FIFA World Cup '26: News & Analysis

Discussion in 'FIFA and Tournaments' started by Nico Limmat, Jun 27, 2018.

  1. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And it would be entirely Italy's fault: all they had to do was not faceplant at home on the last matchday of their Nations League group and they would've had the "NL group winner" lifeline in their back pockets.

    Plus... losing at home to the French? Their ancestors must have been rolling in their graves :eek:
     
  2. Gibraldo

    Gibraldo Member+

    radnicki nis
    Serbia
    Nov 17, 2005
    Club:
    FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
    as there were discussion, that FIFA might seed the pot 1 teams, I took my draw to elaborate the most suitable constellations.

    At the moment, based on the FIFA rankings, the 9 other pot 1 teams would be:

    Argentina, France, England, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Netherlands, Belgium and Croatia.

    One factor might be the night games. I gave a best guessing, but I am sure, that FIFA will shuffle the matches of one day to please the TV broadcasters.

    The other factor is Group L where the top seed will play 2 matches at Toronto in the smallest stadium. I cannot believe that FIFA let the luck decide, that Argentina, England or Brazil will play there. So I went for Belgium (could also be Netherlands or Croatia).

    The latest kick off times will propably be in Groups F, G, J and K, so I expect Argentina and Brazil to feature one of these 4.

    Here is my complete set of guessing, in case FIFA goes with a fixed assignment of the top seeds to the 12 groups:

    (Time zones is local times and in brackets UTC+2 = CEST)

    THE HOSTS
    The hosts are pre-assigned to Groups A (Mexico), B (Canada) and D (USA).

    Schedule for Mexico [cc] drawn at position (A1):
    Match 1: 2026-06-11 - 13:00 (21:00) – Mexico [cc] vs A2 - Mexico City
    Match 28: 2026-06-18 - 19:00 (03:00) – Mexico [cc] vs A3 - Guadalajara
    Match 53: 2026-06-24 - 17:00 (01:00) – A4 vs Mexico [cc] - Mexico City

    Schedule for Canada [cc] drawn at position (B1):
    Match 3: 2026-06-12 - 15:00 (21:00) – Canada [cc] vs B2 - Toronto
    Match 27: 2026-06-18 - 15:00 (00:00) – Canada [cc] vs B3 - Vancouver
    Match 51: 2026-06-24 - 13:00 (22:00) – B4 vs Canada [cc] - Vancouver

    Schedule for USA [cc] drawn at position (D1):
    Match 4: 2026-06-12 - 15:00 (00:00) – USA [cc] vs D2 - Los Angeles
    Match 32: 2026-06-19 - 18:00 (03:00) – USA [cc] vs D3 - Seattle
    Match 59: 2026-06-25 - 16:00 (01:00) – D4 vs USA [cc] - Los Angeles


    THE OTHER TOP SEEDS

    The remaining top seeds are pre-assigned to Groups C (England), E (France), F (Croatia),
    G (Argentina), H (Netherlands), I (Spain), J (Portugal), K (Brazil) and L (Belgium).

    Schedule for England [eu] drawn at position (C1):
    Match 5: 2026-06-13 - 12:00 (18:00) – England [eu] vs C2 - Boston
    Match 30: 2026-06-19 - 15:00 (21:00) – England [eu] vs C3 - Boston
    Match 49: 2026-06-24 - 13:00 (19:00) – C4 vs England [eu] - Miami

    Schedule for France [eu] drawn at position (E1):
    Match 9: 2026-06-14 - 12:00 (18:00) – France [eu] vs E2 - Philadelphia
    Match 34: 2026-06-20 - 14:00 (21:00) – France [eu] vs E3 - Kansas City
    Match 55: 2026-06-25 - 13:00 (19:00) – E4 vs France [eu] - Philadelphia

    Schedule for Croatia [eu] drawn at position (F1):
    Match 11: 2026-06-14 - 17:00 (00:00) – Croatia [eu] vs F2 - Dallas
    Match 36: 2026-06-20 - 19:00 (03:00) – Croatia [eu] vs F3 - Monterrey
    Match 57: 2026-06-25 - 15:00 (22:00) – F4 vs Croatia [eu] - Dallas

    Schedule for Argentina [sa] drawn at position (G1):
    Match 15: 2026-06-15 - 15:00 (00:00) – Argentina [sa] vs G2 - Los Angeles
    Match 40: 2026-06-21 - 18:00 (03:00) – Argentina [sa] vs G3 - Vancouver
    Match 65: 2026-06-26 - 18:00 (01:00) – G4 vs Argentina [sa] - Houston

    Schedule for Netherlands [eu] drawn at position (H1):
    Match 13: 2026-06-15 - 12:00 (18:00) – Netherlands [eu] vs H2 - Miami
    Match 38: 2026-06-21 - 15:00 (21:00) – Netherlands [eu] vs H3 - Atlanta
    Match 63: 2026-06-26 - 13:00 (22:00) – H4 vs Netherlands [eu] - Seattle

    Schedule for Spain [eu] drawn at position (I1):
    Match 17: 2026-06-16 - 12:00 (18:00) – Spain [eu] vs I2 - New York / New Jersey
    Match 42: 2026-06-22 - 15:00 (21:00) – Spain [eu] vs I3 - Philadelphia
    Match 61: 2026-06-26 - 13:00 (19:00) – I4 vs Spain [eu] - Boston

    Schedule for Portugal [eu] drawn at position (J1):
    Match 19: 2026-06-16 - 17:00 (00:00) – Portugal [eu] vs J2 - Kansas City
    Match 44: 2026-06-22 - 18:00 (03:00) – Portugal [eu] vs J3 - San Francisco Bay Area
    Match 69: 2026-06-27 - 15:00 (22:00) – J4 vs Portugal [eu] - Kansas City

    Schedule for Brazil [sa] drawn at position (K1):
    Match 23: 2026-06-17 - 17:00 (00:00) – Brazil [sa] vs K2 - Houston
    Match 48: 2026-06-23 - 19:00 (03:00) – Brazil [sa] vs K3 - Guadalajara
    Match 71: 2026-06-27 - 19:00 (01:00) – K4 vs Brazil [sa] - Miami

    Schedule for Belgium [eu] drawn at position (L1):
    Match 21: 2026-06-17 - 12:00 (18:00) – Belgium [eu] vs L2 - Toronto
    Match 46: 2026-06-23 - 15:00 (21:00) – Belgium [eu] vs L3 - Toronto
    Match 67: 2026-06-27 - 13:00 (19:00) – L4 vs Belgium [eu] - New York / New Jersey
     
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  3. Wankdorf 1954

    Wankdorf 1954 Member

    1.FC Kaiserslautern
    Germany
    Dec 21, 2013
    Berlin
    Club:
    Hamburger SV
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany

    Germany = Pos . 9 -1717
    Croatia = Pos .10 - 1708
    Italia = Pos 11 - 1703
     
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  4. uuaww

    uuaww Member+

    Nov 21, 2007
    New Orleans, LA
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Why would the top seed play 2 matches in Toronto? That doesn't make much sense.

    I would be the top seed gets Dallas-Boston-New York route.
     
  5. Gibraldo

    Gibraldo Member+

    radnicki nis
    Serbia
    Nov 17, 2005
    Club:
    FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
    the next rankings that will be published in July will have Croatia at 9 due to June results.

    so you are right, it is not the current rankings but the to-be rankings.
     
  6. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Correct according to a real-time rankings calculator

    https://football-ranking.com/fifa-world-rankings
     
  7. themanlarry

    themanlarry Member+

    Nov 14, 2005
    That live ranking shows Germany losing points in the recent window, where it shouldn't have.

    1935193429182394682 is not a valid tweet id
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. Wankdorf 1954

    Wankdorf 1954 Member

    1.FC Kaiserslautern
    Germany
    Dec 21, 2013
    Berlin
    Club:
    Hamburger SV
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
  9. jesta

    jesta Member+

    Feb 9, 2014
    #3959 jesta, Jun 21, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2025
    croatia and germany are very likely to win all their games in the qualifying, or at least all but one. italy is in serious problems, anything is possible there. they just appointed gattuso as their national coach in a total desperation move, looks like noone else was brave/stupid enough.

    all in all, it is definitely too early to predict the outcome with high probability, there are more than enough games to be played.



    that is wrong, german guy and larry are right, germany didn‘t lose the points in the nations league final four
     
  10. Gibraldo

    Gibraldo Member+

    radnicki nis
    Serbia
    Nov 17, 2005
    Club:
    FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
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  11. Gibraldo

    Gibraldo Member+

    radnicki nis
    Serbia
    Nov 17, 2005
    Club:
    FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
    was it like that also in earlier cycles of UNL?
     
  12. Gibraldo

    Gibraldo Member+

    radnicki nis
    Serbia
    Nov 17, 2005
    Club:
    FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
    I would not bet on Germany winning all matches or 5 out of 6. Slovakia and Northern Ireland are not their style to play. defensively well organized and typical british. Not what Germany likes.

    But back to the FIFA Formula:

    Competitive matches in championship tournaments are now distinguished between group stage matches and late-stage knock-out matches in order to reward the most successful teams in the most difficult competitions. Furthermore, to mitigate the negative consequences of losing matches in championship tournaments, losses in the knock-out rounds of final competitions will not result in point deductions for the losing team.

    But it counted for the QF stage? How ridiculous is that?

    And if a team losses a finals tournament match on penalties this is not weighted as a loss, but a draw, so these cases are not affected and teams losing on PSO will get point deduction in the rankings? I bet that is not the case, but their rule statement is very confusing.
     
  13. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Sadly, decision making at the AFC isn't even remotely impartial these days.

    See also the AFC Champions League "final eight" tournament hosted in Saudi Arabia for two consecutive years.
     
  14. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    BBC’s former Head of Values Ian Fletcher appointed to new role as Director of Integrity for upcoming global football tournament.

    This should be fun. The BBC are reviving their 2012 mockumentary for the 2026 World Cup.

    They went on to make a self-mockumentary about the same incompetent team becoming the "Values" department at the BBC.

    Now they're moving to Americah.

     
  15. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    FIFA using the (UEFA favoured) head-to-head tiebreaker at the CWC. Also to be used at the World Cup?
     
  16. almango

    almango Member+

    Sydney FC
    Australia
    Nov 29, 2004
    Bulli, Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Lets hope not. However it seems to be the trend to use it these days.
     
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  17. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    2026 WC tie breakers

    The ranking of teams in the group stage is determined by applying the following criteria in order:

    Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;

    Superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;

    Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;

    If two or more teams remain equal, criteria 1 to 3 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the remaining tied teams;

    If still equal, apply the following criteria to all group matches for the teams still tied:

    Superior goal difference in all group matches;
    Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches;

    Highest team conduct score relating to yellow and red cards received by players and team officials (only one deduction applies per player or official per match):
    Yellow card: −1 point
    Indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points
    Direct red card: −4 points
    Yellow card and direct red card: −5 points
    If teams are still equal, ranking is determined by the most recent published FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking;

    If still tied, previous editions of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking are used chronologically backward until a decision is reached.
     
  18. almango

    almango Member+

    Sydney FC
    Australia
    Nov 29, 2004
    Bulli, Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Is this official because its not what has been used in qualifiers.
     
  19. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  20. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
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  21. soccer_23

    soccer_23 Member

    Feb 6, 2014
    This type of article drive me insane. “FIFA” isn’t considering doing anything (at least not publicly). There isn’t a single FIFA comment or action mentioned in the article! Just raw speculation from the author, leveraging current events to make a political point and drive clicks to a hysterical headline.

    Since (as of now) any travel ban or “war” wouldn’t directly impact the Iranian team, officials, staff, or immediate families’ ability to enter the US, it wouldn’t make sense for FIFA to take any drastic action. Except perhaps in a case where Iran threatens to withdraw from the tournament if they’re assigned to play in the US, which would be for political (not logistical) reasons.

    Since there’s exactly one team other than Mexico who plays their full group stage in Mexico (Mexico’s second opponent), the only option would be to manually place Iran in that position pre-draw. Or to substantially rearrange the distribution of matches between groups to allow more “Mexico-only” paths, which is a significant undertaking for the cities affected and grows more difficult with each passing day.
     
  22. jesta

    jesta Member+

    Feb 9, 2014
    yepp ...as well as over 90% of articles about the world cup

    clickbaits work well unfortunately
     
  23. jesta

    jesta Member+

    Feb 9, 2014
    I really do not know that
    I would bet on at least 5 and I think they're going to win all six
     
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  24. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    "FIFA considering hosting Iran's 2026 World Cup games in Saudi Arabia".

    Screenshot_20250624_153252_Chrome.jpg

    I made that up but you never know.
     
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