General World Cup Chat

[Ian Nacho]

The worst thing about the bigger format is that that there isn't as many big games involving two big nations. I'd never be watching Belgium v Iran outside of a World Cup but there's a chance I would watch Senegal v France. 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

1 minute ago, Ian Nacho said:

The worst thing about the bigger format is that that there isn't as many big games involving two big nations. I'd never be watching Belgium v Iran outside of a World Cup but there's a chance I would watch Senegal v France. 

 

But there'll be just as many of those games involving two big nations, they'll just make up a smaller % of overall fixtures?

[Parafox]

What did Emma Hayes say or do that has created furore on social media. I missed it and I'm not paying The Sun or ant other rag to find out. Thanks 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

4 minutes ago, Parafox said:

What did Emma Hayes say or do that has created furore on social media. I missed it and I'm not paying The Sun or ant other rag to find out. Thanks 

 

She could breathe and some folk would wank themselves into a rage over it

 

She paid tribute to her dead dad on fathers day then revealed a bit of a naff GIRLBOSS slogan on her jacket, it really isn't anything for people to foam at the mouth over 

[StanSP]

9 minutes ago, Parafox said:

What did Emma Hayes say or do that has created furore on social media. I missed it and I'm not paying The Sun or ant other rag to find out. Thanks 

Nothing major. 

 

Did some tactical analysis, showed a quote on her jacket that her dad must have said to her, and on father's day it really shouldn't be that much of a big deal, in any guise. 

[Vlad the Fox]

7 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

She could breathe and some folk would wank themselves into a rage over it

 

She paid tribute to her dead dad on fathers day then revealed a bit of a naff GIRLBOSS slogan on her jacket, it really isn't anything for people to foam at the mouth over 

I think some of the most entertaining foaming I’ve seen was when the bbc announced the new Doctor was going to be a women.  

[ramboacdc]

Found this page and think it may come in handy when we start getting to that 3rd place BS again. 

https://worldcup.sfae.studio/ 

[Super_horns]

4 minutes ago, ramboacdc said:

Found this page and think it may come in handy when we start getting to that 3rd place BS again. 

https://worldcup.sfae.studio/ 

BBC have got a current ranking and potential games .

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/schedule#3rd

[ramboacdc]

5 minutes ago, Super_horns said:

BBC have got a current ranking and potential games .

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/schedule#3rd

Thanks. 

I went digging as to why Mexico, USA and Germany were already down as group winners. I didn't realise GD means nothing now and H2H is the first tiebreaker. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn94jrj8d5go 

[The Blur]

18 minutes ago, ramboacdc said:

Thanks. 

I went digging as to why Mexico, USA and Germany were already down as group winners. I didn't realise GD means nothing now and H2H is the first tiebreaker. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn94jrj8d5go 

 

FotMob app has 3rd Place Table too.  Just go to any group table and scroll downwards.  

[OntarioFox]

I've only just learnt about the change to H2H from GD, what a stupid decision. Makes what could have been competetive final games into dead rubber processions.

 

Apparently it's something UEFA were pushing, which is surprising given it stinks of Yankification. Very unfair on Turkey and Tunisia, as shit as they are they should at least have the opportunity to put a cricket score past Sweden / USA and be in with a shout.

[shen]

On 20/06/2026 at 12:15, Muzzy_no7 said:

I just hope that the 2038 WC returns to a country like England (plus Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast). 

Hmmm I wonder if that region has a name. Would be pretty cool if it did! 

 

On 20/06/2026 at 12:26, Muzzy_no7 said:

You just know there is something either broken or manipulated if all of Saudi, Qatar, Iran, Jordan, Uzbek and Iraq have qualified.

 

19 teams from AFC and CAF while nations like Denmark and Italy are absent.

 

 

 

 

Denmark and Italy had their best chances in a while to qualify. Denmark ultimately didn't make it because they messed up at home against Belarus. Mentally they never recovered.

Their last WC appearance was abject as well. In fact, if it wasn't for Kasper's heroics against Croatia in 2018, I'd argue they haven't done much of note at World Cups since 2002.

 

But it's always been like that with UEFA, some strong teams will miss out. But that also makes the qualifiers worth something, so there's two sides to this.

 

If anything, I'd question allowing the three strongest teams to auto qualify from Concacaf while then not reducing the amount of qualifying spots for that region. Then again, we likely wouldn't have the romantic Curacao and Haiti stories if they had curbed it.

[Muzzy_no7]

1 minute ago, shen said:

Hmmm I wonder if that region has a name. Would be pretty cool if it did! 

 

Denmark and Italy had their best chances in a while to qualify. Denmark ultimately didn't make it because they messed up at home against Belarus. Mentally they never recovered.

Their last WC appearance was abject as well. In fact, if it wasn't for Kasper's heroics against Croatia in 2018, I'd argue they haven't done much of note at World Cups since 2002.

 

But it's always been like that with UEFA, some strong teams will miss out. But that also makes the qualifiers worth something, so there's two sides to this.

 

If anything, I'd question allowing the three strongest teams to auto qualify from Concacaf while then not reducing the amount of qualifying spots for that region. Then again, we likely wouldn't have the romantic Curacao and Haiti stories if they had curbed it.

It does except Saying UK would suggest Edinburgh too…but I’m not suggesting that.

[Grebfromgrebland]

2 hours ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

She could breathe and some folk would wank themselves into a rage over it

 

She paid tribute to her dead dad on fathers day then revealed a bit of a naff GIRLBOSS slogan on her jacket, it really isn't anything for people to foam at the mouth over 

Do itv still make her present from a kitchen while the men sit down on sofas?

[bovril]

On 20/06/2026 at 11:15, Muzzy_no7 said:

Being mid thirties the WC for me peaked between 98-2006. 
 

France was so good.

 

SK/Japan was amazing considering it was hosted by two countries.

 

Germany was just near perfect. 
 

SA wasn’t great but following Germany it had a lot to do. 
 

Brazil got things back on track a bit but the two that followed have progressively got worse.

 

This one is an improvement but I don’t think the WC should be anymore than 32 teams and ideally it should be hosted in one country or at least a tighter region.

 

Iberia and Morocco should get away with it similar to SK/Japan.

 

I just hope that the 2038 WC returns to a country like England (plus Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast). 

'England 2038' including Glasgow as a venue would be great banter to be fair.

[Lambert09]

I went to my first ever World Cup game and oh my days what an experience! It was a reminder that I can still love football and was so refreshing after being in what feels like an abusive relationship with club football. 
 

I went to the Scotland game, everyone was amazing to me and I left rooting for them. What a fantastic group to party with and the love they received in Boston is off the charts. 
 

the feeling I got walking in that stadium, I haven’t had in far too long and unfortunately that dopamine hit, has forced me to buy tickets to go and watch Algeria. I didn’t want to miss a last chance to watch Riyad and I can’t wait. Just a small issue of now having to drive 16 hours each way or pay $1k for flights but that my friends is a small thing to pay to feel like you have your hobby and your passion back. I absolutely love football and I hate that I was able to forget that.

 

what really irks me though is that this had the potential to be the best ever World Cup. It really did and if fifa and America hadn’t worked so hard to commercialize and price people out, then this would genuinely be so superb. 

Edited 23 hours ago by Lambert09

[Jon the Hat]

 

BBC headlines making sense as usual!

[Wymsey]

52 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

 

 

BBC headlines making sense as usual!

Had noticed that many of their recent articles have focused on one player, like Salah and Yamal, instead of the whole team.

[Raj]

2 hours ago, Lambert09 said:

I went to my first ever World Cup game and oh my days what an experience! It was a reminder that I can still love football and was so refreshing after being in what feels like an abusive relationship with club football. 
 

I went to the Scotland game, everyone was amazing to me and I left rooting for them. What a fantastic group to party with and the love they received in Boston is off the charts. 
 

the feeling I got walking in that stadium, I haven’t had in far too long and unfortunately that dopamine hit, has forced me to buy tickets to go and watch Algeria. I didn’t want to miss a last chance to watch Riyad and I can’t wait. Just a small issue of now having to drive 16 hours each way or pay $1k for flights but that my friends is a small thing to pay to feel like you have your hobby and your passion back. I absolutely love football and I hate that I was able to forget that.

 

what really irks me though is that this had the potential to be the best ever World Cup. It really did and if fifa and America hadn’t worked so hard to commercialize and price people out, then this would genuinely be so superb. 

As long as you Booed the "hydration break" and Infentile whenever he was on screen!! 

Good on ya.

[davieG]

JOE.co.uk  ·

Follow

 

Australia fans have made their feelings known about tipping culture in the United States, calling on businesses to pay their staff properly.

Some businesses have reportedly increased prices by as much as 20% automatically, citing lower-than-expected tips from travelling fans.

Maybe if the cost of attending the tournament wasn't already so expensive, it wouldn't be happening.

[AKCJ]

On 20/06/2026 at 21:29, bovril said:

Was the wonderwall post game singalong the cringiest moment in football history? 

Not even slightly.

 

Felt natural and not forced. You could see the connection between the fans and the players.

 

Just look towards Arsenal if you want cringeworthy.

[AKCJ]

21 minutes ago, davieG said:

JOE.co.uk  ·

Follow

 

Australia fans have made their feelings known about tipping culture in the United States, calling on businesses to pay their staff properly.

Some businesses have reportedly increased prices by as much as 20% automatically, citing lower-than-expected tips from travelling fans.

Maybe if the cost of attending the tournament wasn't already so expensive, it wouldn't be happening.

One question i've had re. the American tipping culture...

 

Are you expected to tip the person that pours your beer at a football stadium?

 

I can understanding tipping someone that serves your table or even the person that brings beer to your seat. But if you go downstairs and queue for a pint are you expected to leave a tip?

[AKCJ]

5 hours ago, Lambert09 said:

I went to my first ever World Cup game and oh my days what an experience! It was a reminder that I can still love football and was so refreshing after being in what feels like an abusive relationship with club football. 
 

I went to the Scotland game, everyone was amazing to me and I left rooting for them. What a fantastic group to party with and the love they received in Boston is off the charts. 
 

the feeling I got walking in that stadium, I haven’t had in far too long and unfortunately that dopamine hit, has forced me to buy tickets to go and watch Algeria. I didn’t want to miss a last chance to watch Riyad and I can’t wait. Just a small issue of now having to drive 16 hours each way or pay $1k for flights but that my friends is a small thing to pay to feel like you have your hobby and your passion back. I absolutely love football and I hate that I was able to forget that.

 

what really irks me though is that this had the potential to be the best ever World Cup. It really did and if fifa and America hadn’t worked so hard to commercialize and price people out, then this would genuinely be so superb. 

I've only been watching football on the tele and it's been fantastic to fall in love with football again. Caught a serious case of World Cup fever and it's been so needed after years of misery following Leicester.

 

Nice to feel excited by goals again. Buzzing for tomorrow night.

[Finnegan]

51 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

One question i've had re. the American tipping culture...

 

Are you expected to tip the person that pours your beer at a football stadium?

 

I can understanding tipping someone that serves your table or even the person that brings beer to your seat. But if you go downstairs and queue for a pint are you expected to leave a tip?

 

I can't answer this question cos I'm not at the world cup.

 

But I know that when I just went up to the pool bar to grab a pint I was expected to tip but when I got tacos or something from a kiosk I wasn't. Not sure if that helps

 

[Scotch]

13 hours ago, ramboacdc said:

Found this page and think it may come in handy when we start getting to that 3rd place BS again. 

https://worldcup.sfae.studio/ 

On the skysport live score app it has a current and live table of all the third places and how they sit.