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

My head hurts from having to do math to figure out what you're inferring here but certainly agree they could tinker to make it better. 64 would flow better but that's half the countries qualifying (of course USAin leagues pretty much do that). What would be next getting rid of qualifying and letting every team in? Was this an evil genius plan from Poch to get Scally so humble from possibly not making the WC to playing any role that Poch hands him?

 

No Dick Advocaat in Jamaica for Curaçao.

𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀

The national team confirms that head coach Dick Advocaat has left the training camp in Jamaica due to private circumstances.

During his absence, assistant coaches Dean Gorré and Cor Pot… pic.twitter.com/PYIbSYIinG

— Curaçao National Football Team (@TheBlueWaveFFK) November 15, 2025

 

Just want to say, 5 or 10 minutes, I really enjoyed that El Tri failure lol, needed that to get my mind off Pepi's inexplicable howler (for a forward).

 

Bosnia's comeback today means that the San Marino dream is over. They can't lose their way into the playoffs.

 

THis Hungary-Ireland match is really fun. 2-1 Hungary in the first half. That second Hungary goal was a thing of beautiful.

Hugely meaningful match for both in WCQing.

A draw will do for Hungary in terms of qualification for the playoff.
[Portagal will win the group. Currently winning 4-1 against Armenia. They have two feet into the WC now.]

 

we can agree to disagree in that case. I personally think living in a country for 5-10 years is more meaningful than your grandfather being from X country.

 

Ireland tie it late, but they need a win. About to be a fun final 10 minutes in Budapest

 

Goal for Ireland!!!

2-2 with Hungary with 10 minutes to go!!!!!

Ireland needs another one to get into the playoff!

 

Wow, a lower bicep save keeps Hungary alive

 

IRELAND ON THE LAST KICK OF THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!

That was the most exciting match of WCQing so far!

That's a devastating way for Hungary to go out.

 

Wow. The keeper, I think, with the desperate hockey assist to win it. That was something

 

Bottom 4 group winners and all 12 2nd place teams play in the first knockout round (R24 or play in round or whatever you want to call it)

8 winners from that face the top 8 group winners in the R16. Same format as the college football playoffs except twice the total number of teams in each stage

 

WOOOOW! That was intense. That goal--Parrott just barely got the bottom of his boot on that ball to knock it in. Unreal. My daughter heard some...ummm...."stadium language" from me on that one.

 

Just as a PSA if you don't have Fubo but have Prime, you can watch The Ukraine/Iceland game on Prime Video. Just go to the live TV section and look for Fubo Sports Network.

Annoyed Fox picked the meaningless France/Azerbaijan game

 

That's amazing. God bless you. I had no idea that was even there.

 

England
France
Croatia
Portugal

One of those weird statistical patterns that none of the first four UEFA teams to qualify for the 2026 World Cup played in the prior US World Cup in 1994. Though Croatia had an excuse as it wasn't yet eligible.

Either Norway or Italy will break this trend later today.

 

I cannot believe what I saw. This is an Irish Family over here (I'm Irish through my Maternal Grandfather (97% with a little bit of Spanish Armada lol), and my Paternal Grandmother (100%), and my wife is 50% through her father's family who emigrated a century ago. I cannot believe how that game ended. The guy did it Michael Bradley 2010 style, but even better. Parrott, he's just got Golden boots (5 goals in 4 games against Portugal, Hungary and Armenia). Just amazing. I'd given up hope for Ireland, who've really sucked for a decade (failing to qualify for Euro '20 and Euro '24, and WC '18 and WC '22, and then they managed to score a 93rd minute equalizer 14 months ago at home against Hungary, and a 96th minute winner this morning at Hungary to clinch a playoff slot. Just amazing. So glad I saw it live. I didn't realize it was in until I saw the net bulge from the inside.

Reminiscent of Robby Keane's Robin Hood goal to beat Germany in injury time in the group stage at WC '02.

 

the net isnt the only thing bulging in Ireland right now let me tell you

 

Troy Parrott, take your place on the pantheon of Irish greats 🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/KATKNMZO4g

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 16, 2025

Announcer needed to follow the classic rule of letting the images tell the story post goal, but he was too happy to shut up lol.

 

It's meaningless from a qualifying standpoint, but Azerbaijan did just score 1st on France

 

Still scoreless. A few half chances for Ukraine but nothing particularly major.

Still feels like Iceland is gonna have a hard time keeping this scoreless if they keeping giving up this much pressure

 

Wow an insane double save denies Ukraine, but they convert on the corner!

 

Ukraine to the playoffs, Iceland out

England compete a perfect campaign without conceding a goal. I was iffy on The Tuchel hire, but you can't argue that isn't impressive regardless of the talent level.

Granted going perfect hasn't always been a great sign for England. They did it in Euro 16 which ended with them getting bounced by Iceland and in 2010 where they finished behind us in the group and got thumped by Germany

 

Nigeria capitalized on a deflection just two minutes in, but DRC equalized on the half hour (or so) off an even worse mistake by a Nigerian trying to clear a cross to the far post out. 1-1 basically off flukey kind of goals just a few minutes before the half time whistle. Winner gets a ticket to the inter confederation playoff.