2026 FIFA World Cup

[mmmmsnouts]

The World Cup draw has been all singing all dancing for a couple decades now. Difference is that now, absolutely no entertainer with any integrity wants to be involved with FIFA, so you get this debacle instead.

 

[dublinbluenose]

Looks like the entire plant putting its collecting head in its hands

 

[Drico]

The next FIFA peace prize will be going to Mohammed bin Salman 100%
Infantino really is that shameless.

Well, he does host in 2034...

 

[WA Toffee]

England pretty much got a bye to the last 16 where they will probably face Mexico in Mexico city which could be a challenge.

Scotland, if they finish 3rd, which is likely, will face either Germany or Mexico in the next round, either of which are likely to be the end of the road for them.

 

[Drico]

England pretty much got a bye to the last 16 where they will probably face Mexico in Mexico city which could be a challenge.

Scotland, if they finish 3rd, which is likely, will face either Germany or Mexico in the next round, either of which are likely to be the end of the road for them.

All the contenders effectively have byes to the knockouts. People say France are in a difficult group - but they'll still almost certainly qualify if they beat Bolivia - the likely play-off qualifiers in their group. And that's even if they lose to both Senegal and Norway - which they won't.

The reality is the group stage is a repechage. It's a warm-up. There is almost no way a genuine contender can be eliminated in the group stage. Eight of the 12 third-placed sides progress. The weakness of the group stage is best summed up by the fact that Wales - or Northern Ireland - will have a more difficult time actually qualifying for the finals via the play-offs than they would coming out of the finals group they are now scheduled to be in. The same applies to Ireland. Beating the Czechs and Danes is a bigger challenge than, say, beating South Africa - which is all it would likely take - to make the knockouts.

This tournament really only starts in the last 16. The last 32 will have a little jeopardy, of course, but the real stuff - where relatively evenly-matched sides consistently meet each other - only starts in the last 16. Take England as an example. It's really hard to see how they wouldn't get to the last 16 if they win their group - which they likely will. But then things could get very real as they are scheduled to meet Mexico in the Azteca. That will almost certainly be the first time they face a side who can plausibly eliminate them. Survive that and it's likely Brazil and Carlo next. Proper matches.

 

[Pejic300]

I'd like to know his connections. He's hardly a figure of footballing renown worldwide.

who did Rio suck to get this gig? Weird.

Seriously how did Rio get this gig?

The Illuminati have considerably lowered their entry requirements.

 

[Billy Dean]

I can’t seem to find any kind of graphic showing the draw mapped out and each team’s potential path through the tournament. Come someone help me out?

 

[Billy Dean]

If England beat Mexico in the Azteca (lol!), they could then play the winners of Group C in the quarter-finals - Brazil?

Why LOL of England beat Mexico in the Azteca? Mexico are not that strong at the moment. Very winnable game for enhland

 

[Drico]

Why LOL of England beat Mexico in the Azteca? Mexico are not that strong at the moment. Very winnable game for enhland

In that heat, in that stadium, with that hubris... lol!

Of course it's winnable - but also a pretty awkward hurdle at only the last 16 stage for a team whose supporters, in general, will, inevitably, expect last four minimum. The potential for comedy is endless.

I'm not laughing at England's chances. I'm laughing that so many will be so oblivious to the pitfalls and what could then potentially ensue.

Still chuckling.

Chortle.

 

[Drico]

The Illuminati have considerably lowered their entry requirements.

To be fair, there always was the touch of the lizard about Ferdinand.

His name is Rio and he slithers on the sand...

 

[Drico]

I can’t seem to find any kind of graphic showing the draw mapped out and each team’s potential path through the tournament. Come someone help me out?

Your path is Third Placed Side, then Mexico, then Brazil, then Argentina, then Spain in the final - if the seeds do what they are supposed to do (which is always highly unlikely).

Bascially, if results follow seedings, England are in the same half as Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, and Mexico.

Spain are in the same half as France, Belgium, Germany, and Holland.

I'm not imagining anybody else is of too much significance. The Italians - if they win their play-off and top the Canadian group - would also go into the Spanish half. Switzerland might be a better bet in that group, though.

If I were a cynic, I'd posit that FIFA have set up a Latin America v Europe final. But the likes of Japan, Morocco, Croatia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Norway, and Colombia will inevitably throw many spanners in those works.

 

[verreauxi]

A bunch of emaciated needy hands all groping and tussling for the same highly-processed meatball. Very fitting.

 

[Billy Dean]

Your path is Third Placed Side, then Mexico, then Brazil, then Argentina, then Spain in the final - if the seeds do what they are supposed to do (which is always highly unlikely).

Bascially, if results follow seedings, England are in the same half as Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, and Mexico.

Spain are in the same half as France, Belgium, Germany, and Holland.

I'm not imagining anybody else is of too much significance. The Italians - if they win their play-off and top the Canadian group - would also go into the Spanish half. Switzerland might be a better bet in that group, though.

If I were a cynic, I'd posit that FIFA have set up a Latin America v Europe final. But the likes of Japan, Morocco, Croatia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Norway, and Colombia will inevitably throw many spanners in those works.

Yeah I know Englands path. Was just hoping to find a graphic for the whole tournament

 

[NathDogg]

The World Cup draw has been all singing all dancing for a couple decades now. Difference is that now, absolutely no entertainer with any integrity wants to be involved with FIFA, so you get this debacle instead.

You know fifa must be the pits if an organisation as bad as EA wants nothing to do with them and jobs them off the footy game.

 

[WA Toffee]

All the contenders effectively have byes to the knockouts. People say France are in a difficult group - but they'll still almost certainly qualify if they beat Bolivia - the likely play-off qualifiers in their group. And that's even if they lose to both Senegal and Norway - which they won't.

The reality is the group stage is a repechage. It's a warm-up. There is almost no way a genuine contender can be eliminated in the group stage. Eight of the 12 third-placed sides progress. The weakness of the group stage is best summed up by the fact that Wales - or Northern Ireland - will have a more difficult time actually qualifying for the finals via the play-offs than they would coming out of the finals group they are now scheduled to be in. The same applies to Ireland. Beating the Czechs and Danes is a bigger challenge than, say, beating South Africa - which is all it would likely take - to make the knockouts.

This tournament really only starts in the last 16. The last 32 will have a little jeopardy, of course, but the real stuff - where relatively evenly-matched sides consistently meet each other - only starts in the last 16. Take England as an example. It's really hard to see how they wouldn't get to the last 16 if they win their group - which they likely will. But then things could get very real as they are scheduled to meet Mexico in the Azteca. That will almost certainly be the first time they face a side who can plausibly eliminate them. Survive that and it's likely Brazil and Carlo next. Proper matches.

Yep. Even Germany are likely to get out of their group this time