England Forum - FIFA World Cup 2026: Other Teams Thread

If your getting done on the counter by Belgium it doesn't bode will for them against France.

 

Both teams today played again after a short turnover since their last match. The both played one day after England in the previous round, and now they play one day before England. Fatigue hitting Belgium in particular, with injuries left, right and center.

 

Nico Wlliams looked good when he came on.

 

Belgium completely failed to close down for that goal. Really poor from them all round. After a very good effort.

 

They surely looked at it but I thought yellow card was fair.

 

I think Spain might win this World Cup. Feels like the luck is on their side.

 

If FIFA has new leadership or Infantino is forced to concede a lot of his power in 2030 they won’t even be used in 41c in Morocco in 2030.

 

I don't think they cope with France's power. Should be a great match.

 

If this was 2024 Spain I'd agree But this Spain doesn't have enough going forward and France will probably do them on the counter.

 

They'll go back to be temp dependent.

 

I think you misunderstand peoples problem with heat breaks. No one had a problem with heat breaks when needed in 2014 for example when FIFA had to be forced into them. Indeed even if new leadership for some reason did try to remove them entirely, they would be forced into having them again just like they were in 2014.

The problem is the blanket mandatory hydration breaks that are clearly just for adverts, even when conditions are fine. No one is going to be booing the heat break today in Miami.

 

They've really been hit by the late season injuries to Yamal and Williams. If they're both fully fit, then Spain are a completely different proposition. They looked vulnerable for the first time last night and France have much better attackers than Belgium. That said, you can;t rule out a team as technically proficient as Spain. I would probably say it's 55-45 France, maybe 60-40.

 

They have been booed at very very hot matches as well through. Particularly from European fans.

 

🚨🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois: “I want to rest for a year without ANY Belgium matches, and then play the EURO qualifiers and the 2028 EURO”.

“I don't know if Belgium will agree to this”. pic.twitter.com/jdjOryFWQH

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 11, 2026

That’s rather entitled but I bet Belgium agree.

 

Tim Howard made the same choice. He never wore the U.S. crest again. That was the end of his international career.

 

The only organization that can truly curtail FIFA’s power is UEFA, but the confederation don’t have the spine to do it.

 

No doubt they have to make the point against their use in all matches. We have had breaks for hot weather even in the Premier League. If we ever host the World Cup again it is likely we would have some here.

 

It depends. A changed FIFA could well be forced into going against health advice and really limiting their use.

 

By the time we ever host a World Cup again, we will probably be playing in 45 degrees on a regular basis in about 500 years time.

 

There is renewed talk of the 2030 final being played in Morocco. I wonder if that could be the catalyst for action? Simply withdraw from that World Cup and host a separate tournament in Europe, inviting other countries that want to enter. Spain and Portugal played the FIFA game by agreeing to add Morocco and for 3 matches in South America. A World Cup without Europe is next to worthless. A European tournament with guest nations is worth a lot. Especially if they get South America onside by hosting 3 groups rather than 3 matches.

It is probably wishful thinking on my part.

 

They have hydration breaks in hot temperatures in the PL, and no one boos them. People aren't against them entirely, just when they aren't actually needed. I'm not sure if you are being deliberately obtuse but this ain't a hard concept to understand.

 

125 tournaments time. I guess that would be our reward for winning it for the hundredth time.

 

That seems to political pressure on FIFA by Trump who really hates the Spanish government. I, am not sure how likely it is. With the Spanish elections next eysr likely to see a way more pro Trump goverment taking over it could get very messy in Spain.

CONMEBOl seems very behind Infantino at the moment so I am not sure how likely they would be to agree to breakaway.