World Cup 2026

[BlaiseinLondon]

wouldn't it be great if at some point USA plays England..,.

Noooooo! (I have an American son-in-law!)

 

[Fishmanic]

I asked AI and the only way England could play USA is in the final game.
US plays Belgium tonight at 8 pm ET. The odds makers say they’re very evenly matched. Should be a very competitive game.

 

[MattW]

I reckon the US have a chance. If Belgium played like they did in the first parts of their last game. Plus Poch knows many of the Belgium players from his time at Spurs Chelsea and PSG. I believe that does give a smaller advantage

 

[GaryE]

That was quite the game in Mexico. High entertainment there.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I think the U.S. is capable of.beating everyone but France. They have way too much talent.

 

[anewbie]

I think USA should be disqualified for tinkering with the FIFA.

 

[Innesfan]

wouldn't it be great if at some point USA plays England..,.

Well, given the brackets that would only happen in a final, and since 1930 the USA has never made it beyond quarterfinals. But if it did happen, it would be the second match in this World Cup between a colonial power and its former colony, France v Morocco being the other.

 

[GaryE]

England ruled Ghana, as the Gold Coast. So there was another post colonial game. It's hard with major powers, past and present, as geopolitics do get mixed with sport. There be grudges in this world...

 

[Innesfan]

England ruled Ghana, as the Gold Coast. So there was another post colonial game. It's hard with major powers, past and present, as geopolitics do get mixed with sport. There be grudges in this world...

Ah, yes. I didn't check the brackets before the round of 32.

 

[GaryE]

What I saw of Spain versus Portugal was very boring. It's hard - a team has to win, but sometimes the best strategy to win with isn't the best spectacle for people wanting to be entertained. There was a period in hockey where teams played defensively in ways that were killing the game - this was that.

You can say even Van Gogh had to sit and watch the paint dry on his masterpieces, but people didn't buy tickets for that.

 

[Whitecloudminnowguy09]

Good news for England fans. The Three Lions won against Mexico 3-2 earlier today.

Not sure if anyone saw this at all, but an MLB player from the Atlanta Braves predicted a 3-2 win for England vs Mexico. An England fan had asked him. His name is Michael Harris II.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Looking forward to watching the Belgian highlights with my morning coffee and toast...USA got smashed!

 

[GaryE]

Looking forward to watching the Belgian highlights with my morning coffee and toast...USA got smashed!

I hope FIFA cleans house after this tournament. The level of all around corruption is astonishing. I was surprised at the result being so lopsided, but that often sleepy looking Belgian team must have been very motivated indeed. As one Belgian player said :Overturn that,"

Today's games aren't as interesting. Onwards we go.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

The president's interference achieved the opposite of what he hoped for it seems, the whole world up in outrage at the impudence and unsportsmanship which obviously sat heavy on their squads shoulders last night because they made some pretty sloppy mistakes its a shame really, I'm sure although disappointed, the team had accepted the red card ban and were prepared to play without Balogan, they had great potential to beat the Belgians fair and square I bet it really is sleepless in Seattle tonight

 

[GaryE]

The first world Cup I watched was in the 1980s, and I was 'trained' in watching the game by an English friend who thought I'd like it. It was fascinating to see the different regional styles then - Europeans played one way, Africans were different, the South Americans had a different style... as the big money leagues developed, a sameness came in and those exciting national styles were largely gone by the 90s. Everyone played similarly as the good players played in Europe's leagues.

Back then, Canada, the USA or Mexico were cannon fodder. But as the game over here grew, CONCACAF, our region got stronger. It's still a lower tier region when the big kids come out to play. But we get to see our teams measure up against the best - something no other sport has to offer. Hockey has a version but too few countries play it. The same for baseball. American football is a one country game, like Australian football. Real "football" is the only game where you can have such a high quality tournament.

FIFA does a lot of ads for its 'football unites the world' slogan. I am enjoying the evolution of the CONCACAF world, where the rivalry between Canada and Mexico is growing, and the rivalry between the USA and everyone is established. I've had fun with Panamanians, Jamaicans and other rivals. Everyone is just another country in this world, but I live in a weak region. I knew Canada wouldn't go far, but the US, Mexico and Canada did well to get as far as they did.

If we stayed in our little region, we could beat our chests and be the best, but we have to play Senegal, England, Argentina, France, Belgium and the other star countries, and that teaches humility. A great empire like the US can be beaten by a tiny African island nation, and ex colonies can defeat their past owners. It's healthy.

Sometimes the games are proxy wars. If the USA, China and Russia were all good at once, sure, sparks would fly. The misuse of political clout to get a player's suspension lifted stank to high heaven, but the game luckily took care of that. Now I can get back to cheering for the Norwegians and building my abs by rowing, if I wish to.