FIFA World Cup 2026

[timber]

I didn't see the game but I did see Portugal-Congo and they are a well organised team that grinds the game to an halt enticing lateral and back passes.
At the time it seemed to me Portugal was playing badly and slowly but perhaps there was more to it.

 

[Apple fanboy]

England’s passing was woeful at times. Never at a good pace or in front of the player. Rarely the right pass either.

We didn’t deserve the win and I think Congo were unlucky to not win or at least take it to extra time.

We rely on Kane to dig us out of a hole far too often.

 

[zephonic]

Kane is carrying a team of pretenders. It only gets harder from here.

And Bellingham and Rice. Those are the key players.

 

[zephonic]

Someone on twitter suggested a different way to get to the playoffs:

Have the group stage winners advance automatically to the 1/8 finals, and have the runners-up play the first elimination round.

I thought there was merit to this idea, and broke it down with ChatGPT as follows:

- 12 winners of the group stages advance to the 1/8 finals (round of 16)
- 12 runners up do a second group stage, four groups of 3. The four winners advance to 1/8 finals

This way, there are only 12 games in the second round, and a total of 100 games exactly in the tournament. Winning the group stage is much more desirable for the first round as it offers a material benefit, and winning the second round is necessary.

No more of this calculating optimal paths to knockout rounds. And four less games make the tournament just a little more compact, although that may not be what FIFA and commerce want.

What does everybody think about that?

 

[Corefile]

What does everybody think about that?

If you want to change the format by doing away with the individual groups then change to the format of the CL groups and EL groups under UEFA. Then it is a big league table and enough permutations to totally confuse everybody and everything so you just want to win every game.

 

[timber]

Senegal is completely outclassing Belgium.
Two goals but absolute control

 

[zephonic]

If you want to change the format by doing away with the individual groups then change to the format of the CL groups and EL groups under UEFA. Then it is a big league table and enough permutations to totally confuse everybody and everything so you just want to win every game.

No, I think the first group stage is fine as is, but I think this shenanigans with the best third placed teams advancing is bollocks. So I propose a second mini group stage (12 matches) for the runners-up only, while the winners all advance directly to the round of 16.

I made a chart with ChatGPT to make it more clear:

 

[timber]

And now Senegal forgot to keep playing until the end.
Absolute cinema

 

[daneoni]

Senegal are cursed

 

[jeremz1ne]

I caught the end of the match, just getting ready for US game but I have a feeling we might get upset for some odd reason

 

[Silencio]

Such a shame for Senegal. Really dodgy penalty call for Belgium right at the death.

Hopefully the USMNT that turned up for their first two games turns up again today.

England was very poor, indeed. Tuchel's bad squad selections bailed out by Kane's brilliance. They're going to get destroyed by Mexico in the next round.

 

[Corefile]

England was very poor, indeed. Tuchel's bad squad selections bailed out by Kane's brilliance. They're going to get destroyed by Mexico in the next round.

In the Azteca in Mexico City where Mexico have only ever lost two games? England's first visit there since The Hand of God.

 

[keksikuningas]

really sad for DR Congo. They were fighting hard, Wissa was trying to get the ball into the net with his head while knocked to the ground, absolute dedication. But Kane is just too cracked

 

[Apple fanboy]

really sad for DR Congo. They were fighting hard, Wissa was trying to get the ball into the net with his head while knocked to the ground, absolute dedication. But Kane is just too cracked

We are a one man team. We won’t beat Mexico in my opinion. But I booked Tuesday off anyway with a 1am start!

 

[timber]

In the Azteca in Mexico City where Mexico have only ever lost two games? England's first visit there since The Hand of God.

The real problem with the Azteca is the height, 2200m.

Portugal played a friendly with Mexico there in March and you could see the players loosing intensity and stamina (OK, with the Portuguese national team you never know the reason, but that time it was obvious).

Now, with higher stakes and with the Mexican players so well seasoned after several games with those conditions it will certainly be a challenge for England.

 

[keksikuningas]

The real problem with the Azteca is the height, 2200m.

Portugal played a friendly with Mexico there in March and you could see the players loosing intensity and stamina (OK, with the Portuguese national team you never know the reason, but that time it was obvious).

Now, with higher stakes and with the Mexican players so well seasoned after several games with those conditions it will certainly be a challenge for England.

i heard that most of the teams participating had training sessions at a similar altitude so that players could adapt in advance

 

[James_C]

We are a one man team. We won’t beat Mexico in my opinion. But I booked Tuesday off anyway with a 1am start!

I made the same mistake, until I realised that 1AM on the 6th of July is our Sunday night and have changed my Holiday booking to Monday.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I made the same mistake, until I realised that 1AM on the 6th of July is our Sunday night and have changed by Holiday booking to Monday.

Crap. Your right!

 

[Madonepro]

i heard that most of the teams participating had training sessions at a similar altitude so that players could adapt in advance

Very surprised that Mexico have been allowed to play all their matches so far at home.

 

[keksikuningas]

Really feel for Croatia. Would've been generational performance if they kicked Portugal out

 

[Corefile]

Very surprised that Mexico have been allowed to play all their matches so far at home.

England played all 1966 games at Wembley.

 

[Madonepro]

England played all 1966 games at Wembley.

That may have been the case, but the clear advantage of altitude benefits them greater than any other team. In many competitions, the place in the group table or ladder determines the venue for a knockout match. As the World Cup is revenue driven, and the host nations would have paid billions to FIFA for the pleasure, a few perks. here or there suffice.

 

[Lioness~]

Portugal - Croatia 2 - 1
Exiting, and good for Ronaldo to safely place that penalty.
Then an disallowed goal - luckily there is VAR.

Portugal now meets Spain, nice 'derby' 🔥

 

[Corefile]

That may have been the case, but the clear advantage of altitude benefits them greater than any other team. In many competitions, the place in the group table or ladder determines the venue for a knockout match. As the World Cup is revenue driven, and the host nations would have paid billions to FIFA for the pleasure, a few perks. here or there suffice.

Speaking from personal experience of playing physical sports in the Rockies much higher than Mexico City, the altitude differential is overrated.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Speaking from personal experience of playing physical sports in the Rockies much higher than Mexico City, the altitude differential is overrated.

I think that largely depends on the level of competition.

In lower leagues the fitness level is less consistent so you see less of a change with the altitude.

At a top pro level they are all (pretty much) at the same fitness level, so the acclimatisation makes a bigger difference.

Look at Mexico’s home versus away record.