General World Cup 2026 News and Views

[Beeian]

The 3 officials for France game are from Argentina just in case anyone is still doubting the corruption .

There should be no officials involved ( either on the pitch or VAR) who are from the any of the countries whose teams that have made the semi finals.

 

[Banana]

The FBI are to investigate money laundering of $300 million and corruption by the Argentine FA.

FBI Probe Casts Shadow Over Argentina’s World Cup Run

As defending champions Argentina continue their quest for another FIFA World Cup title, a major off-field controversy has emerged that could create unwanted distractions around one of football’s most powerful federations. According to multiple reports, the Argentine Football Association, known...

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Banana]

There should be no officials involved ( either on the pitch or VAR) who are from the any of the countries whose teams that have made the semi finals.

That's ok because no team have made the SFs yet

If you meant the QFs then England are officiating one of the matches. I don't think you suspect them of giving dodgy decision, right?

 

[German Bee]

Will we get a public holiday on the Monday if England make the world cup final?

https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/65906/bank-holiday-for-celebrations-if-england-win-the-2026-fifa-world-cup?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

[guilly]

The 3 officials for France game are from Argentina just in case anyone is still doubting the corruption .

I must admit I suspected something was going on when I saw the French ref yesterday, but this is definitely an overwhelming evidence of the corruption at the highest levels...

 

[Gawain]

The FBI are to investigate money laundering of $300 million and corruption by the Argentine FA.

If it should turn out that the AFA was "cooking the books" to enrich itself and its leading officials personally, while it would demonstrate a corrupt mindset etc, it wouldn't necessarily mean that they were also corruptly interfering in on-pitch matters.

There are any number of cases where officials were up to no good eg Jack Warner at T&T FA, or Chuck Blazer at US Soccer for example, with no evidence of associated match-fixing uncovered.

That said, the US authorities are normally very hot on this sort of thing - assuming you-know-who doesn't get involved somehow - so if there should be evidence eg of payments to referees, there must be a good chance they'll find it.

 

[Pixelator]

Trivia Q - Can you name one of Cristiano Ronaldo's surnames? Don't post it here, Wiki it (Clue: Ronaldo isn't one of them)

There's only one team left who habitually put given names and nicknames on the backs of their shirts, rather than family names - Spain, with a shocking 11 infractions in the squad. Come on, Belgium, you've done the world one favour, now rid us of this scourge.

Norway and Morocco each have one infraction, and Morocco's goalie Bounou misspells his surname to look like a U2 fanboy. I think we can let misdemeanours these pass with a light warning.
Argentina are surprisingly clean in this respect, with surname (most of them only have one) on the back of each shirt.

Brazil were the biggest culprits, with only 6 out of 26 having one of their surnames on the back.
I wonder how many Brentford or Bournemouth fans even know the surnames of their star centre forward.
Wiki Thiago , Wiki Rayan
As for Paquetá!
Wiki Paquetá

 

[guilly]

If it should turn out that the AFA was "cooking the books" to enrich itself and its leading officials personally, while it would demonstrate a corrupt mindset etc, it wouldn't necessarily mean that they were also corruptly interfering in on-pitch matters.

There are any number of cases where officials were up to no good eg Jack Warner at T&T FA, or Chuck Blazer at US Soccer for example, with no evidence of associated match-fixing uncovered.

That said, the US authorities are normally very hot on this sort of thing - assuming you-know-who doesn't get involved somehow - so if there should be evidence eg of payments to referees, there must be a good chance they'll find it.

Corruption at AFA is so blatant that even the local government is investigating it!
But to give you an idea, when the current AFA president was first elected, he was running against an outsider, a TV businessman, in a national televised voting event (ala world cup draw). The first round ended in a draw, with 38 votes for each candidate - which was odd, as there were only 75 clubs voting!
The outsider quickly realised he was not a good fit, and that's when Tapia reign began.
It makes Marinakis look like a good, decent hard working guy

 

[Jezybee]

The FBI are to investigate money laundering of $300 million and corruption by the Argentine FA.

First rule of accepting bribes is not to do it in US $ as the use of their currency gives American Federal Agencies the right to investigate… or so I’m told

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Will we get a public holiday on the Monday if England make the world cup final?

Any talk of this should be banned, for the same reasons I gave for the axing of the song (that shouldn't even be named).

 

[German Bee]

Any talk of this should be banned, for the same reasons I gave for the axing of the song (that shouldn't even be named).

Why?.The Scots got a day off for making it to the world cup!

 

[nick logan]

I must admit I suspected something was going on when I saw the French ref yesterday, but this is definitely an overwhelming evidence of the corruption at the highest levels...

Were the VAR French ?
Why go back 300 years for Egypt goal but not for the Salah incident ?
Would the second goal been disallowed if Argentina scored it ?

And that's before Rice and Bellingham getting yellow cards on saturday for turning up so they miss the semi with er Argentina if we get through .

 

[German Bee]

Any talk of this should be banned, for the same reasons I gave for the axing of the song (that shouldn't even be named).

Starmer hints at bank holiday if England win World Cup

The prime minister says he does not want to "jinx it" but "ask me again if we get to the final".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Mr Tree]

Starmer hints at bank holiday if England win World Cup

The prime minister says he does not want to "jinx it" but "ask me again if we get to the final".

www.bbc.co.uk

Yes, exactly. Can we cross that bridge when it gets built, please?

 

[guilly]

Were the VAR French ?
Why go back 300 years for Egypt goal but not for the Salah incident ?
Would the second goal been disallowed if Argentina scored it ?

And that's before Rice and Bellingham getting yellow cards on saturday for turning up so they miss the semi with er Argentina if we get through .

Apparently yes, but no worries, you are probably still right

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Why?.The Scots got a day off for making it to the world cup!

No problem in getting it, just don't mention it. You, Starmer or anyone at all!!!

 

[nick logan]

Apparently yes, but no worries, you are probably still right

Sorry i am probably being paranoid but still angry about that game .

 

[guilly]

Sorry i am probably being paranoid but still angry about that game .

It's alright, emotions and the magic of the World Cup, that probably makes you see the Egyptian coach as a respectable man, just like you may be in love now with the likes of Gordon and Pickford.

But please also take a look at the same guy, last year saying exactly the same about the AFCON being rigged for Senegal after they lost to them (AFCON, a comp which is still not clear who won btw). Or doing the "anti racism" signal several times, because of an Israel flag in the stands, just to delay the game.
Must be hard to be a wannabe bully when you do not like getting beaten, and you monumentally fall apart in front of the world.

On the other hand, I am still buzzing, and can't believe the result to be honest!

 

[stevil]

Why?.The Scots got a day off for making it to the world cup!

Agree with @Lionel Bart-At. It’s not the idea of it, it’s the hubristic fate-tempting prematurity of the announcement. Which is clearly politically motivated…

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Agree with @Lionel Bart-At. It’s not the idea of it, it’s the hubristic fate-tempting prematurity of the announcement. Which is clearly politically motivated…

Corr! A couple of those words need to be entered into the competition!

 

[Gawain]

Why?.The Scots got a day off for making it to the world cup!

Were I Scottish, I'd want a day off from football.

Scrap that, I mean four years off!

 

[stevil]

Corr! A couple of those words need to be entered into the competition!

 

[SpiderBee]

With Justin Bieber now added to the WC final half time show, does anyone think BBC and/or ITV might renege on not showing this?
And with three other acts involved, how will they fit it all into the (supposedly) 11 minutes allocated?
I certainly won't be watching this tosh.

 

[nick logan]

Apparently yes, but no worries, you are probably still right

what about questions 2 and 3 ?

 

[Banana]

View: https://x.com/ErlingHaaland/status/2075212863304618014?s=20

 

[guilly]

what about questions 2 and 3 ?

I said it already in a post, I think disallowing a goal for a foul in the other end of the pitch is wrong, and a terrible use of VAR. I said the same after last season game at Villa Park, which was a very similar scenario, with a goal disallowed because the ball went out 30 seconds before. Refs and linesmen should have more guts and make the calls, instead of play ultra safe and use the video as safenet. Same applies to the 'delayed offside flags' (which I don't like either).

However, it's impossible to know what would have happened. Egypt still went 2-0 up, and could not see the game out, because they went into a defensive passive mode, and couldn't hold the fort for even a shorter period of time.

Not going to lie, I was happy the goal was disallowed, as I was thinking we could not recover from 2 down. Then they still go 2 up, and it seemed inevitable - now we are toasted, good while it lasted.

And then, the last 15 minutes.

I haven't been at the last game vs Milwall at Griffin Park, but if you were, you may have an idea of what those 15 minutes were like.

The Egyptian coach, players, president federation, they can say whatever they want. But they will carry the stain of throwing a 2-0 up, forever.

 

[Bigbee]

View: https://x.com/ErlingHaaland/status/2075212863304618014?s=20

he was born in England , should be playing for us

 

[hobbsy]

With Justin Bieber now added to the WC final half time show, does anyone think BBC and/or ITV might renege on not showing this?
And with three other acts involved, how will they fit it all into the (supposedly) 11 minutes allocated?
I certainly won't be watching this tosh.

I suspect it will be on iPlayer for those that want it.

 

[SanFranciscoBee]

Balogun controversy and fifa corruption aside… if the World Cup is partly about growing the game, it certainly is doing so here. More people tuned into our final game against Belgium than any single NBA, NHL, or MLB game this century.

Unfortunately, it was an absolute embarrassment of a loss. Still a pretty cool moment here for us.

 

[ruislip bee]

Were the VAR French ?
Why go back 300 years for Egypt goal but not for the Salah incident ?
Would the second goal been disallowed if Argentina scored it ?

And that's before Rice and Bellingham getting yellow cards on saturday for turning up so they miss the semi with er Argentina if we get through .

I thought I heard that all yellow cards get wiped after the 1/4 finals so it doesn't matter if either gets another yellow v Norway. Might be wrong though.

 

[Jezybee]

I thought I heard that all yellow cards get wiped after the 1/4 finals so it doesn't matter if either gets another yellow v Norway. Might be wrong though.

Indeed, so if you pick up a second yellow during the quarter-final game, you’re suspended for the semi-final.
However, if you have 1 yellow to your name after the end of the quarter-final game, you start the semi-final on 0 yellow cards.
Introduced to avoid the Gazza Italia 90 situation where a player picks up a second yellow in the semi-final and misses the final.

 

[SpiderBee]

Jayden Adams: South Africa World Cup player dies aged 25

South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams dies at the age of 25, just weeks after featuring for his country at the World Cup.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Gabriel Clark reckons football reporting is the hardest job in the world

 

[Banana]

Introduced to avoid the Gazza Italia 90 situation where a player picks up a second yellow in the semi-final and misses the final.

Unlikely

Probably because some South American was in a similar situation

 

[SpiderBee]

Antonio Rattin: Argentina great remembered for 1966 sending-off dies aged 89

Argentina great Antonio Rattin, whose sending-off at the 1966 World Cup led to the introduction of red and yellow cards, dies aged 89.

www.bbc.co.uk

66 and all that!

 

[kenbee]

The world class players have shown why they are that and Bellingham is now amongst them.

 

[Untouchable]

The world class players have shown why they are that and Bellingham is now amongst them.

Bellingham has been world class for some time (despite only being 23). It’s taken some people far too long to get on board with this.

 

[aawharris]

Bellingham has been world class for some time (despite only being 23). It’s taken some people far too long to get on board with this.

I think a lot of it with Bellingham is that we dont see him week in, week out - unless you religiously watch La Liga - to realise that he really IS that good.

 

[Themepark]

Argentina and England getting through means one of the favourites to take charge of the Final (Oliver) is now getting on the plane home. I'd have taken losing in the Semis if it was Switzerland and it meant an English Ref would be in the middle but... now the only option is to go all the way.

Come on England!!

If Kane could stop diving that'd be great though

 

[German Bee]

Why isn't the final on Saturday night and 3rd v 4th on Sunday

 

[Officer Dibble]

My daughter's been making WC prediction vids by her hamster on Tik Tok if anyone wants a giggle. Gone viral, which apparently is a good thing these days.
View: https://www.tiktok.com/@omelettesworld/video/7653232413509700886

 

[Garybaldbee]

Why isn't the final on Saturday night and 3rd v 4th on Sunday

Because ending the tournament with the 3rd/4th place play off would be a massive anti climax.

 

[GABS]

Hmm


View: https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/2076261775494840499?s=20

 

[Gawain]

Hmm


View: https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/2076261775494840499?s=20

It's coming, no doubt about that.

The only question remaining being, will UEFA get 2, 3 or 4 of the extra 16 places? (Can't see it being any more.)

Which will mean 12, 13 or even 14 more heaps of dung like Qatar, Haiti, Curacao, Iraq, Jordan, Panama and Uzbekistan etc to stink the place out.

But hey ho, maybe they'll stumble upon the next Cabo Verde - 3 draws and 4 goals in 4 games - which will make it all worthwhile.

 

[hairman]

It's coming, no doubt about that.

The only question remaining being, will UEFA get 2, 3 or 4 of the extra 16 places? (Can't see it being any more.)

Which will mean 12, 13 or even 14 more heaps of dung like Qatar, Haiti, Curacao, Iraq, Jordan, Panama and Uzbekistan etc to stink the place out.

But hey ho, maybe they'll stumble upon the next Cabo Verde - 3 draws and 4 goals in 4 games - which will make it all worthwhile.

Why not open it up to every FIFA affiliated nation and make it last all year, every year? Sadly, Vatican City is not a FIFA member, but apparently their team is sh*t-hot. Our loss.

 

[SanFranciscoBee]

Sadly, Vatican City is not a FIFA member, but apparently their team is sh*t-hot. Our loss.

Nick Pope in goal. Jesus up top - was always good at converting on crosses.

 

[upnorthbee]

View attachment 67130
Balogun controversy and fifa corruption aside… if the World Cup is partly about growing the game, it certainly is doing so here. More people tuned into our final game against Belgium than any single NBA, NHL, or MLB game this century.

Unfortunately, it was an absolute embarrassment of a loss. Still a pretty cool moment here for us.

That’s actually really cool to read. The USA will be a powerhouse in football eventually, it’s just a matter of time

 

[Garybaldbee]

View attachment 67130
Balogun controversy and fifa corruption aside… if the World Cup is partly about growing the game, it certainly is doing so here. More people tuned into our final game against Belgium than any single NBA, NHL, or MLB game this century.

Unfortunately, it was an absolute embarrassment of a loss. Still a pretty cool moment here for us.

Has it made more of an impact than 1994 do you think?

 

[Gawain]

That’s actually really cool to read. The USA will be a powerhouse in football eventually, it’s just a matter of time

Agree the first part, not so sure about the second.

For in the end, it all comes down to producing players. And due to their Franchise system/lack of a pyramid; their lack of widespread Academies and specialised coaches; plus (esp) the fact that youngsters have to "pay to play" to learn the game, I'm not sure that they are guaranteed to realise the (otherwise) obvious potential they ought to have. And that's before you consider that there's still far more money in the other four main team sports, competing for young sporting talent.

Of course I'm open to be proven wrong, but if/when it should happen, I reckon it will be later rather than sooner, potentially much later. Let's see.

 

[Andrelux]

Hmm


View: https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/2076261775494840499?s=20

2042:

Tuvalu play Nauru to determine the only team not to qualify for the world cup.
In order to accommodate the increased number of matches for the World Cup finals, as well as the 128 team FIFA Club World Cup, domestic league competitions will be in abeyance this season.