2026 World Cup and Qualifiers

From a quick check, the eventual winner has lost their first match only twice since 1950:

2010: SPAIN 0-1 Switzerland
2022: ARGENTINA 1-2 Saudi Arabia

There have also been two 0-0 draws: ENGLAND v Uruguay (1966) and ITALY v Poland (1982).

In the other 15 tournaments, the eventual winners won their first match, including a thumping 8-0 win by Uruguay over Bolivia in 1950.

I think somehow only Sweden , Germany and the USA have score more goals and I fear if there are too many draws it is going to complicate the third place spots standings.

Have seen several posts online about the Brazil team during the hydration breaks, I do wonder Brazil took full advantage of it to have a team talk and I think FIFA should look at it and see if if Brazil gained anything unfairly from it, if they did then they should impose a restriction on the manager being with the players in the breaks for one match only and must stay in the technical area as a warning to others, but I do think the rule plays too much havoc with the flow of the game which Jurgen Klopp has spoken out on. For me, the tournament has two flaws for me. 1) too many mismatches and one sided games which I think probably for many aren't games worth watching and 2) you are likely to see some results that are questionable and whether teams are actually playing well below their strengths against lesser teams.

I have to admit the Spain result was a result I wasn't expecting.

(15-06-2026 22:09 )Goodfella3041 Wrote:  From a quick check, the eventual winner has lost their first match only twice since 1950:

2010: SPAIN 0-1 Switzerland
2022: ARGENTINA 1-2 Saudi Arabia

There have also been two 0-0 draws: ENGLAND v Uruguay (1966) and ITALY v Poland (1982).

In the other 15 tournaments, the eventual winners won their first match, including a thumping 8-0 win by Uruguay over Bolivia in 1950.

Yeah I make it 4 overall as well (losses and draws combined)
Proof though that it can be done .

Iran just drew with old Zealand ??

Herve Renard will now be managing the Tunisian team for the remaining matches of the World Cup as Sabri Lamouchi was fired after their 5-1 defeat against Sweden.

Donald Trump will be allowed to lift the World Cup trophy with the winning team, as he did at the Club World Cup. And that wasn't at all cringe worthy

(16-06-2026 11:12 )Charlemagne Wrote:  Donald Trump will be allowed to lift the World Cup trophy with the winning team, as he did at the Club World Cup. And that wasn't at all cringe worthy

who wants iran to win it now

I'd rather see Harry Kane lift the trophy, and then turn to Trump and say, "Right Donald you can f... off now."

Infantino went into the Iranian changing room after the match.

They complained that it had taken 5 hours to travel from Tijuana to LA before the match and had to leave straight afterwards.

According to players Taremi & Mohebi the FIFA president said that he'd try and help. If you believe that.

Also I notice that Mikel Oyarzabal is the first player on record since 1966 to play the first half an hour of a World Cup match without touching the ball.

(16-06-2026 11:18 )Charlemagne Wrote:  I'd rather see Harry Kane lift the trophy, and then turn to Trump and say, "Right Donald you can f... off now."

I think the whole team if they win it - should tell him to "F**k off" even if he has connections in UK and tries to say he should be part of the celebrations, mind you, they could say the same to Infantino as well