2026 WC USA (et al): Worldwide Opponents Watch [all R's]

Can't help but think that the wheels have pretty much fallen off the Cameroon campaign... Can DRC finally not choke away a big game?

Cameroon 🇨🇲 will be without the following players tomorrow:

Danny Namaso
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa
André Onana

Still plenty of talent to go around, but others will have to step up. #FIFAWorldCup

— The International Window (@windowintlpod) November 12, 2025

 

Same situation for Panama who will be without Barcenas and Murillo tomorrow in Guatemala...

Can Los Chapines put their boogiemen away in El Trebol tomorrow?

 

Really excited for the CAF Playoff. Wild to see that as usual, Nigeria and Cameroon's generalized chaos is rendering what should be straight forward victories, far more questionable. The ESPN preview of the match goes away with conviction that Nigeria should dispatch Gabon, but DR Congo could easily emerge victorious from its clash with Cameroon. I really like the underdog bets in the two matches simply because the ML pay out is pretty crazy.

I also found it odd that Iraq is a pretty big underdog, I definitely think they're better than UAE (Actually think they're better than the Saudi's that finished of them (I think it was Saudi), but they are on the roadie side of a home and home. Thought Iraq at -140 +0.5 made some sense too. Really curious what happens.

Cannot figure out if Gabon has a chance today, Nigeria was horrible in qualifying in '24, a lot better in '25, but still struggling, and apparently the Coach and FA are at war w/one another. I still tend to think it is either, a Nigeria win by multiple goals, or a 0-0 affair. Will be interesting to see if Gabon can pull off the shock.

 

Hypocritical I know, but I find it gross that UAE might take today's game off a Brazilian's goal. This aint the same thing as El Tri and USMNT Dual Nats with heritage or birth's in one country or another, this is gulf state's buying players like Qatar bought the WC (and its own team). Just gross. How many guys in UAE's starting lineup have ---- all to do with UAE heritage? The Goalscorer is Brazilian, 1 midfielder is Portuguese, another is an Argentine, half the back are is Brazilian, looks like half their field players are essentially purchased club players born and raised and developed entirely elsewhere with zero connection other than a club team paying them a ton of money.

I don't know if it's fixable, but I sure as hell know that's not what was intended with dual nationals. To just import, give fat contracts, and then an international switch. Ridiculous.

 

Gabon's Keeper just barely cleared a bouncing, spinning ball he didn't know about until the last second barely off the line. 0-0 30+ mins in. Iraq took an early upset lead on UAE, but the Brazilian equalized minutes later, that match involving primarily South American Expat's, 1 Portuguese dude and a handful of UAE domestic guys vs Iraq remains 1-1. I'm sure you can't tell who I'm cheering for

 

Completely 1 way traffic in Nigeria vs Gabon but Gabon is holding 0-0 thanks to a pretty wild goal line clearance by their keeper.

 

I bet on both teams to score goals in the Gabon vs Nigeria game. It's absolutely impossible that game goes 0-0 in regular time. Gabon has allowed 9 goals during WCQ, while scoring 22.. Nigeria? Have allowed 8 goals, while scoring only 15 but majority were on the backend of their campaign... For reference DRC and Cameroon have only conceded 5 and 6 throughout qualifying..

 

Gabon bunkering in a 5-3-2 formation... I guess they'll look to counter w speed, relying on Bouanga and Auba.

 

Yep, 8 shots to 0, 65-35 possession for Nigeria. Nigeria has to be pretty frustrated that total dominance through 40 minutes hasn't given them a lead. Gabon? Are they playing for penalties? I know their defense is leaky, I guess that's it, but man, at least counter attack once. Definitely thought and think DR Congo (didn't realize that was the same nation as Zaire from the '74 WC) has the better shot at pulling an upset, but I thought Gabon had a legit chance with Nigeria such a mess. Sure as hell looks like zero chance barring a miracle though (of course, scoring goals is never actually that easy in CAF qualifying, so there's that).

 

Gabon vs Nigeria is on my TV while Iraq vs UAE is only getting a little attention on my laptop, but Iraq has looked pesky on counters when I've looked. Just forced an incredible save from The UAE keeper

 

I would be perfectly fine with requiring a either a genetic link or the player to have lived there before the age of 18 to play for the national team.

I actually have no issue with a player moving to another country and adopting it, then playing for them.

But it's clear the vast majority of this is not that, but basically paid mercenaries who were moved there with the intent.

 

Wow VAR doesn't award Gabon a penalty on what appeared to be a handful of jersey from a Nigerian defender

 

I think in the case of UAE there's also the fact that it's practically impossible for the average person to become a citizen there, so it's not like it's a culture of immigrants. They specifically carved huge exceptions for these guys.

 

whats crazy but not really crazy is that if FIFA were to change the rules.. UAE would just adapt to them or find loopholes... for example Qatar does what UAE does but at a much younger age via the ASPIRE Academy.

There's been recent cases in Saudi Arabia of them "recruiting" young maghreb and sub-saharan talents to their expansive Saudi Pro League Academies...

the clock just keeps ticking for these Gulf State nations.

 

Yep and that's part of what bothers me. Iraq has been through it all, horrific ---- for decades upon decades and their team is made up of players from families that have been through all of that, they are from Iraq, and it is viscerally bothersome that UAE is obviously not remotely that. I'll grant, using their domestics would make it nearly impossible these days, but still, how fun is it, if your born and raised in UAE, to be cheering on essentially a club team of internationals, with maybe 4 or 5 players that have anything at all to do with your country's heritage in the starting lineup? It's full on ridiculous.

It may be rich for me to say this, with us historically 25-50% dual nats, but these dual nats were always of American Parentage on at least 1 side, and until this current squad, having fundamental long term connections to the US, rather than just born there like Balo or Musah. There aren't any club stars that were thrusting into the lineup because we've found a loophole since Regis, who was literally the only 1 I can remember. Whereas UAE is basically half no connection whatsoever to UAE in it's field player 10.

So definitely hoping we can get a beautiful story with Iraq going to the WC, and to the US of all places (the fact that they lost the auto ticket playoff because oil rich gulf d bags rigged it so the mega rich Qatar and Saudi could squeeze by them, is already infuriating enough, and apparently is part of the reason Japan and other countries might break away from the corruption and form a new confederation (I hope)).

 

Hungary do get the breakthrough in Armenia. If they hold they'll clinch a playoff spot with an Ireland loss

Norway still scoreless approaching the 40th minute at home against Estonia. A win effectively clinches it for them, but dropping points would crack the door open for The Italians

 

Looks like its pouring rain over there too.

 

WHAT WAS THAT BY THE GOALIE???

 

Are you kidding me Gabon...

 

Ooooof a poor back pass by Gabon is cashed in by Nigeria. 1-0.

Would be a heartbreaking way for Gabon to go out

 

Yep, Gabon gets bounced on an absolutely absurd WPIOTBGW error that makes you wonder if it was rigged (except its 0-0 before that). It's not, it's just a horror show backpass error, I think anyway.

Goodbye Gabon.

 

what a terrible error from the rightback...

man thats a terrible way to go out if you're Gabon.

 

I blame the pass more than the keeper, though he didn't cloak himself in glory either.

Apparently it was the same player that got fouled in the box and didn't get a penalty. What a rough night for him.

 

whoever this rightback is for Gabon, is having a nightmare 5 minutes right now.

 

Estonia gets to the half scoreless. About to be a very nervous 45 minutes in Oslo