211 to 1: World Cup 2026 Elimination Timeline (R)

Brutal loss by Hungary....Szoboszlai becomes the front-runner for best player who will not appear at WC26, although Isak and Gyokeres will be in contention as well if Sweden do not make it through the playoffs.

 

We are at half-time, and Ukraine is still drawing with Iceland 0-0. If the result stands, Ukraine will be the next team to be eliminated.

 

Techically, Best player will probably be someone left off the Spain or France squads.

(Joking, not joking.)

 

I lived in Dublin for a year, so I am happy for Ireland advancing to the playoffs.

But I was rooting for Hungary, as I feel like fate owes them a WC title, especially given the alleged drug use of drugs by the Germans in the 1954 WC Final.

Also, they have not qualified to a WC in almost 40 years, and for a team that has been twice runner-ups in the early days seems too much.

Now, they will have to wait 4 more years.

 

Iceland also out.

 

69. Iceland

They needed a win or draw, and it was Ukraine 2-0 Iceland.

 

Nigeria scored first and it is 1-1 at halftime against DR Congo. Each team has only 3 shots. If you live in the USA and pay for ESPN Plus, you can watch at https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/b6dc740f-344b-447f-939a-338017690289/

 

I am watching it free at FIFA Plus.

https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/player...f5-cd60-4ec4-8501-c649c51b16e5&entryPoint=CTA

 

Extra-time in Rabat! Nigeria and DR Congo are drawing 1-1.

 

Nobody scored in extra time. This will be the first team eliminated on penalty kicks this cycle. The previous team to be eliminated on penalty kicks was Peru on June 13, 2022 when Australia qualified.

 

Nigeria are out!!!

 

68. Nigeria

 

This was probably the weakest squad we've had man for man but they achieved our best ever result.

 

68. Nigeria

DR Congo won penalty kicks 4-3 after 6 kickers. Fans threw bottles during penalty kicks, but neither team can be punished for the behavior of their fans because it was in Morocco.

DR Congo's only World Cup was in 1974 when they were Zaire. Haiti is also trying to qualify for the second time with their previous appearance in 1974.

With Nigeria out, none of the six most populated countries according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population successfully participated in qualifying. They are India first, China second, USA third, Indonesia fourth, Pakistan fifth, and Nigeria sixth. USA, Brazil in seventh, and Mexico in tenth are the most populated countries at the World Cup.

 

Nigeria misses out on consecutive World Cups for the first time since their debut in 1994.

 

If we are truly honest with ourselves we know they did not deserve to be in the WC. Too inconsistent.

 

Yes, pedigree aside, DRC is the better team atm. Hope they make it after coming so close to qualifying directly.

 

Yup. They should definitely be one of the best two teams in the playoff. At least.

 

Do you know how many new players are about to emerge for DRC??

Scary times for Africa

 

A very healthy amount of Euro players there.

 

Yes Nigeria didnt deserve it after a bad qualification campain. Congrats to DR Congo

 

I imagine all of the sudden a bunch of Belgians probably got DMs from the DR Congo Federation. Looking for anyone with heritage playing good minutes in the Jupiler pro league not good enough to play for Belgium.

 

That man is Victor Osimehn.

 

They already brought aboard 3 new players for today's match. 1 scored in the penalty shootout.

Balishikwa from Celtic.