FIFA World Cup 2026

[ghazi52]

Image caption,

Cape Verde ensured there was minimal space between their defensive and midfield lines. If a player was nearby, they applied pressure, but if Spain passed it backwards, they didn't venture forward in order to stay compact

 

[Ali_Baba]

btw - one thing I do like about this world cup is that it runs for 37 days ( over 5 weeks ), that is a nicer window to spend inside the Football world cup "bubble", esp given the costs to host it in the first place and how much people (like me) who do not watch the regional football matches, but we watch as much of the world cup as it feels so much more interesting ( to me! ).

 

[ghazi52]

Are Scotland 'not good enough' to impress at World Cup?​

Scotland hopes on the brink following defeat against Brazil

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Miami Stadium
25 June 2026

Absolute shambles. An abject failure. We did our best. Had a good innings.

Whoever said following Scotland was a rollercoaster has never been more right, as these comments from fans would suggest.

Steve Clarke's troops bullishly travelled across the pond for the World Cup with one objective in mind. To create history and become the first Scotland side to reach the knockout stage of a major tournament.

That mission is now in major doubt thanks to the sobering 3-0 defeat by Brazil on Wednesday night.

As the whistle peeped at the impressive Miami Stadium, Scotland players sank to the turf, shook their heads and emanated agony. Here we go again.

In the resulting hours the performance has dictated much of the discourse, leading to the mixed emotions among fans home and away.

The nation is now holding its breath. Just. While they're doing so, how are they feeling?

 

[ghazi52]

Best World Cup stadium? BBC Sport experts have their say​

Los Angeles Stadium hosts eight matches, including three knockout games, at the 2026 World Cup

25 June 2026

With 16 cities across three nations hosting the 2026 World Cup, we have been treated to some very impressive stadiums.

From Mexico's iconic Azteca Stadium - where the opening game took place - to New York New Jersey Stadium, which hosts the final on 19 July, players, fans and reporters have been taking in some new venues.

 

[ghazi52]

Azteca Stadium (Mexico) - John Murray (BBC Radio 5 Live senior commentator)​

The Azteca hosted the opening game of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and South Africa

It's the Azteca - it has football history oozing out of every crevice.

While the stadium has been modernised, it is undeniably still the place where Carlos Alberto scored that famous fourth Brazilian goal in the 1970 final and where Diego Maradona did his thing for Argentina in 1986.

The strange thing is that the pitch seems to have that same shimmering quality I remember from watching the TV all those years ago.

 

[ghazi52]

Boston Stadium - Pat Nevin (Former Scotland winger and BBC Radio 5 Live summariser)​

Boston Stadium hosted a full-capacity 64,146 crowd when Scotland lost 1-0 against Morocco

Boston's stadium is home to the New England Patriots. Like many others here, it has a fantastic view from every seat in those steeply banked stands.

For us in the media up in the Gods, it is great for tactical analysis but less helpful for player identification. Even Erling Haaland would look like an ant from that height.

 

[PakAl]

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[ghazi52]

Dallas Stadium - Phil McNulty (BBC Sport's chief football writer)​

England played their opening group game at Dallas Stadium.

The Dallas Stadium is superbly appointed with a roof that has remained closed. It is also air-conditioned to deliver a cool environment close to perfection for players and supporters.

Steepling stands make for an outstanding atmosphere while the wide concourses allow fans to move around in space and comfort. The big screens are exactly that – and then some.

The media tribune is plush and enclosed, open windows allowing some of the atmosphere to drift in.

It is easy to get to and from as the wide avenues surrounding the stadium allow traffic to make their getaway without jams.

A great experience.

Dallas Stadium - Kelly Somers (BBC presenter)​

Lionel Messi scored twice against Austria in Dallas

As soon as you walk into the stadium in Dallas, the vastness of it really takes your breath away, as it towers around you and makes you feel incredibly small.

I have always found there is something special about empty stadiums. We were there the day before England played against Croatia, and walking around, it just felt an arena fitting of a big occasion, and you can feel the big moments it has played host to.

 

[ghazi52]

New York New Jersey Stadium & Atlanta Stadium - Ian Dennis (BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter)​

New York New Jersey Stadium has a capacity of almost 80,000.

The MetLife Stadium - rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup - left the biggest impression of only three visited, but overall I'd go for Atlanta.

My initial reaction to the MetLife went viral in the US after I posted on social media, "wow... a stadium to take your breath away"... it had more than five million views!

It transpires it is not well liked in the US.

It had the wow factor because walking in so high, I felt as if I could touch the clouds as this cavernous open-air bowl opened up in front of my eyes.

Atlanta is striking with its angular exterior of glass and steel - and offers the best fan experience.

It is unique on the inside with disjointed stands, escalators and walkways behind one of the goals and a giant circular television screen hanging from the roof although I could not view the near touchline from my position.

 

[ghazi52]

Philadelphia Stadium - Neil Johnston (BBC Sport football reporter)​

Philadelphia Stadium will host six matches, including one knockout game, at the World Cup

Philadelphia has really embraced this World Cup. Fans from all around the world have congregated in their hundreds around the famous 'Rocky' statue outside the Museum of Art, while there was a wonderful atmosphere at the Philadelphia Stadium when Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 there last Friday.

This is one of the few grounds at the World Cup that allows tailgating - where fans meet in parking lots outside stadiums to cook, eat and drink before the game.

You could feel the energy inside the ground as Haiti fans, delighted to see their team on the World Cup stage, danced next to Brazilian supporters.

 

[ghazi52]

Seattle Stadium - Gary Rose (BBC Sport football reporter)​

Seattle Stadium regularly plays host to NFL franchise Seattle Seahawks.

Of the three World Cup venues I've visited, Seattle Stadium - better known as Lumen Field - is the one that ticks the most boxes as the perfect stadium experience for me.

The ground is situated in the city's downtown and once you are inside it, it has one of the best backdrops I've experienced in football. On one side you have the skyscrapers of Seattle city while on the other you have the snow-capped peak of Mount Rainier rising high above the stands.

Then comes the atmosphere. The design of the curved roof on the two stands that run length ways acts as an amplifier, so that crowd cheers bounce back towards the pitch and that can cause the stadium to physically shake with the noise.

It just has to be experienced to be believed.

Seattle Stadium - Vicki Sparks (BBC commentator)​

Seattle Stadium is hosting six matches at the World Cup.

Lumen Field is the stadium that really took my breath away - and my word, it is loud.

So loud, in fact, that it has made the Guinness Book of World Records twice for its noise levels, thanks to its horseshoe shaped design, which keeps much of the sound inside the stadium - although I can personally attest that you can hear the roar from a 25-minute walk away too!

The north stand section is particularly striking: it juts up like the bow of a ship on a wave's crest, and the open sky on both sides of the seating area yields a stunning view of the Seattle skyline.

Inside, the stadium concourses are cavernous - and yet, even when they are empty, they still manage to exude character and heritage, whether through the rows of jerseys that denote famous artists who have played Lumen Field (including Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran), or through the Seattle Seahawks Wall of Legends.

 

[Master Chief]

Azteca Stadium (Mexico) - John Murray (BBC Radio 5 Live senior commentator)​

The Azteca hosted the opening game of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and South Africa

It's the Azteca - it has football history oozing out of every crevice.

While the stadium has been modernised, it is undeniably still the place where Carlos Alberto scored that famous fourth Brazilian goal in the 1970 final and where Diego Maradona did his thing for Argentina in 1986.

The strange thing is that the pitch seems to have that same shimmering quality I remember from watching the TV all those years ago.

Azteca 100%! For the history and iconography alone.

 

[Aziqbal]

day light robbery

VAR is calibrated differently for Iran its more strict

for USA its calibrated loosely

Iran has had 3 goals disallowed

 

[Master Chief]

day light robbery

VAR is calibrated differently for Iran its more strict

for USA its calibrated loosely

Iran has had 3 goals disallowed

View attachment 203390View attachment 203391

It's close...but it does look offside, by a toe!

 

[ShapurII]

Disgrace of Gijón - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

@ShapurII @Persian Gulf

The irony is that when this scenario of "deliberate game management" in the final game of a group stage arose most infamously in 1982, it also involved Austria and Algeria!

At that time, a 1-0 win for West Germany in the WG vs Austria match assured BOTH West Germany and Austria's qualification at Algeria's expense due to goal difference. The match was clearly managed after WG took that 1-0 lead and it finished as such. A draw or an Austria win or a WG win by 3+ goals would have allowed Algeria to advance with either one of WG or Austria.

I think there's a good chance that both teams would play for a draw because both will advance in that situation. I'm not that optimistic, I think this is the end for Iran and one of our best generations of football.

day light robbery

VAR is calibrated differently for Iran its more strict

for USA its calibrated loosely

Iran has had 3 goals disallowed

View attachment 203390View attachment 203391

One thing I don't understand is why everyone is silent about this offside technology. It clearly makes no sense because we can never be sure about its calibration.

Are we supposed to believe whatever a machine says just because they're showing us some CGI that takes like 10 minutes to generate each time?

Also, the new offside rule is ridiculous. Just draw a fucking line and see if one player is ahead of the other. And make sure that fucking line is thick enough to allow for some millimeter situations like this. Let that fucking line be 5cm-10cm thick at least.

What advantage our player has in this scene over the other Egyptian defenders because his toes have passed some bullshit imaginary plane drawn by some machine? Wasn't that the whole point of offside? To prevent teams from playing dirty by standing behind the other team's defense? Not this bullshit.