World cup 2026 Draw

[NicCarBel]

At the finals themselves, haven't Argentina and Nigeria gone at it a few times?

possibly, but has it been a streak? I think they got two in a row at some stage.

I'm a bit quiet this afternoon, so I'm going to take a look - noting the record in my head (at the moment) is Australia and Japan who have played in an official fixture (non friendly) in every World Cup campaign from 2006-2026 (6 World Cups in a row)

 

[GoAussies]

At the finals themselves, haven't Argentina and Nigeria gone at it a few times?

Someone on Reddit has listed Brazil playing Sweden 7 times and Netherlands playing Argentina 6 times followed by 9 matchup's that have been played 5 times including Argentina and Nigeria and interestingly they were the only 5 * matchup where all of those have been Group Stage clashes including 3 consecutive (1994, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018).

 

[NicCarBel]

Someone on Reddit has listed Brazil playing Sweden 7 times and Netherlands playing Argentina 6 times followed by 9 matchup's that have been played 5 times including Argentina and Nigeria and interestingly they were the only 5 * matchup where all of those have been Group Stage clashes including 3 consecutive (1994, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018).

Interesting - Argentina and Nigeria must be the longest inter-confederation streak in history.

I am going to build something, as I'm looking at slightly different: Consecutive, and not just at the finals (qualification groups/playoffs as well)

 

[Robbos]

well its been a long time since we dominated some NT games as well so yer - were a counter punch dna full stop even though I wish that could change just a little one day.

I don't think we ever dominated teams playing football (skills) ever.

 

[Robbos]

I think whoever we get, we are going to be up against it, I'd love to get England.

 

[Alex M]

A socceroos post had me thinking its worth having a look at our past draws.

1974 West Germany, East Germany, Chile
2006 Brazil, Croatia, Japan (R16 Italy)
2010 Germany, Ghana, Serbia
2014 Spain, Netherlands, Chile
2018 France, Denmark, Peru
2022 France, Denmark, Tunisia (R16 Argentina)
2026 ????

We usually get pretty tough draws but thats to be expected at a World Cup.

In 6 previous tournaments we've played the eventual winner 4 times and been drawn with the holders 3 times. Maybe time for a bit of luck?

 

[NicCarBel]

A socceroos post had me thinking its worth having a look at our past draws.

1974 West Germany, East Germany, Chile
2006 Brazil, Croatia, Japan (R16 Italy)
2010 Germany, Ghana, Serbia
2014 Spain, Netherlands, Chile
2018 France, Denmark, Peru
2022 France, Denmark, Tunisia (R16 Argentina)
2026 ????

We usually get pretty tough draws but thats to be expected at a World Cup.

In 6 previous tournaments we've played the eventual winner 4 times and been drawn with the holders 3 times. Maybe time for a bit of luck?

By looking at that - is 2010 the only time that we neither faced the holders or the eventual winners?

 

[grazorblade]

By looking at that - is 2010 the only time that we neither faced the holders or the eventual winners?

We are the good luck charm

 

[Alex M]

By looking at that - is 2010 the only time that we neither faced the holders or the eventual winners?

Arguably that was the closest to a group of death. Every team won a game so there was no poor performer, and it was the only group where two teams got as far as the quarter finals.

 

[Quicky]

SBS crunched some numbers on probable opponents from each pot

 

[Quicky]

I'd take Belgium, Scotland and Haiti.

 

[NicCarBel]

SBS crunched some numbers on probable opponents from each pot

View attachment 4423
View attachment 4428

View attachment 4427

I'm sorry, but how do they work out the probabilities of Pot 1? We have no reason not to be able to be placed with any of them when we are drawn...

I'm guessing it's due to that there's American nations in our pot that can't go with their own continent when they're drawn? But on checking, that's only South America, and not North America...

 

[Quicky]

I'm sorry, but how do they work out the probabilities of Pot 1? We have no reason not to be able to be placed with any of them when we are drawn...

I'm guessing it's due to that there's American nations in our pot that can't go with their own continent when they're drawn? But on checking, that's only South America, and not North America...

No idea. I though it was interesting so shared.

 

[NicCarBel]

No idea. I though it was interesting so shared.

all good - you're right, it is interesting.
The Pot 3 and 4 ones make sense (I'm not going to bother checking the maths on it), because like @JS96 noted the other day - when they get drawn, it will be clear that some nations can't go into certain groups, etc.

 

[JS96]

all good - you're right, it is interesting.
The Pot 3 and 4 ones make sense (I'm not going to bother checking the maths on it), because like @JS96 noted the other day - when they get drawn, it will be clear that some nations can't go into certain groups, etc.

Yeah those percentages must be down to some supercomputer running all the combinations by the number of teams respective of confederation and draw provisions. It'll depend on certain teams being drawn earlier or later to shift potential fittings. For all we know the draw may be narrower than it appears.

 

[NicCarBel]

Yeah those percentages must be down to some supercomputer running all the combinations by the number of teams respective of confederation and draw provisions. It'll depend on certain teams being drawn earlier or later to shift potential fittings. For all we know the draw may be narrower than it appears.

it's interesting that Pot 4 has the CONCACAF nations as most likely to be drawn with us, when I'd have thought it would be less likely due to the fact that there are 3 in Pot 1 already...

 

[NicCarBel]

I am also assuming their pot 4 calculations are actually slightly off - as we can only draw one of the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff slots, not either.

 

[GoAussies]

The SBS numbers are bogus. Firstly, as pointed out by NCB, they have us being able to draw both the Intercontinental playoff winners including Iraq's path, which we are blocked from.

Secondly the Pot 1 numbers are incorrect. SA teams are barred from drawing SA teams. Which means non SA teams have a HIGHER chance of drawing SA teams, not a lower one. There are no other pot 2 constraints which affect who can be drawn with who.

I am not sure where they get their "771 different groups" from, however they are definitely calculating percentages of opposition occurring compared to the 771 total combinations, which is incorrect as it isn't weighting how often each combination occurs due to the pot constraints.

 

[patjennings]

I think whoever we get, we are going to be up against it, I'd love to get England.

Probably - but a 'group of death' say France, Australia, Tunisia, Italy would be ideal. Then make sure we keep it tight against France and hope to get through as a best 3rd. Next round Canada who topped an easy group and then we are away.

TBH if ( a big if) Poppa picks the best and younger players, primes them physically and gets away from his boring tactics and goes attacking 4-4-1-1 this cohort can cause havoc against ageing stars.

 

[Dinamo]

Group of Life:
Canada
Australia
South Africa
New Zealand

Group of Death:
Argentina
Australia
Norway
Italy