FIFA World Cup 2026

[Emelee]

A few days into the World Cup and I would say its too big and there are too many teams in the Group stages

And here I am thinking we need even more teams in the World Cup! We're already on round 2. Round 3 will see more matches played at the same time, so you can't see all matches live without 2 screens (which I would not do). And then we're on the knock-out rounds. And before you know it, it's over.

Plus, I am missing several teams. Like Denmark, Poland and Italy. But also non-European teams that did not qualify. I love watching non-European teams because the World Cup is basically the only time I ever see them. How often do I get to see teams like Curaçao, Cape Verde, Senegal, Japan etc etc play? Only in the World Cup. It's fun to see!

 

[Barbara Fan]

Enjoyed watching Sweden V Netherlands

Amazing how many players play in the Premier League in UK from both teams

Thought Sweden might have done better than they did

Scotland lost to Morocco so not surprised there!

 

[Barbara Fan]

PS to all in USA

Football is a game of 2 halves not 4 quarters and hate the hydration break - all for £££££££££££$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and advertising

and I have to say it

Spoiler: Football

Please keep women out of commentating on the men's game, I cant stand it! And they are very annoying

 

[Whovian]

PS to all in USA

Football is a game of 2 halves not 4 quarters and hate the hydration break - all for £££££££££££$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and advertising

and I have to say it

Spoiler: Football

Please keep women out of commentating on the men's game, I cant stand it! And they are very annoying

There's a genuine need for the hydration breaks in some of the outdoor stadiums where temperatures are 35C+ but having them in air conditioned indoor stadiums is a farce. I don't like the fact they've turned into tactical breaks - I'd ban coaches from speaking to their player during them.

I've found Emma Hayes and Lucy Ward to be insightful additions to the team tbh.

 

[Whovian]

Lionel Messi has scored a record 17th World Cup goal.

 

[Angela Channing]

Well that was close for England but as long as Harry Kane is on the pitch, there is always a chance for a goal.

England will have to improve significantly to beat Mexico in the next round. Mexico have been consistently impressive in the tournament so far and have home advantage. 1.00am kick off, UK time, so I won't be staying up to watch that one.

 

[Whovian]

Well that was close for England but as long as Harry Kane is on the pitch, there is always a chance for a goal.

England will have to improve significantly to beat Mexico in the next round. Mexico have been consistently impressive in the tournament so far and have home advantage. 1.00am kick off, UK time, so I won't be staying up to watch that one.

I will be staying up to watch it!

 

[Angela Channing]

Well, I wasn't planning to stay up to watch the England match but I couldn't sleep without knowing what was going on. Amazing match great atmosphere, very tense. Bellingham and Pickford were immense and Harry Kane never let's us down. Bring on Norway, and thankfully at a better time for the UK.

 

[Whovian]

Didn't end up watching it in the end as the delay pushed it just that bit too late at night to stay up for. Ended up seeing the result when I woke up so no point watching the replay. Will miss the Norway match on Saturday night as I have other plans. Although on paper I'd expect us to beat Norway so we could be looking at a semi-final which would be a good result, anything after that is a bonus.

 

[Barbara Fan]

OMG What a game of football - IM with you @Angela Channing - i wasnt planning on watching it but woke up at 2am and saw it was delayed and ended up watching it on my ipad

It was fantastic - so were Bellingham, Kane, Pickford, Gordon et all - The defence were great

Felt sorry for a red card for Quansah but it was bad tackle, maybe Trump could phone his pal at FIFA and get him off it

Last night or should say this morning is why i love this game - it had everything

The team singing Wonderwall gave me goosebumps - just magic

 

[CeeCee72]

I really don't follow soccer and hadn't watched any of the World Cup, but had friends over last night who wanted to watch the US game, so we did.

Seems like Trump's call about that red card may have come back and hit the USA in the form of Karma.

 

[Emelee]

Many stars playing their last tournament. We've already seen the last of Luka Modric, Christiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Manuel Neuer etc. Will today be Lionel Messi's last match?

I hope Norway loses against England. I don't want those Norwegians winning anymore. They are everywhere. Even in ice hockey now. I can't root for little brother Norway in sports.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Slightly gutted for Egypt to have that brilliant goal chalked off and for Mo Salah not to get something when tripped in the penalty box

I love Messi - but they have won it! time for someone else!! and they were pretty jammy tonight

 

[Barbara Fan]

Many stars playing their last tournament. We've already seen the last of Ronaldo,

If i were the manager I would have subbed him off as he had so many good players sitting on the bench and Spain werent that good in that match, i found it a bit dull

Neuer has been a great goal keeper over the years and Modric a fab footballer and its shame he was around at the same time as Messi / Ronaldo re Ballon Dor

Always thought Neymar was rather over rated - not in the Pele or Brazilian Ronaldo league

Friend sent this, rather like it - Fifa have some explaining to do!!

 

[Barbara Fan]

Egypt were robbed the other night - blatant favouritism for Messi (who I love) and Argentina

José Mourinho on the Repeated Argentina World Cup Controversies "I look at what happened with the Folarin Balogun red card being magically suspended after politics got involved, and I look at how Egypt was completely robbed in the Round of 16 against them, and I just have to smile. All of this started in the very first week of the tournament when Lionel Messi was allowed to escape a clear red card against Algeria. When you set a precedent that the rules do not apply to certain teams, you lose all control. We are seeing it match after match. It is a recurring script." "Some people are calling it a scandal, but a scandal is something unexpected. For me? This is just normal now. We witnessed the system protecting them throughout the group stages, we saw it against Cape Verde, and we saw it again when Mohamed Salah was denied a clear penalty while Cristian Romero stayed on the pitch after a horrific tackle. You can put the tournament in America, in Mexico, in Canada, it doesn't matter. The geographic location changes, but the hands pulling the strings stay exactly the same. It is a cinematic production." "If you are a smaller nation playing in this World Cup, you have to accept that you start the match 1-0 down before a ball is even kicked. Egypt played beautiful football, they went 2-0 up, and they still couldn't win because you cannot defeat a referee who is determined to look the other way. When VAR can rewind the play from five minutes ago just to disallow an Egyptian goal, but refuses to check a blatant foul on Salah in the 93rd minute, the game is dead. The integrity is completely gone."