World Cup 2026 thread

[jimmy jazz]

USA, Canada and Mexico to host.

Sorry Trolls. Getting there before you do.

Well my favourite thing ever is just under two years away and with qualifiers under way now is a good time to post the thread.

England have today announced our new manager, Thomas Tuchel.

I do apologise lads, but we're coming to win in 2026 and there is fuck all you can do about it.

Any of our rootin', tootin', gun-toting forumistas planning on attending a match?

[Trollheart]

That's cool, my fellow footy fan. I'll drop my match reports in here when the tournament gets underway. Only, what 720 days and counting?

[jimmy jazz]

That's cool, my fellow footy fan. I'll drop my match reports in here when the tournament gets underway. Only, what 720 days and counting?

597. Got a widget on on my phone that I use for upcoming events and past events.

Its also 60 days until Fury vs Usyk 2, 357 days since I last trimmed my beard and 2,853 days (almost 8 years) since I had any alcohol.

[Trollheart]

Sounds handy. Me want. What's it called? Pur-lease.

[jimmy jazz]

Sounds handy. Me want. What's it called? Pur-lease.

Days Counter on Android 

[Trollheart]

The draw was made this morning, and here's how it turns out:

Group A: Winner of Germany vs Italy, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo

Group C: Loser of Portugal vs Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus

Group D: Winner of France vs Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan

Group E: Winner of Spain vs Netherlands, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria

Group F: Winner of Portugal vs Denmark, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia

Group G: Loser of Spain vs Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino

Group I: Loser of Germany vs Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova

Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein

Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra

Group L: Loser of France vs Croatia, Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar

Note: This is just the European qualifiers; whichever team wins each group will then go through to the actual tournament, with possibly the second in each group going to a play-off? I think anyway: @jimmy jazz might confirm?

[jimmy jazz]

These are the qualifying groups for Europe BTW.

The draw for the tournament proper won't be until the end of next year.

[Trollheart]

So let's do some analysis, and so as to show no bias, let's do it in order.

Group A: The big team here will be Germany or Italy, and to be honest, whichever wins the Nations League match they should have an easy time against the likes of Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg, though Northern Ireland have done okay in the Nations League, so may be a surprise. I'd still imagine the Italians topping this group though, perhaps Northern Ireland might go through in second place?

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo (what a pity they couldn't have picked one more team from a country starting with "S", eh?). The Swiss were woeful at the Nations League, so I couldn't see Sweden having any trouble topping their group.

Group C: Whoever loses the match between them, I can't see there being too much competition for Denmark or Portugal. Scotland are iffy at best, Belarus forget it and Greece is probably best used on your Christmas turkey. Either should top this group, though we do remember Greece springing a surprise a few years back.

Group D: Again, whether France or Croatia win their match and end up in this group, I can't see them quaking at opposition such as Iceland, Ukraine or Azerbaijan! France or Croatia to top this group, surely.

Group E: Spain or Netherlands, whoever wins their match, will face relatively stiff opposition in both Turkey and Georgia, the latter of which have stunned at the Nations League in their first ever participation in the thing. If Spain get into this group, they'd have to be favourites. Netherlands, might be a more close-run thing.

Group F: Portugal or Denmark, the latter of whom have been well below par, should have no trouble against ourselves, Armenia or Hungary, and should easily top the group. We may have a chance of coming second, depending on what team turns up at the tournament.

Group G: Presumably due to the expansion of the teams from 32 to 48, Group G onwards features five, not four teams. Even so, can't see Poland, Finland, Lithuania or Malta giving either Spain or the Netherlands, whichever loses their Nations League match, any trouble.

Group H: Austria or Romania should easily be able to overcome Bosnia, Cyprus and, um, San Marino.

Group I: Norway, Israel, Estonia or Moldova should prove no obstacle to either Germany or Italy, whichever loses their match in March.

Group J: Belgium performed really poorly in the Nations League, so perhaps Wales will have a good chance of going through? Certainly the likes of North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and, ah, Liechtenstein should prove poor opposition.

Group K: England, with one of the easiest groups in the tournament, must sail to qualification against piddling teams like Andorra, Serbia, Latvia and Albania! Jammy bastards!

Group L: Another easy group for the loser of France v Croatia, with only the Czech Republic providing any sort of problem.

[jimmy jazz]

Infantino and FIFA have confirmed there will be a halftime show during the World Cup final.

Looking forward to some awesome goalshots next year.

They think it's all over - you bet your ass it is!