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FIFA 2026 WC - general

@grazorblade will there be a world cup per group match day threads?
 
Algeria winning 1:0 in Rotterdam will certainly give them confidence going into the tournament. A dent for the Dutch.

I expect Algeria to beat Jordan while Austria and Argentina are going to be tough.
Jordan were Asian Cup finalists, beat Egypt in the Arab Cup late 2025 but have had poor results in recent friendlies. If they do fire, however they could take points off Algeria and Austria. Though Algeria outDutched the Dutch in Rotterdam. In Guardian podcast reviewing groups I to L they point out Argentina's stars are all 4 yers older. Interesting group
 
Graham Arnold and 10-man Iraq lost 2-0 to Venezuela in their third and final friendly before their World Cup campaign gets
Woul
Big teams losing before but they wont care. Algeria 1:0 in the Netherlands. Ivory Coast winning in France. Spain failing to defeat Iraq. Does something beckon?
I hope and pray that 2026 will be the World Cup of the underdog, and these results are a positive omen.
 
Two sleeps to go, so time to state my hopes and wishes, but only the vaguely realistic ones.
1. Socceroos get out of group, beat a favourite in the round of 32, and make round of 16. Quarters would be awesome but ... then again you never know, it's 2026 the year of the unprecedented ... OK semis!
2. We beat USA 3-0
3. Scotland beat Morocco and Haiti and go through
4. England win the World Cup (to be clear Socceroos are no.1 and Scotland (parents), and England (born a Brum) are way way back in 2nd and 3rd, but as I said "vaguely realistic wishes) and if not England, then Portugal despite you-know-who being in the squad. They have history too, all the way back to Eusebio in 1966. I had an awesome summer in Amsterdam in the early 70s so would love Holland to do well. The Netherlands were runners-up in 1974 (to hosts Germany) and in 1978 (to hosts Argentina). They had greats: Cruyff and Neeskens, van Basten, Gullit, and on and on to the present. They were the creators of total football.
5. I could even end up cheering for rank outsiders in a final against England, if it was a lovable underdog like Senegal or Norway. I have to confess I ended up cheering for Roger Milla's Cameroon against the country of my birth in Italia 90 cos they were so awesome. (That could never happen if it was the Socceroos!)
6. Hope AFC and CAF teams put a dent in CONMEBOL and UEFA dominance.
7. Good luck to our cousins the All Whites, who have the largest number of A-League players in their 26 man squd out of 48 nations!
8. Best of luck Arnie. Yeah your best striker Aymen Hussein was detained at O'Hare airport in Chicago, and questioned for 7 hours, that's a gift - it will really fire your boys up.
8. Go Curacao, Cabo Verde (I would also say Haiti but Scotland:)
 
Ok, here’s mine

1. Getting out of the group is a pass for Poppa, given 3rd place teams go through, but I pessimistically don’t think we’ll do it.
2. My second teams are Kiwis and Scotland. Hoping to catch all their games and I’d love at least one of these countries to experience a WC knock out game.
3. Hoping to see the other East Asian teams do well (Japan and S.K. rnd 16 & above). Don’t really care about West Asia. Kinda hope they get smacked as payback for their poor sportsmanship, except for Arnie with Iraq.
4. England games will be a must watch for me due to the Prem players.
5. Keen to see Japan and Netherlands in the Group stage.
6. Aiming to watch the highlights of every single game.
 
Time zone wisenits tricky in Europe. I want to watch what I can but Switzerland Qatar will be a walkover. 9pm start when Scotland Haiti is at 3am. I think it'll be bed really early Saturday then watch Brazil Morocco on delay then the hour gap is closed by the Scotland start then the big show!
 
Belgium and Croatia quietly doing their thing. Colombia very lethal.

I don't get the massive claims Uzbekistan will advance. Will DR Congo do well?

The fact that Algeria beat The Netherlanders makes me think that Jordan will have 3 losses and maybe Algeria will pressure Austria. An Argentina implosion will be funny but any big team slipping up skews their pathway.

I don't think I've seen every possible Australian 3rd pathway yet but Germany popped up recently too. If we finish 3rd and advance I'd like to hope it isn't Argentina, Germany or France.

We could get Iran if it's 2nd vs 2nd I think.
 
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