FIFA World Cup 2026

[SolarWarden]

The last time the two teams met, Turkey won. The US should have played like this was a "win or go home" game. They didn't.

I sure hope they don't dwell on this game and can quickly put it out of mind. The celebrations they are going to have this weekend is going to be a bit bitter.

 

[Desert]

wonderful, seems like we gonna cancel playing the match ( I hope so).
they can't impose their agenda on us.
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Source

Egyptian Football Association has made its position clear and refuses to compromise on societal values.

The source categorically confirmed that if FIFA were to officially inform the Egyptian delegation of any activities of this kind, it would be because these events are completely incompatible with the deeply rooted societal and religious values of the Egyptian and Iranian peoples, stressing that moral and national principles supersede any sporting considerations.

 

[MMM-E]

What a shame... so many incompetent teams advanced to the next round.
but Turkiye was eliminated.

Australia and Paraguay will just play cowardly defense and still get eliminated in the next round... Teams like that don't add any excitement to the tournament.

 

[Master Chief]

Not that I wish to become intellectually lazy, but let's ask ChatGPT:

On a "per match" basis, how has attendance for previous World Cup games compared with the 2026 World Cup?

On a per-match basis, the 2026 World Cup is on pace to be the best-attended World Cup in history.

World Cup	Matches	Total attendance	Average attendance per match
2026 (through first 44 matches)	104	2.85 million	~64,800
2022	64	3.40 million	53,191
2018	64	3.03 million	47,371
2014	64	3.43 million	53,592
2010	64	3.18 million	49,670
2006	64	3.36 million	52,491
1994	52	3.59 million	68,991
2002	64	2.71 million	42,269
1998	64	2.79 million	43,517

How 2026 compares​

• 2026: ~64,800 spectators per match (through 44 matches). Stadiums have averaged about 99.6% capacity, according to FIFA data.
• 1994 (USA): 68,991 per match, which remains the highest average in World Cup history.
• 2022 (Qatar): 53,191 per match.
• 2014 (Brazil): 53,592 per match.
• 2006 (Germany): 52,491 per match.

What stands out​

• The 2026 tournament is drawing roughly 11,600 more fans per match than Qatar 2022—about 22% higher.
• It is also averaging over 17,000 more spectators per match than Russia 2018.
• The only tournament with a higher per-game average remains 1994, helped by several very large U.S. stadiums and a smaller schedule of just 52 matches.

Why attendance is so high​

Several factors are contributing:

• The tournament is being played in very large NFL and soccer stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• FIFA reports that matches have been essentially sold out (around 99.5–99.6% capacity) despite high ticket prices.
• Even with the expanded 104-match format, attendance is on pace to surpass the 1994 total attendance record well before the tournament reaches its final matches.

If the current pace holds, 2026 will almost certainly set a new record for total attendance because there are 104 matches. Its per-match average is likely to finish second only to 1994, unless attendance rises further during the knockout rounds.

You're secretly starting to like ChatGPT...go on, admit it!

 

[Fatman17]

 

[Fatman17]

Matchday 15

 

[Fatman17]

 

[Master Chief]

Well that was effing stupid! Great now you go in the next match with a foul taste in your mouth with momentum killed. You can see the look on US players faces they are taking it hard.

Honestly don't know what the panic is about. USA should simply be glad they have no new injuries or suspensions and move on. This result is irrelevant. You have to remember that Turkiye had nothing to play for so went hell for leather just for some pride for their fans. USA were probably being conservative. Moreover, Turkiye are a competitive team on paper and their early results were not a true reflection of their capability.

 

[Musings]

High foot. I agree.

But Germany and Ivory Coast demolishing their opponents today helps teams in other groups who may finish 3rd, e.g. Iran.

That didnt last long.

 

[Musings]

Yes, unfortunately. But they totally deserved to win. Happy they won the match and the referee's mistakes didn't change the outcome of the match.

AND its been held in 3 different countries. Mexico has historically had massive stadia.
The fact this WC has 48 nations importing their fans to the designated nations - naturally the attendance is going to go through the roof in todays global world.
Some will take unnecessary credit for this

 

[Musings]

What a shame... so many incompetent teams advanced to the next round.
but Turkiye was eliminated.

Australia and Paraguay will just play cowardly defense and still get eliminated in the next round... Teams like that don't add any excitement to the tournament.


View attachment 203147

Blaming others because Turkey lost 2 winnable games? Turkey should have beaten them…… simple

 

[ShapurII]

Australia and Japan betrayed us lol I'm kidding.

The chance of advancing with 3 points is still high. South Korea and Scotland are already eliminated because of negative GD. We need 2 more teams to get eliminated.

In Group H, a draw between Capo Verde & Saudi Arabia or Uruguay and Spain is bad for us. If Spain defeats Uruguay, one more team will be eliminated.

Senegal and Iraq most likely will be both eliminated as well. I doubt Senegal could defeat Iraq with more than a goal difference of more than 3, unless the Iraqis try to eliminate us.

In Group J, the worst result for us is a draw between Algeria and Austria. Either side wins, we'll go to the next round.

Also, if Uzbekistan stops DR Congo (likely), or Ghana defeats Croatia (not very likely), we will move to the next round.

 

[SolarWarden]

Honestly don't know what the panic is about. USA should simply be glad they have no new injuries or suspensions and move on. This result is irrelevant. You have to remember that Turkiye had nothing to play for so went hell for leather just for some pride for their fans. USA were probably being conservative. Moreover, Turkiye are a competitive team on paper and their early results were not a true reflection of their capability.

It's called paranoid. I come from a city where our pro sports teams spectacularly where able to screw-up something that was handed to them. I would have preferred if the US lost 2-1 instead of last play of the game where you could see their faces totally dejected.

I've been in two situations in Varsity (baseball)sports where we've sealed first place in our division where the last game of season was meaningless and both games were a loss. In one game we played all out but we got behind very early and by wide margin and by middle of the game we were already thinking about our playoff game and were getting excited and before we left the locker rooms we have totally forgotten about the game.

The other game was a slugfest we were behind all game by one score until the last inning we took the lead by a point and since they were home team they got the last at bat and with one out left they walked off a win and it affected us for days which likely resulted in our playoff loss.

The US loss was bad because of the way they lost the game. I just hope they can quickly forget it and move on unlike my team.

 

[Fatman17]

 

[Fatman17]