World Cup 2026

[Northumbriana]

Now. The next big question. Who is on the Norwegian commentator’s list in case they “gave your guys one hell of a beating” on Saturday.

I’m hoping for at least one of the Chuckle Brothers

(Link to YouTube clip of famous commentary after Norway beat England in the early 1980s)

Leeds born Erling Haaland perhaps?

 

[gg1]

So could UEFA do something unilaterally? That would have to mean leaving FIFA. So World Cups would become meaningless. And non-European players would almost certainly be prevented (by FIFA) from playing in Europe. Financially it would make little difference to European football but might a more insular UEFA make a European Super League more likely? Be careful what you wish for!

Would FIFA really have the power to do that? Surely that would fall foul of European employment laws.

 

[HSTEd]

So could UEFA do something unilaterally? That would have to mean leaving FIFA. So World Cups would become meaningless. And non-European players would almost certainly be prevented (by FIFA) from playing in Europe. Financially it would make little difference to European football but might a more insular UEFA make a European Super League more likely? Be careful what you wish for!

If FIFA tries to pick a fight with UEFA, FIFA will lose.

UEFA is where the serious money is in world football.

If UEFA calls for Infantino's (metaphorical) head, it will be delivered. The Asian and African federations will support him right up until it damages the gravy train, then they will dump him.

 

[Howardh]

Would FIFA really have the power to do that? Surely that would fall foul of European employment laws.

If a non-European played in Europe, FIFA probably couldn't stop that, but they could prevent him playing elsewhere within FIFA after?

 

[gg1]

If a non-European played in Europe, FIFA probably couldn't stop that, but they could prevent him playing elsewhere within FIFA after?

Possibly, but from the point of view of non-European players I don't think that'd be that much of a disincentive. This site suggests there are 35 professional leagues in Europe, many of which consist of multiple divisions ,so plenty of options for a professional football career.

One thing FIFA could do in such a scenario is ban anyone playing in European leagues from playing in FIFA affiliated competitions, effectively ending their international careers, but that would anger many African FAs who's top players almost all play in Europe.

 

[Broucek]

One thing FIFA could do in such a scenario is ban anyone playing in European leagues from playing in FIFA affiliated competitions, effectively ending their international careers, but that would anger many African FAs who's top players almost all play in Europe.

Top Non-European players will always want to play in Europe because of the quality and the money. If FIFA then banned them it would be damaging its own event...

 

[juspassingby]

I believe @AlterEgo was talking about the 1994 World Cup.

Ahhh OK fair enough, 1994 was also in the US so it would make sense. Thanks for the clarification

 

[Jamesrob637]

At least the next game won't be at 01:00! I tried to stay awake for Mexico but fell asleep just after midnight.

 

[DarloRich]

You think Qatar World cup wasn't great? If so, what's you're reason for that opinion?

it was a terrible world cup held a country with no connection to football, its history or culture and a terrible human rights and civil liberties record - just like the United States!

The USA world cup has been the worse one in the history of the world cups especially the way they treated Iran,

I will see that and raise you the 1978 world cup held in Argentina where the military junta there were busily attaching electrodes to the private parts of left wing poets, throwing people they didn't like out of helicopters into the sea and disappearing countless numbers who disagreed with them.......

We could look at the 1934 world cup held in Italy which was deigned entirely to glorify fascism and the strength of the Italian state and manhood, again very much like Trump!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jul 2026 ==

Jordan Henderson getting booked & then injured forcing him to miss the rest of the tournament whilst not being on the pitch playing is going to be a quiz question in future

That is comedy gold.

 

[Jimini]

That is comedy gold.

[Image of Jordan Henderson's "heatmap"]

 

[Cowley]

View attachment 207325


[Image of Jordan Henderson's "heatmap"]

I can’t unfortunately find it now, but in the live feed on Sky News the other day they had a list of strange injuries footballers had suffered, the one that caught my eye was Alex Stepney in 1975.

“the Manchester United goalkeeper dislocated his jaw while shouting at his defenders during a match against Birmingham.”

 

[D1511]

I can’t unfortunately find it now, but in the live feed on Sky News the other day they had a list of strange injuries footballers had suffered, the one that caught my eye was Alex Stepney in 1975.

“the Manchester United goalkeeper dislocated his jaw while shouting at his defenders during a match against Birmingham.”

They must have been seriously out of position!
I think I can remember a couple of others......David James had a PlayStation injury that kept him out of a few games, and someone was out for a while after dropping a bottle of hp sauce (or similar) on their foot. David Seaman possibly?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I can’t unfortunately find it now, but in the live feed on Sky News the other day they had a list of strange injuries footballers had suffered, the one that caught my eye was Alex Stepney in 1975.

“the Manchester United goalkeeper dislocated his jaw while shouting at his defenders during a match against Birmingham.”

August 1975. He'd been biffed into by Bob Hatton earlier in the same game. Might have had something to do with it. Centre-back Brian Greenhoff had to take over in goal.

...someone was out for a while after dropping a bottle of hp sauce (or similar) on their foot. David Seaman possibly?

Think that was Wimbledon's Dave Beasant in 1993. And it was a fairly big bottle of salad cream that crocked him.

 

[D1511]

August 1975. He'd been biffed into by Bob Hatton earlier in the same game. Might have had something to do with it. Centre-back Brian Greenhoff had to take over in goal.


Think that was Wimbledon's Dave Beasant in 1993. And it was a fairly big bottle of salad cream that crocked him.

Thanks! That's who it was!

Goal for Egypt BTW!

 

[Trackman]

Goal for Egypt BTW!

They need to hang on until half-time.
Argentina isn't a one-man team.

 

[johntea]

It was yet another incredible match, thankfully a day free of matches tomorrow to have a breather from the last few!

 

[DarloRich]

I note the recipient of the inaugural FIFA peace prize is bombing Iran during the, checks notes, FIFA world cup..............

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Am I the only one a tad disappointed that England's route to the final may not involve facing any of the iconic nations?

If England do win the World Cup, in years to come critics may say "So what, you only had to beat Congo, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland to get to the Final!". Whereas if we'd beaten the likes of Portugal, Brazil and Argentina in the knockout stages, no one could say it wasn't a major achievement.

 

[Trackman]

It was yet another incredible match, thankfully a day free of matches tomorrow to have a breather from the last few!

No more daft kick off times too. (Well daft to us)

If England do win the World Cup, in years to come critics may say "So what, you only had to beat Congo, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland to get to the Final!". Whereas if we'd beaten the likes of Portugal, Brazil and Argentina in the knockout stages, no one could say it wasn't a major achievement.

Hang on, let's win the quarter-final first then discuss!

I note the recipient of the inaugural FIFA peace prize is bombing Iran during the, checks notes, FIFA world cup..............

You couldn't make it up.

 

[brad465]

Am I the only one a tad disappointed that England's route to the final may not involve facing any of the iconic nations?

If England do win the World Cup, in years to come critics may say "So what, you only had to beat Congo, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland to get to the Final!". Whereas if we'd beaten the likes of Portugal, Brazil and Argentina in the knockout stages, no one could say it wasn't a major achievement.

If England beat Norway and Argentina beat Switzerland, England vs Argentina will be the semi-final.

 

[Trackman]

If England beat Norway and Argentina beat Switzerland, England vs Argentina will be the semi-final.

That's been the path all along

 

[brad465]

That's been the path all along

I know, but the OP implied if England get to the final we wouldn't have faced Argentina, among other high-ranking teams, in the process.

 

[D1511]

No-one mentions this when you got to the semis without playing anyone last time.......

 

[brad465]

Starmer reportedly wants a Bank Holiday if England win the world cup. All I'll say is, I dread to see what spending cuts are coming to fund the massive bung needed to make FIFA engineer that outcome while outbidding others for the same purpose:

England to get bank holiday if team win World Cup, Starmer expected to announce

Prime minister understood to be poised to give England a day off should the nation’s team bring home the trophy for first time since 1966

www.theguardian.com

Keir Starmer is planning to announce a bank holiday if England win the World Cup, the Guardian understands, to celebrate the men’s national team finally bringing football home.

The prime minister stopped short of announcing a date, saying he didn’t want to jinx England’s progress towards lifting the famous trophy for the first time since 1966 – but it would most likely be on Friday 24 July.

The date would allow Thomas Tuchel’s victorious team time to return from the final – to be played on Sunday 19 July in New Jersey – and the Football Association a few days to arrange an open-top bus parade through central London.

As England prepare for their quarter-final clash with Norway in Miami on Saturday, their chances of reaching the final are rising. If they beat Norway, England are likely to face Argentina – the current world champions – in the semi-finals. France are the favourites to win the tournament.

Starmer, who would be expected to travel to the United States for the final if England make it, would no longer be in office by the time of the celebrations, leaving it to his expected successor, Andy Burnham, to welcome captain Harry Kane and his teammates to No 10 to mark the occasion.

Asked about the prospect, Starmer said: “On the question of a bank holiday, I think I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final.”

Downing Street insiders indicated that he would announce a day off if England won.

Starmer revealed that he had received multiple requests asking him to approach Fifa – as Donald Trump had done for the US team – to overturn the red card defender Jarell Quansah was given in the match against Mexico, but said that he had declined to do so.

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[spyinthesky]

No-one mentions this when you got to the semis without playing anyone last time.......

That’s correct, but we did face Scotland to get there

 

[Northumbriana]

If England win the World Cup chances are we'll have beaten Argentina and one of France or Spain to do so. Along with beating Mexico in the Azteca. I think that's a respectable amount of iconic names in the way. Definitely way above what England would usually overcome in one tournament.

Although it would be great if we could somehow face and conquer the Hungarian Mighty Magyars, the 1970 Brazil team, the Dutch total football masters and peak Tika Taka Spain to be as convincing as possible.

 

[Harvester]

If England win the World Cup chances are we'll have beaten Argentina and one of France or Spain to do so. Along with beating Mexico in the Azteca. I think that's a respectable amount of iconic names in the way. Definitely way above what England would usually overcome in one tournament.

Interestingly in 1966 England beat Mexico, France and Argentina on route to the final. Will history repeat?

 

[Northumbriana]

Interestingly in 1966 England beat Mexico, France and Argentina on route to the final. Will history repeat?

Maybe if we get to the final we'll have VAR decide a shot which came down off the bar definitely didn't go in and a late attack brought to a halt because there are supporters on the pitch.

 

[DarloRich]

lets take out fence one at a time. Concentrate on Norway.

 

[Minnietheminx]

Starmer reportedly wants a Bank Holiday if England win the world cup. All I'll say is, I dread to see what spending cuts are coming to fund the massive bung needed to make FIFA engineer that outcome while outbidding others for the same purpose:

England to get bank holiday if team win World Cup, Starmer expected to announce

Prime minister understood to be poised to give England a day off should the nation’s team bring home the trophy for first time since 1966

www.theguardian.com

Well, that's the kiss of death then