Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

Sign Up Now!

FIFA 2026 WC - general

If you like a league with lots of goals, may i suggest the Armenian Women's league?


+166 vs –189 😭

In all seriousness though this shows a big problem in women’s football: the gap in quality between the top and bottom teams. Take Barcelona for example. They’ve got six games left to play in Liga F and have already scored 106 goals. They scored 128 goals last season in Liga F. They’re 13 points clear on top this season despite an injury and financial crisis and won by a historically comparatively “close” eight points last season. Even against Real Madrid they usually win very easily, having only lost one El Clásico since Madrid began existing in 2020 (the away one last season, 3–1). Lyon in France is similar, they dominate the Première Ligue and scored 92 goals last season and have already scored 68. They won the league by 10 points last season and are already leading by 14 (largely thanks to PSG’s implosion earlier in the season and Paris FC’s failure to capitalise on that; in fact Nantes were second for ages and could still come second). These are both Big Six leagues and the top divisions of their respective countries (France for Lyon and Spain for Barça). At least when Chelsea dominated the WSL it was usually pretty close at the top (last season wasn’t and this season Man City are walking the league), coming down to goal difference in 2023–24.
 
In the FIFA World Cup, head-to-head emphasizes mini-league results among tied teams, rewarding direct competitiveness. However, it can distort fairness if one-off matches outweigh consistent overall performance.

Goal difference captures performance across all matches, incentivizing attacking play and consistency, but can be skewed by weaker opponents.

Overall, head-to-head is fairer for direct comparison; goal difference is fairer for total tournament performance.


If you say so Chatgpt. If we win a game we'll be feeling that bit better but I hate the complications it brings when 3 teams hit. I reckon a lot of people and even media and journalists don't know it's H2H.
When the tournament was 32 teams however group placing were decided was not as important as now, due to the 3rd placed teams qualifying for the round of 32.

If hypothetically 2 teams are tied for 3rd and 4th on 3 points and Team A defeated Team B in their H2H but has an inferior Goal Difference across 3 matches.

If Team A finishes 3rd using H2H it might be only the 9th best 3rd placed team and be knocked out, ranked on Goal Difference.

Whereas if using GD Team B finishes 3rd and is the 5th best 3rd placed team it makes the round of 32.

H2H then GD means only 2 teams qualify, whereas GD then GD means 3 teams qualify, so that would be the most logical group tiebraker.
 
When the tournament was 32 teams however group placing were decided was not as important as now, due to the 3rd placed teams qualifying for the round of 32.

If hypothetically 2 teams are tied for 3rd and 4th on 3 points and Team A defeated Team B in their H2H but has an inferior Goal Difference across 3 matches.

If Team A finishes 3rd using H2H it might be only the 9th best 3rd placed team and be knocked out, ranked on Goal Difference.

Whereas if using GD Team B finishes 3rd and is the 5th best 3rd placed team it makes the round of 32.

H2H then GD means only 2 teams qualify, whereas GD then GD means 3 teams qualify, so that would be the most logical group tiebraker.
Ah right that's something I've overlooked with 3rd placings. This is something AFC youth tournaments typically don't have and 3rd gets eliminated despite better GD over 2nd place.
 
Imagine that, Italy couldn't make a 48-team world cup, whereas Sweden did with 1 point in their group.

And there are minnows in this tournament.

what a farce.
I get what you are saying abotu Sweden.

But you are using the wrong critieria to criticise the current situation in relation to minnows.

The World Cup has ALWAYS given weaker confederations more slots than what their ability warrants.

Italy can only blame themselves
 
How good are WCQs! Watching Congo v Jamacia and the controversy around a potential handball on the goal and not the referee has injured himself, and been substituted, at the 110 min mark
 
DR Congo leading Jamaica in their inter-confederation playoff after Axel Tuanzebe scored in the 100th minute in extra time, with Graham Arnold and Iraq in action later against Bolivia to decide who takes the 48th and final spot at the World Cup.
 
I get what you are saying abotu Sweden.

But you are using the wrong critieria to criticise the current situation in relation to minnows.

The World Cup has ALWAYS given weaker confederations more slots than what their ability warrants.

Italy can only blame themselves

i blame the format and 48 teams.

32 was perfect.
 
Back
Top