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FIFA World Cup 2026 thread

Featured Replies

At least they'll get past ICE

Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra

No image preview

'A World Cup for them not us': Fans' anger at US travel b...

Fans across the world say US travel bans and visa regulations make them feel excluded from the World Cup.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jun/08/world-cup-2026-countdown-news-england-iran-usa-mexico-canada-football-live

Comical

Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra

Im sure most of you were also wondering; "could a viking longboat really hold 27 people" and the answer is yes:

"A typical Viking longboat held between 40 and 60 people. Smaller vessels were manned by a crew of about 25 to 30, while exceptional royal warships (like the legendary Long Serpent) could accommodate 70 to 80 individuals."

11 hours ago, Gfted1 said:

Im sure most of you were also wondering; "could a viking longboat really hold 27 people" and the answer is yes:

"A typical Viking longboat held between 40 and 60 people. Smaller vessels were manned by a crew of about 25 to 30, while exceptional royal warships (like the legendary Long Serpent) could accommodate 70 to 80 individuals."

I have always wondered where Vikings all slept and how did they eat on long voyages?

Did they take food that was preserved in salt? I assume they were sometimes at sea for days so what about using the toilet? But the sleep part always interests me

"Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss”

John Milton 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -  George Bernard Shaw

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela

 

 

12 hours ago, Malcador said:
No image preview

'A World Cup for them not us': Fans' anger at US travel b...

Fans across the world say US travel bans and visa regulations make them feel excluded from the World Cup.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jun/08/world-cup-2026-countdown-news-england-iran-usa-mexico-canada-football-live

Comical

Its unfortunate and hopefully its resolved but its all about how the US has stopped granting Visas from certain African countries because of illegal migration. Thats why the Somalian referee has been blocked

They need to find a temporary solution around the WC so fans are not stopped, I read they are doing this and one of the ideas is $15k deposit you get back

"Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss”

John Milton 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -  George Bernard Shaw

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela

 

 

8 hours ago, BruceVC said:

Its unfortunate and hopefully its resolved but its all about how the US has stopped granting Visas from certain African countries because of illegal migration. Thats why the Somalian referee has been blocked

Resolved yes, FIFA gave up and said the referee won't be in the WC. Surprised they didn't reject him earlier but the US isn't a serious country

Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra

15 hours ago, Malcador said:

Resolved yes, FIFA gave up and said the referee won't be in the WC. Surprised they didn't reject him earlier but the US isn't a serious country

I see that, FIFA really handled that badly. But what do we expect from FIFA?

They should have got guarantees from the US when it started its clampdown on Visa from certain African countries and the whole "travel ban "

Like the UN does when events are hosted in the US

And I feel sorry for the Somalian referee because his country is such a failed state and yet he was able to rise above that and get to level of referee excellence to be selected for the WC

Here is a link for those interested

Al Jazeera
No image preview

US confirms it denied entry to Somali referee set to take...

Award-winning referee Omar Artan was 'determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns' after arriving in Miami.

"Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss”

John Milton 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -  George Bernard Shaw

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela

 

 

17 hours ago, BruceVC said:

They should have got guarantees from the US when it started its clampdown on Visa from certain African countries and the whole "travel ban "

Access to the matches for both sides' fans is part of the hosting agreement. ie things like the Iranian ticket allocation are mandatory, not voluntary. Infantino is just pathetic and the US knows he cannot pull the tournament; and that's it.

All that ludicrous 'peace prize' told Trump was that Infantino would let himself be walked all over. Same as every other bit of appeasement Trump has received. It doesn't earn you credit, it's an admission you're a client and should be treated as such.

13 hours ago, Malcador said:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49016259/us-official-somalia-omar-artan-suspected-terror-ties

Ah the magic word, terrorism. Probably knows some guy and that was enough, certainly not then hunting for a reason to kick a Somali out.

Heh, the bloke gets treated as a national hero when he returns home.

Somali soccer referee denied entry to US for World Cup is welcomed home as a hero

"It has just been discovered that research causes cancer in rats."

3 hours ago, rjshae said:

Heh, the bloke gets treated as a national hero when he returns home.

Somali soccer referee denied entry to US for World Cup is welcomed home as a hero

Nice to see that but Somalia is one of Africa's failed states because of several reasons

Its a bit like becoming a national hero when you go home to Afghanistan or Haiti

It would have been much more significant to have him referee at the WC as a Somalian

"Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss”

John Milton 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -  George Bernard Shaw

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela

 

 

6 hours ago, Zoraptor said:

Access to the matches for both sides' fans is part of the hosting agreement. ie things like the Iranian ticket allocation are mandatory, not voluntary. Infantino is just pathetic and the US knows he cannot pull the tournament; and that's it.

All that ludicrous 'peace prize' told Trump was that Infantino would let himself be walked all over. Same as every other bit of appeasement Trump has received. It doesn't earn you credit, it's an admission you're a client and should be treated as such.

Yeah, FIFA has systemic and constant issues around corruption and things it says and does

And Infantino has just continued the legitimate criticisms towards FIFA

But the WC is always such a great event. You have to try to ignore the politics and just see it as a grand sports event. It still is the worlds most popular sports event despite FIFA and how they run things

"Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss”

John Milton 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -  George Bernard Shaw

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela

 

 

6 hours ago, BruceVC said:

Its a bit like becoming a national hero when you go home to Afghanistan or Haiti

Indeed, only should be proud if you're a first world country.

Now some Cote D'Ivoire citizens are barred.

https://www.beinsports.com/en-mena/football/fifa-world-cup-2026/articles-video/ivory-coast-supporters-banned-from-world-cup-says-fan-body-2026-06-11

Surprised they didn't just demand no CAF countries be allowed to qualify.

Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra

  • Author

Seems the good teams aren't playing until June 15

Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of a human mind.

11 hours ago, BruceVC said:

Nice to see that but Somalia is one of Africa's failed states because of several reasons

Its a bit like becoming a national hero when you go home to Afghanistan or Haiti

It would have been much more significant to have him referee at the WC as a Somalian

Well he's refereeing the UEFA Super Cup now, so that's not nothing.

UEFA Appoints Somali Referee Omar Artan for Super Cup After World Cup Entry Denial

"It has just been discovered that research causes cancer in rats."

Shame no one thought to introduce the South African players to each other before the first match of the tournament.

At least the three red cards made it memorable.

Some definite footballer IQ on show there

Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra

I enjoyed the opening ceremony, the pageantry was well done even if I didnt understand any of the singing

I am looking forward to the ceremonies in the US and Canada today. And the stadium was packed. Not sure how realistic the whole " empty stadiums " concern is going to be. But this was the first game in a hosting country so you would expect it to be full

I didnt think SA would win, we ranked 60th and Mexico is 15th and they had home ground advantage and they booed SA at every opportunity ...is that normal now in home grounds?

But the game was worst than what I expected because of the 2 red cards. I also am not expecting SA to get out the first group but I will still support them and the overall WC as an event

"Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss”

John Milton 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -  George Bernard Shaw

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela

 

 

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