2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

[RustyBourneHorse]

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins tomorrow at 3:00 pm Eastern between Mexico and South Africa (a reverse of the 2010 opening fixture). As such, this is the time for the official thread for the World Cup!

 

[atlantacowboy]

Anyone coming to Atlanta for the Congo-Uzbekestan match-up? I know us locals are excited.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Hopefully England does well this WC

 

[csirl]

3 red cards in the opening game looks bad - particularly as it was a fairly clean game.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

3 red cards in the opening game looks bad - particularly as it was a fairly clean game.

I agree. I don't like how tightly the ref was calling that match.

 

[Flamma]

Hopefully England does well this WC

In most cups they look good. But most cups they were contenders after 1990, they red carded themselves out of the tournament.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

In most cups they look good. But most cups they were contenders after 1990, they red carded themselves out of the tournament.

Yeah, that's true

 

[Bigdog]

3 red cards in the opening game looks bad - particularly as it was a fairly clean game.

Tomorrow’s game with US/Paraguay might get really interesting. Last time they play there was a brawl and that was only 4 months ago. US team needs to keep their cool or some players might be able to play against the Aussies

 

[Majic]

Good Luck to USA
and England of course!

 

[ScotsCowboy]

Hope all of you guys in host cities have a great time with all the visitors.

Hoping my lads get off to a winning start vs Haiti tomorrow night your time (2am Sunday BST!).

Our first World Cup in 28 years!

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Hope all of you guys in host cities have a great time with all the visitors.

Hoping my lads get off to a winning start vs Haiti tomorrow night your time (2am Sunday BST!).

Our first World Cup in 28 years!

Good luck

 

[jterrell]

I agree. I don't like how tightly the ref was calling that match.

Gotta disagree.
2 of the reds were for stopping clear goal scoring opps and pretty easy no doubt calls.
The 3rd was a clear frustration off ball hit.

You make those calls to set a tone for the tourney.

 

[jterrell]

In most cups they look good. But most cups they were contenders after 1990, they red carded themselves out of the tournament.

Very mixed bag. They massively underwhelmed for a good decade before emerging in 2018,

But this team is really loaded with talent and has an A+ manager.

The biggest issue may well be the heat. England has been dying in training. England failed to get out of group stage in Brazil in similar heat. The best finish of the generation was cold Russia where they took 4th but they did make the quarterfinals at least last time out in very warm Qatar.

1 advantage for Spain, Brazil and Argentina is they are used to the heat.

But I watch so much EPL and hope England break through.

If the US make it out of group that's a win given current GK and overall play.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Gotta disagree.
2 of the reds were for stopping clear goal scoring opps and pretty easy no doubt calls.
The 3rd was a clear frustration off ball hit.

You make those calls to set a tone for the tourney.

I agree. And I agree with the first two. But the third one is the one I wasn't liking. Unless the player had a yellow card already, I think a yellow would have sufficed.

 

[Flamma]

Very mixed bag. They massively underwhelmed for a good decade before emerging in 2018,

But this team is really loaded with talent and has an A+ manager.

The biggest issue may well be the heat. England has been dying in training. England failed to get out of group stage in Brazil in similar heat. The best finish of the generation was cold Russia where they took 4th but they did make the quarterfinals at least last time out in very warm Qatar.

1 advantage for Spain, Brazil and Argentina is they are used to the heat.

But I watch so much EPL and hope England break through.

If the US make it out of group that's a win given current GK and overall play.

Yeah, somewhere around the 2010 area, England was so so. I think the US tied them in one match. The goalie let that slow roller get past him. But I'm talking before that time. They had several teams that were very good, but shot themselves in the foot. Besides the US, I'm really not a fan of any particular team. I just want to see good matches, and it really aggravated me when England would take themselves out.

Growing up, and playing every sport in the book, two sports would be brutal in the heat. Full court basketball and soccer. Football doesn't even come close. Way too many breaks.

 

[Bigdog]

Good Luck to USA
and England of course!

Good luck to all the teams but of course I am pulling for the USA. Miracles can happen

 

[Bigdog]

Hope all of you guys in host cities have a great time with all the visitors.

Hoping my lads get off to a winning start vs Haiti tomorrow night your time (2am Sunday BST!).

Our first World Cup in 28 years!

Good luck to your team

 

[Flamma]

We're looking good against Paraguay. I was afraid we'd be on our heels the entire match. Just the opposite.

I'm a bit confused on the color scheme. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't we wearing their colors?

 

[vlad]

What an amazing first half - i miss living overseas during the World Cup nothing even close to the mania

 

[vlad]

Hope all of you guys in host cities have a great time with all the visitors.

Hoping my lads get off to a winning start vs Haiti tomorrow night your time (2am Sunday BST!).

Our first World Cup in 28 years!

Good on you mate - Enjoy the games