[NewlyRetired]

It’s pretty amazing the US has just recently played by Australia and Paraguay. Two of the last three friendlies in fact.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I never thought I would say it but it was worth sitting through that ultimate cringe fest before the real draw started.

lol... I had no idea it was on until I came here and saw the last few comments. Then I went scurrying to find the details.

No true group of death this time, right? Maybe if you squint England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama? But Croatia and Ghana aren't what they used to be and that doesn't really compare to some of the doozies in the past IMO.

Harder to get group of death with 48 teams and some 3rd place teams advancing.

France Senegal and Norway are a sick top 3 in their group. The playoff team is going to be fed on for GD similar to the Panama group.

Would be extremely easy to rig it for all those three teams to get 4 points. No need to curbstomp the playoff team.

While 4 points is almost certainly going to get a team one of the 3rd place spots, no team wants to finish in 3rd and get fed to a big dog in the round of 32. I think teams will make sure their GD is high enough to break ties to make sure they finish no worse than 2nd in a group.

This will only happen if one of the teams is much weaker than the rest. Sometimes it looks worse on paper than what happens in the games.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Any group with 3 top-notch teams is a group of Death. Because a team can lose to the other two teams and end up with 3 points and get knocked out compared to the other 3rd-place teams
-QG

 

[CletiusMaximus]

So there really isn't a Group of Death. A couple of real easy groups though (Brazil, Belgium, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal).

Advancing from your group into a knockout round of 32 is the equivalent of just qualifying for prior world cups. It should be considered abject failure not to advance in 2026, no different than us failing to qualify in 2018. My main hope is for chaos and disruption to punish FIFA for its lame attempt to engineer the pathways.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Giants Stadium possible games in the group round:

6/13 is BRA/MOR or HAI/SCO (I bet the former)

6/22 Is FRA/SEN or NOR/IRQ/JAM/NCL (Again likely the former)

6/25 is ECU/GER OR CURACAO/CIV (they won't give us tasty ones I will guess the latter)

6/26 is FRA/NOR or IRQ/SEN (probably the former they will have France based on the NYC area with this draw)

6/27 is PAN/ENG OR CRO/GHA (I guess the former? This group has a team playing twice in Toronto but not on this day - I think our England friends are gonna learn from BMO stadium in those and probably come to NJ in this one.

But they are gonna try to spread the top games at least a little

-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

So there really isn't a Group of Death. A couple of real easy groups though (Brazil, Belgium, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal).

Advancing from your group into a knockout round of 32 is the equivalent of just qualifying for prior world cups. It should be considered abject failure not to advance in 2026, no different than us failing to qualify in 2018. My main hope is for chaos and disruption to punish FIFA for its lame attempt to engineer the pathways.

Oh, I have no fear there will be chaos.

*There will be at least one African team threatening to boycott.

*There will be upsets

*There will be in team fighting that destroys at least one contender

*There will be marginal pk’s that determine game out comes

*There will be unfortunate early straight red cards

*there will be one team that defends with 11 men for 120 minutes and wins a pk shoot out

Should be a blast

 

[QuizGuy66]

I always root for chaos and disruption. Hopefully to be overcorrected for by more chaos and disruption.

-QG

 

[QuizGuy66]

I winner (France) would be also at Giants Stadium hence why I think they would base here
-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

So there really isn't a Group of Death. A couple of real easy groups though (Brazil, Belgium, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal).

Advancing from your group into a knockout round of 32 is the equivalent of just qualifying for prior world cups. It should be considered abject failure not to advance in 2026, no different than us failing to qualify in 2018. My main hope is for chaos and disruption to punish FIFA for its lame attempt to engineer the pathways.

Oh, I have no fear there will be chaos.

*There will be at least one African team threatening to boycott.

*There will be upsets

*There will be in team fighting that destroys at least one contender

*There will be marginal pk’s that determine game out comes

*There will be unfortunate early straight red cards

Should be a blast

And note this is just chaos that the sport itself will produce.

We also have the chance that our government will get involved and really cause a nightmare. I feel fortunate we came out of today with only memes and being laughed at. Could have been much worse.

 

[B Maverick]

FIFA Rankings:

USA 14
Australia 26
Paraguay 39
UEFA Playoff C, which includes Turkey 25, Romania 47, Slovakia 45 and Kosovo 80

Just an interesting look at our group. Despite believing the US should be closer to 20ish, this should still be a winnable group. If the US wants to be a contender and a top team in the world, they should not only advance, but top this group.

 

[NewlyRetired]

FIFA Rankings:

USA 14
Australia 26
Paraguay 39
UEFA Playoff C, which includes Turkey 25, Romania 47, Slovakia 45 and Kosovo 80

Just an interesting look at our group. Despite believing the US should be closer to 20ish, this should still be a winnable group. If the US wants to be a contender and a top team in the world, they should not only advance, but top this group.

All very fair.

And I think on paper, the US will be a betting favorite in every game except maybe against Turkey.

 

[NewlyRetired]

It will never work out this cleanly, but wow what a run it would take for England

===========

If England win Group L, this would be their route to the final:

Ro16: Mexico in Mexico City
QF: Brazil
SF: France
/ Final: Spain/Argentina

 

[B Maverick]

FIFA Rankings:

USA 14
Australia 26
Paraguay 39
UEFA Playoff C, which includes Turkey 25, Romania 47, Slovakia 45 and Kosovo 80

Just an interesting look at our group. Despite believing the US should be closer to 20ish, this should still be a winnable group. If the US wants to be a contender and a top team in the world, they should not only advance, but top this group.

All very fair.

And I think on paper, the US will be a betting favorite in every game except maybe against Turkey.

I agree.

I do think the US should fall in the same tier as teams like Switzerland, Japan, Denmark, Turkiye and maybe Australia. If Turkiye gets through, they will probably be the biggest challenge.

 

[B Maverick]

So there really isn't a Group of Death. A couple of real easy groups though (Brazil, Belgium, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal).

Advancing from your group into a knockout round of 32 is the equivalent of just qualifying for prior world cups. It should be considered abject failure not to advance in 2026, no different than us failing to qualify in 2018. My main hope is for chaos and disruption to punish FIFA for its lame attempt to engineer the pathways.

Oh, I have no fear there will be chaos.

*There will be at least one African team threatening to boycott.

*There will be upsets

*There will be in team fighting that destroys at least one contender

*There will be marginal pk’s that determine game out comes

*There will be unfortunate early straight red cards

*there will be one team that defends with 11 men for 120 minutes and wins a pk shoot out

Should be a blast

Can't wait to see which games Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor get assigned too.

 

[zoobird]

Giants Stadium possible games in the group round:

6/13 is BRA/MOR or HAI/SCO (I bet the former)

6/22 Is FRA/SEN or NOR/IRQ/JAM/NCL (Again likely the former)

6/25 is ECU/GER OR CURACAO/CIV (they won't give us tasty ones I will guess the latter)

6/26 is FRA/NOR or IRQ/SEN (probably the former they will have France based on the NYC area with this draw)

6/27 is PAN/ENG OR CRO/GHA (I guess the former? This group has a team playing twice in Toronto but not on this day - I think our England friends are gonna learn from BMO stadium in those and probably come to NJ in this one.

But they are gonna try to spread the top games at least a little

-QG

Based on the prices I'm seeing, it looks like the market agrees with you about the 6/13 game being Brazil-Morocco

 

[Orange&Blue]

still furious that me and three family members were unable to get lottery tickets. ****ing FIFA

 

[foxco]

It will never work out this cleanly, but wow what a run it would take for England

===========

If England win Group L, this would be their route to the final:

Ro16: Mexico in Mexico City
QF: Brazil
SF: France
/ Final: Spain/Argentina

If anyone's proved they can overcome adversity in world cups, it's Engl--, wait, sorry, negate that, carry on.

 

[Moe.]

Giants Stadium possible games in the group round:

6/13 is BRA/MOR or HAI/SCO (I bet the former)

6/22 Is FRA/SEN or NOR/IRQ/JAM/NCL (Again likely the former)

6/25 is ECU/GER OR CURACAO/CIV (they won't give us tasty ones I will guess the latter)

6/26 is FRA/NOR or IRQ/SEN (probably the former they will have France based on the NYC area with this draw)

6/27 is PAN/ENG OR CRO/GHA (I guess the former? This group has a team playing twice in Toronto but not on this day - I think our England friends are gonna learn from BMO stadium in those and probably come to NJ in this one.

But they are gonna try to spread the top games at least a little

-QG

When does this all get hammered out for sure?

 

[NewlyRetired]

FIFA Rankings:

USA 14
Australia 26
Paraguay 39
UEFA Playoff C, which includes Turkey 25, Romania 47, Slovakia 45 and Kosovo 80

Just an interesting look at our group. Despite believing the US should be closer to 20ish, this should still be a winnable group. If the US wants to be a contender and a top team in the world, they should not only advance, but top this group.

All very fair.

And I think on paper, the US will be a betting favorite in every game except maybe against Turkey.

I agree.

I do think the US should fall in the same tier as teams like Switzerland, Japan, Denmark, Turkiye and maybe Australia. If Turkiye gets through, they will probably be the biggest challenge.

In the US’s current state, they are a legit pot 2 level team.

The US drawing arguably the weakest pot 2 team was very fortunate.

 

[B Maverick]

So I won't argue with anyone who wants to claim it was fixed:

If they both win their group, and advance to it, one quarterfinal matchup would be Portugal and Argentina

 

[TripItUp]

I'm going to try to attend the quarterfinal USA match....I don't care if I have to pay 10K.

Given our group, I'm not overly interested in attending group play at expected prices.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I'm going to try to attend the quarterfinal USA match....I don't care if I have to pay 10K.

Given our group, I'm not overly interested in attending group play at expected prices.

The US had never won two knockout round games.

You need that to happen just to make the quarter finals this time. I hope you get to go

 

[titusbramble]

It will never work out this cleanly, but wow what a run it would take for England

===========

If England win Group L, this would be their route to the final:

Ro16: Mexico in Mexico City
QF: Brazil
SF: France
/ Final: Spain/Argentina

We'll just make a game or two be the designated Jordan Henderson starts for no reason game to manufacture an easier path I mean manage minutes

 

[TripItUp]

The US had never won two knockout round games.

You need that to happen just to make the quarter finals this time. I hope you get to go

It's happening!!

 

[QuizGuy66]

still furious that me and three family members were unable to get lottery tickets. ****ing FIFA

Need to have more kids obvs

-QG

 

[QuizGuy66]

Giants Stadium possible games in the group round:

6/13 is BRA/MOR or HAI/SCO (I bet the former)

6/22 Is FRA/SEN or NOR/IRQ/JAM/NCL (Again likely the former)

6/25 is ECU/GER OR CURACAO/CIV (they won't give us tasty ones I will guess the latter)

6/26 is FRA/NOR or IRQ/SEN (probably the former they will have France based on the NYC area with this draw)

6/27 is PAN/ENG OR CRO/GHA (I guess the former? This group has a team playing twice in Toronto but not on this day - I think our England friends are gonna learn from BMO stadium in those and probably come to NJ in this one.

But they are gonna try to spread the top games at least a little

-QG

When does this all get hammered out for sure?

All announced tomorrow.
Brazil would be eschewing playing two games in the same stadium for having basically a home game with the huge Brazilian population in Hudson County. They want to be where they can get the good rodizio.

-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

Giants Stadium possible games in the group round:

6/13 is BRA/MOR or HAI/SCO (I bet the former)

6/22 Is FRA/SEN or NOR/IRQ/JAM/NCL (Again likely the former)

6/25 is ECU/GER OR CURACAO/CIV (they won't give us tasty ones I will guess the latter)

6/26 is FRA/NOR or IRQ/SEN (probably the former they will have France based on the NYC area with this draw)

6/27 is PAN/ENG OR CRO/GHA (I guess the former? This group has a team playing twice in Toronto but not on this day - I think our England friends are gonna learn from BMO stadium in those and probably come to NJ in this one.

But they are gonna try to spread the top games at least a little

-QG

When does this all get hammered out for sure?

All announced tomorrow.
Brazil would be eschewing playing two games in the same stadium for having basically a home game with the huge Brazilian population in Hudson County. They want to be where they can get the good rodizio.

-QG

This has never happened before in my memory that we had to wait a day for the actual stadiums/game pairings.

Did FIFA do this to introduce 24 more hours where they can accept bribes from either the teams and/or stadium operators?

 

[titusbramble]

Will update OPs once full schedule is confirmed. Probably Monday due to other commitments