FIFA 2026 WC - general

[rebelliousfeminist974]

South Africa

South Africa have named their final 26-player list for the World Cup.

 

[NicCarBel]

South Africa have named their final 26-player list for the World Cup.

one more down

 

[HonestSpursFan]

South Africa have named their final 26-player list for the World Cup.

Minor fact: Brad Cross is the first White South African to play for Bafana Bafana in years. I believe Dean Furman who retired internationally in 2020 was the last.

 

[HappyGuus]

10,000 simulations puts the Socceroos in the "weak" category

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Ahead of the World Cup, Latin American influencers and streamers are picking who they think fans should back at the World Cup. One of the guys being shouted out is All Whites and Wellington Phoenix defender Tim Payne, who now has 543,000 Insta followers (by far more than any Kiwi player)!

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Minor fact: Brad Cross is the first White South African to play for Bafana Bafana in years. I believe Dean Furman who retired internationally in 2020 was the last.

Brad Cross is also one of two uncapped players in the South Africa playing list along with Olwethu Makhanya.

 

[JS96]

Yaya Sithole is really going to tempt some commentators. While the RSA team has a lot from the successful domestic clubs, I really wonder how they'll go. The qualification results offer some comfort.

 

[NicCarBel]

Yaya Sithole is really going to tempt some commentators.

I was thinking the exact same thing when I was putting the squad file together

 

[JS96]

Kudos to Ime Okon of Hannover making the RSA squad. Such an easy name for me to pronounce

 

[JS96]

Slight panic to see a reddit thread from yesterday that SBS has blocked VPN's but a quick test and I'm all fine. German public broadcasters showing most games. BBC and ITV still fine with VPN and the Dutch NOS a good alternative.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Argentina

Argentina have also named their final 26-player list for the World Cup along with an accompanying squad announcement video, with Lionel Messi set to lead the line for the reigning champions as captain in his sixth campaign.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

10,000 simulations puts the Socceroos in the "weak" category

Simpsons have already predicted a Mexico v Portugal final... why bother playing any matches at all?

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Minor fact: Brad Cross is the first White South African to play for Bafana Bafana in years. I believe Dean Furman who retired internationally in 2020 was the last.

How many commentators will use the pun "bad cross" this Mundial?

 

[Son of Sam]

How many commentators will use the pun "bad cross" this Mundial?

Remember Koumantarakis in 2002? Hehe

 

[Son of Sam]

Minor fact: Brad Cross is the first White South African to play for Bafana Bafana in years. I believe Dean Furman who retired internationally in 2020 was the last.

I am curious if any of the Black players have any white parentage?

Anyway the coach is white. Hehe

 

[Son of Sam]

How many commentators will use the pun "bad cross" this Mundial?

As long as they do not get this name wrong!

Sphephelo Sithole

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Remember Koumantarakis in 2002? Hehe

Vaguely...

 

[Son of Sam]

Vaguely...

Tall rangy striker who came off the bench.

Greece was still in the post 1994 phase, and they did not look like they would EVER amount to anything.

So any Greek connection to the World Cup was pounced upon! Hehe

 

[HonestSpursFan]

I am curious if any of the Black players have any white parentage?

Anyway the coach is white. Hehe

I think some do. In South Africa, Black/White mixed race individuals are called Coloureds and they make up a fair chunk of the population. However, since Apartheid times sport has been racially segregated. Traditionally, cricket and rugby union were seen as White sports even though today they’re quite diverse, while basketball and soccer were always seen as Black sports (though soccer is popular with the Portuguese community, though most White South Africans are either Afrikaners/Dutch or Anglo/British). However, diversity within Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana hasn’t increased, and if anything has decreased, since the end of Apartheid in 1994.

 

[Son of Sam]

I think some do. In South Africa, Black/White mixed race individuals are called Coloureds and they make up a fair chunk of the population. However, since Apartheid times sport has been racially segregated. Traditionally, cricket and rugby union were seen as White sports even though today they’re quite diverse, while basketball and soccer were always seen as Black sports (though soccer is popular with the Portuguese community, though most White South Africans are either Afrikaners/Dutch or Anglo/British). However, diversity within Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana hasn’t increased, and if anything has decreased, since the end of Apartheid in 1994.

I think they’re 2010 Home World Cup squad had NO white players