2026 World Cup

[Bilo]

2 hours ago, Super_horns said:

Will we see West Germany v Austria 1982 type games as there are going to be groups of 3?

Surely with 16 groups of three, there won't be any mutually convenient results like that in the offing? Win the group or you're out.

[Lionator]

23 minutes ago, Bilo said:

Surely with 16 groups of three, there won't be any mutually convenient results like that in the offing? Win the group or you're out.

It’ll be two teams progressing into a round of 32.

Edited 17 June 2022 by Lionator

[Bilo]

1 hour ago, Lionator said:

It’ll be two teams progressing into a round of 32.

Jesus Christ, that's nonsensical. 😂

[Super_horns]

1 hour ago, Bilo said:

Jesus Christ, that's nonsensical. 😂

You will get teams playing each other knowing a draw potentially might be enough to get through ..

 

 

[Leicesterpool]

15 hours ago, isaidno said:

Is it definitely 48 teams for this one ?

Bet Scotland still don't qualify 

[Bilo]

7 hours ago, Super_horns said:

You will get teams playing each other knowing a draw potentially might be enough to get through ..

 

 

I honestly hadn't realised what the format was. 

 

A win or bust approach with only one team going through the group would have been far better as no side would have dared perform below 100%, but this format is nonsense. Imagine the utter crap in the Round of 32 as well. 

[marbles]

I can’t wait - AT&T Stadium in Dallas is less than 10 miles from my house.  
Houston is a 4 hour drive….looks like I’m going to both!!!!

Edited 19 June 2022 by marbles

[ozleicester]

Seattle and Vancouver are very tempting.

[lcfc old boy]

On 17/06/2022 at 14:40, walkerleeds said:

Deffo want to go out for a couple of weeks for this, but i've never been to America. Where do you start when figuring out where to go?

start by looking up your family tree , friends of friends who live out there etc etc, its going to be expensive, 

[SkidsFox]

Are sports events safe in LA? Just thinking about the gangs there, and how fans could be a target. I suppose they must have a good track record in hosting big events.

[HybridFox]

2 hours ago, SkidsFox said:

Are sports events safe in LA? Just thinking about the gangs there, and how fans could be a target. I suppose they must have a good track record in hosting big events.

Probably the safest to visit when there's a global event like this. Security will be everywhere

Edited 26 June 2022 by TK95

[Detroit Blues]

11 hours ago, SkidsFox said:

Are sports events safe in LA? Just thinking about the gangs there, and how fans could be a target. I suppose they must have a good track record in hosting big events.

I mean the Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Dodgers, Angels, Rams, Chargers, Galaxy, LAFC all manage to have games out there 😂

[marbles]

Only bad thing about sporting events in LA, is you end up with “cocaine and boob job” crowd.  People with money who have no interest in the sport, but feel they need to be seen there.  Atmosphere could end up lacking.

[SouthStandUpperTier]

FIFA rethinking their plan for 16 groups of 3 teams and possibly sticking with 4-team groups. Would be a wise decision imo.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64828094

 

[Super_horns]

27 minutes ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

FIFA rethinking their plan for 16 groups of 3 teams and possibly sticking with 4-team groups. Would be a wise decision imo.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64828094

 

 

27 minutes ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

FIFA rethinking their plan for 16 groups of 3 teams and possibly sticking with 4-team groups. Would be a wise decision imo.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64828094

 

Someone there with common sense potentially...

[Nalis]

14 hours ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

FIFA rethinking their plan for 16 groups of 3 teams and possibly sticking with 4-team groups. Would be a wise decision imo.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64828094

 

It wouldn't replicate the 32 team world cup.

 

Having a round of 16 as the first knockout round would mean the group winners and best 4 2nd place teams go through.

 

Having a round of 32 as the first knockout round would mean the top 2 qualify along with the best 8 3rd place teams.

 

Essentially a bigger version of the crap euros format.

[Nalis]

And so unsurprisingly its 12 groups of 4 with the best eight (8!) third placed teams going to the round of 32.

[Super_horns]

European qualifying format announced:

https://twitter.com/DaleJohnsonESPN/status/1674354298958782465

UEFA has set the recommended qualifying format for the 2026 World Cup.

📌 12 groups
📌 12 group winners qualify for the World Cup
📌 12 runners-up go into the playoffs

The 4 best UEFA Nations League group *winners* not to be 1st or 2nd in qualifying join the playoff paths.