World Cup 2026

[Trackman]

Regardless of the channel, we should have an on-line commentary-free stream (the BBC offer us either TV commentary or radio 5 commentary over the pictures) and in fact I think Sky used to do that when they were decent? In these days of cuts to the BBC I would have thought they'd be more than happy to ditch there so-called "pundits"!!

Yes they did. They had a 'fanzone' too, basically two opposing fans commentating within picture, it was hilarious! The other option for no commentary at all, the only drawback it was a red button job so in SD.

 

[Dave61]

A good start for England although goals conceded was a bit of a concern & Croatia had some spells in the game where they were on top. Still not liking these ‘Hydration/advert breaks’

Great to see Lionel Messi get a hat trick last night as Argentina won 3-0.

The Hydration breaks in the recent games have started to attract a lot of boos from the crowds, especially where conditions don't really warrant one.

I don't like them either as they break the momentum of the team on top and in some games it has gone the other way, they really should stop it becoming a tactical team talk.

 

[Haywain]

I don't like them either as they break the momentum of the team on top and in some games it has gone the other way, they really should stop it becoming a tactical team talk.

I don't like them either, but now they've started to have them they will continue and, if they are giving teams the potential tactical advantage of such a break in some games, they must do it in all games.

 

[bubieyehyeh]

Most pubs - well the ones that show football the rest of the year at least - will be using Sky boxes. There are dedicated trade channels which aren't available to the public, so even when Amazon held rights, they were available to commercial customers over satellite. They're normally used to provide different advertising to people in pubs compared to those at home.

The world cup host broadcast feeds are being produced in HD. There is no UHD feed available (although some broadcasters are upconverting so they can say they've got it in 4K, but it's not a true 4K signal).

Not correct, the world cup is being shoot in 4K HDR.
ITV are using the SDR World Feed.
BBC are using the 4K HDR feed on iPlayer and downsampling for broadcast channels.
The BBC virtual studio is also shot in 4K HDR.

 

[Haywain]

Not correct, the world cup is being shoot in 4K HDR.
ITV are using the SDR World Feed.
BBC are using the 4K HDR feed on iPlayer and downsampling for broadcast channels.
The BBC virtual studio is also shot in 4K HDR.

It's on TV though (for the benefit of those of us who don't understand any of that)?

 

[bubieyehyeh]

It's on TV though (for the benefit of those of us who don't understand any of that)?

If by "on TV" you mean via an aerial or satellite dish - it will be at SD or HD resolution.

Of course you can launch the iplayer app "on some TVs" (or plug a fire stick into a TV) and if you choose the UHD stream in iplayer it will be 4K resolution (basically twice as many horizontal and vertical pixels as HD, it can also has a higher dynamic range on the UHD feed).

Games on ITV will only be SD or HD resolution.

 

[brad465]

The US have topped Group D, and Iran could top Group G if they beat Egypt and other results go their way. If this happens, then both teams win their Round of 32 games, they will meet for the Round of 16, in what would be a real nuclear showdown. After beating Egypt they need New Zealand not to have won win twice and have a better GD than both NZ and Belgium.

 

[Trackman]

The US have topped Group D, and Iran could top Group G if they beat Egypt and other results go their way. If this happens, then both teams win their Round of 32 games, they will meet for the Round of 16, in what would be a real nuclear showdown.

But a point is all they can score

someone must get this reference!

 

[Djgr]

If by "on TV" you mean via an aerial or satellite dish - it will be at SD or HD resolution.

Of course you can launch the iplayer app "on some TVs" (or plug a fire stick into a TV) and if you choose the UHD stream in iplayer it will be 4K resolution (basically twice as many horizontal and vertical pixels as HD, it can also has a higher dynamic range on the UHD feed).

Games on ITV will only be SD or HD resolution.

I think I can live with this!

 

[styles]

Well I for one have been following my home team with great intent, watching every minute of their world cup games. Rooting for Wales may seem like a lost cause to some though.

But seriously, England are almost certainly going through, and I'm hoping Scotland make it through on the best 3rd-placers. It does feel like people unite quite well over events like the world cup, even if they're not normally footy fans. I don't particularly follow the sport but I do get excited about the world cup and the Euros. It's been good fun so far!

 

[brad465]

Messi is now the all-time World Cup goalscorer after scoring against Austria. If he has a good tournament hereafter he could easily leave Klose and others far behind, until Mbappe potentially sets a new record in the following tournament (he is on 14 goals, and is aged 27, so potentially has another 2 world cups after this one). Kane might exceed Klose's tally but I doubt he'll ever have this particular record.

 

[HSTEd]

I must say I am not a fan of the switch from goal difference to head-to-head - it seems likely to manufacture a lot of dead rubbers.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I must say I am not a fan of the switch from goal difference to head-to-head - it seems likely to manufacture a lot of dead rubbers.

Maybe, but the one saving grace of the 8 of the 12 third placed teams qualifying is that there should be less than if it was just the top two in each group

 

[Trackman]

I must say I am not a fan of the switch from goal difference to head-to-head

How did it work beforehand? I thought it used to work on goal difference, then draw lots .. I also wonder if this has actually happened.

 

[SuspectUsual]

How did it work beforehand? I thought it used to work on goal difference, then draw lots .. I also wonder if this has actually happened.

It was goal difference, then goals scored, then in recent times disciplinary record, then draw lots. Don’t think it ever got to that

 

[johntea]

Looks like a hydration break provided by God just before the half time break of France vs Iraq!

 

[Bantamzen]

Looks like a hydration break provided by God just before the half time break of France vs Iraq!

Looking at the weather radar, there's a lot of lightning to the north of Downtown Philadelphia which is tracking slowly east. This is likely to be the first game that gets delayed for a while until lightning activity has passed.

Edit: This is the website I'm using:

Lightning Map

 

[Old Yard Dog]

The sight of Max Crocombe in the New Zealand goal brought back amusing memories of his time at Salford City in National League North.

Max was sent off at Bradford for having a wee-wee behind his net three minutes from time.

Max Crocombe: Salford City goalkeeper sent off for urinating

Salford City goalkeeper Max Crocombe is sent off for urinating during his side's win at Bradford Park Avenue.

www.bbc.co.uk

Unfortunately I missed the game as I was using up my KLM air miles to do a couple of grounds in Stockholm.

Bradford and Salford City have gone their different ways since 2017.

In 1991 both were in the North West Counties League. There was a cock-up at the AGM which left divisions 1 and 2 with odd numbers of teams. An SGM was called a week later to even the leagues up. The powers that be then had to decide whether to promote Bradford, who had finished 3rd in NWCL2, or reprieve Salford, who were bottom of NWCL1. Bradford got the vote as the rules said the "bottom team in D1 shall be relegated". How times have changed since.

 

[Trackman]

It was goal difference, then goals scored, then in recent times disciplinary record, then draw lots. Don’t think it ever got to that

Just done some googling, 1990 it last happened in England's group.
Holland and ROI both finished in 2nd place.
It didn't really matter so to speak, depending on the draw as they both progressed to the next round.

 

[JD2168]

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Portugal in a 5-0 win against Uzbekistan, he is now the second oldest player to score at a World Cup after Roger Milla in 1994

 

[Ivor]

England 0 Ghana 0

Well that was a hard watch, England seemed to give it a bit of go in the last 15 minutes but not impressed overall, didn’t think the ref was decent either.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Back to being awful. England very lucky not to concede a penalty as well

 

[Ted633]

Back to being awful. England very lucky not to concede a penalty as well

???
Do you mean the collision between Pickford and the Ghana player? That was outside the area.
Or did I miss something? (I was in the pub!)

 

[SuspectUsual]

???
Do you mean the collision between Pickford and the Ghana player? That was outside the area.
Or did I miss something? (I was in the pub!)

No not that

Konsa, both feet off the ground, fouled the Ghana striker when he was clean through and inside the box.

Absolutely incredible that the VAR didn’t get involved

 

[AlterEgo]

No not that

Konsa, both feet off the ground, fouled the Ghana striker when he was clean through and inside the box.

Absolutely incredible that the VAR didn’t get involved

Stonewall penalty and I said so at the time. Commentators on BBC didn't say a word.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Stonewall penalty and I said so at the time. Commentators on BBC didn't say a word.

Yeah I said it straight away. No surprise that the idiot Shearer didn’t say anything but the commentator should have. The challenge just *looked* wrong, it wasn’t a super slo-mo has he got the man or the ball first type of decision.

I wonder if they mistook the offside that was given correctly after the foul for the next piece of play, as being an offside for the through ball, and then didn’t look at the foul

 

[Trackman]

England 0 Ghana 0

Well that was a hard watch, England seemed to give it a bit of go in the last 15 minutes but not impressed overall, didn’t think the ref was decent either.

To me, England don't seem to be bothered - I saw this is the first game.

 

[Ivor]

To me, England don't seem to be bothered - I saw this is the first game.

Definitely agree with that, there seems little passion to play for the country unlike many years ago when players viewed it as an honour & wanted to step out on the pitch. There are some still with that passion like Kane, Rice & Pickford as examples but there are too few.

 

[jupiter]

I only watched the first half which was as dull as ditchwater. Turned it back on for the last three minutes or so and decided I’d probably made the right decision.

 

[Ted633]

No not that

Konsa, both feet off the ground, fouled the Ghana striker when he was clean through and inside the box.

Absolutely incredible that the VAR didn’t get involved

Now seen it. Must have been in the toilet at the time!