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World cup 2026 Draw

Expect fireworks in Group D (USA, AUS, PAR, TUR/SVK)
First, recall the biffo in our "friendly" against the USA in Colorado in October.
Then check out the brawl in "friendly" in Philadelphia in November 25 between USA and Paraguay:

Add a liberal sprinkling of anti-American sentiment as a result of Trump and ICE.
Add in the ultra-patriotic fervour of US fans in a home World Cup, conscious or unconscious bias of referees to host nation, and Group D could make AFCON final look tame.
 
Our group really is going to be fiery and small things may make the difference. With H2H wins become that much more valuable. We could have a much clearer picture after the first two games.
 
Have simulated the first rounds of the UEFA Playoffs - have posted match videos in the UEFA Qualification and WC General threads if you want to see, but results and second round fixtures:
Wales 1-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Italy 5-1 Northern Ireland
Ukraine 1-1 Sweden (Sweden advance 6-5 on Penalties)
Poland 0-1 Albania
Slovakia 2-3 Kosovo
Turkey 1-1 Romania (Turkey 2-1 AET)
Czech Republic 1-1 Republic of Ireland (Ireland advance 3-4 on Penalties)
Denmark 2-0 North Macedonia

FINAL UEFA Playoffs and in-game venues
Wales v Italy @ Cardiff City Stadium
Sweden v Albania @ Eleda Stadium, Malmo
Kosovo v Turkey @ Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina
Republic of Ireland v Denmark @ Aviva Stadium

Will be using these to do a full simulation of the World Cup soon (but, only match capturing Socceroos matches after I finish the playoffs)
 
socceroosmad said:
Expect fireworks in Group D (USA, AUS, PAR, TUR/SVK)
First, recall the biffo in our "friendly" against the USA in Colorado in October.
Then check out the brawl in "friendly" in Philadelphia in November 25 between USA and Paraguay:

Add a liberal sprinkling of anti-American sentiment as a result of Trump and ICE.
Add in the ultra-patriotic fervour of US fans in a home World Cup, conscious or unconscious bias of referees to host nation, and Group D could make AFCON final look tame.
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I'm not expecting the crowd to be the advantage for the US that they think it will be. Australia, Paraguay and Turkey will all bring large groups of their most boisterous crowds. The US will also have pockets of the Outlaws through the stadiums. But they will also have a large number of corporates and event-goers. The corporates are therefor the hob-nobbing and the event-goers will cheer for goals and not much else.

If the US go behind in any of the games I suspect the crowd will be quite subdued or even a little anti their own team as they've spent big money to support what has been hyped as a 'golden generation'.
 
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Alex M said:
Hope all who applied for tickets were successful in the latest round.
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I haven’t heard anything back yet from FIFA. My mate who I am going with (we both applied for tickets to increase our chances) got an email today saying he got tickets for the USA game and the conditional second round game, but not the Euro qualifier and Paraguay games 😬
 
My mate did end up getting selected for tickets to the Paraguay game for him and his fiance, but now he's almost changing his mind because he forgot he has to save for a wedding next year 🤣
 
I am at a loss to why the USA is such an exorbitant favourite to top our group. I understand that the US press are hyping them and the US bookies are just following the money - but surely the rest of the football world and their bookies can see this 'golden generation' as nothing more than a mirage. Think about it - they have a very good attack, an okay midfield, slow turning defense and very average keepers. Their ranking is inflated by playing minnows in the softest confederation bar OFC, they win friendlies against heavily rotated teams playing experimental tactics but struggle in competitive matches.
 
patjennings said:
I am at a loss to why the USA is such an exorbitant favourite to top our group. I understand that the US press are hyping them and the US bookies are just following the money - but surely the rest of the football world and their bookies can see this 'golden generation' as nothing more than a mirage. Think about it - they have a very good attack, an okay midfield, slow turning defense and very average keepers. Their ranking is inflated by playing minnows in the softest confederation bar OFC, they win friendlies against heavily rotated teams playing experimental tactics but struggle in competitive matches.
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They are the highest ranked team and playing at home. They avoided the stronger pot 2 teams. Why wouldn't they be favourites? Doesn't mean they will do it though. You can get $8 on Australia topping the group on Australian betting sites.
 
Alex M said:
They are the highest ranked team and playing at home. They avoided the stronger pot 2 teams. Why wouldn't they be favourites? Doesn't mean they will do it though. You can get $8 on Australia topping the group on Australian betting sites.
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Muz said:
Under Poppa why wouldn't the US be favourites.

We're rubbish under that clown.

Likely 3rd place, out in the next round. Never been less excited for a WC campaign.
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For Alex as I said their ranking is helped by consistently playing and beating minnows in a soft confederation in friendlies. Look at their ELO rating.

15 Turkey
22 Paraguay
30 Australia
34 USA

Their last competitive matches

Gold Cup

QF 2-2 against Costa Rica - win on penalties
SF 2-1 Guatemala
2-1 loss to Mexico

Nations League

SF 0-1 loss to Panama
3rd PO 1-2 loss to Canada

For Muz I wasn't commenting on Australia under Popovic - just the US.

TBH a bet on Turkey before they qualify to top the group looks to be a smart bet.
 
Muz said:
Under Poppa why wouldn't the US be favourites.

We're rubbish under that clown.

Likely 3rd place, out in the next round. Never been less excited for a WC campaign.
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Sadly you're probably right unless maybe Turkey doesn't qualify. Lucky for us though even a third place finish would probably get us through based on rankings since the top eight of 12 third place teams go through to the round of 32.
 
Alex M said:
I was very pessimistic about our squad's chances last time around. Even more so after France tore us a new one in the first match.
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This is a fair point too though. Nobody thought we could get out of a group with France, Denmark and Tunisia where only the top two teams advanced. Yet we did. So, why wouldn't we be able to get out of a much easier group with Paraguay, the US and a mid-tier European team where the top three teams advance?
 
HonestSpursFan said:
Sadly you're probably right unless maybe Turkey doesn't qualify. Lucky for us though even a third place finish would probably get us through based on rankings since the top eight of 12 third place teams go through to the round of 32.
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I think each of the Group D teams will fancy their chances against the US. I expect both Paraguay on MD1 and Turkey on MD3 will beat them. For us I think are best chance is to minimise a loss to Turkey, beat the US and hope to scrape a draw against Paraguay. I can see the US as the bottom of the group. We can get third - but will need 4 points to proceed. Most teams will have minnows in their group so GD is important and 3 points a a small GD will not be enough for a best 3rd. Four points and a small GD may not be enough.
 
Muz said:
Under Poppa why wouldn't the US be favourites.

We're rubbish under that clown.

Likely 3rd place, out in the next round. Never been less excited for a WC campaign.
Click to expand...
Not for nothing, but our match against Kosovo (the UEFA qualifier in my sim) ended in a 0-0 draw, so I think you’re onto something
 
patjennings said:
I think each of the Group D teams will fancy their chances against the US. I expect both Paraguay on MD1 and Turkey on MD3 will beat them. For us I think are best chance is to minimise a loss to Turkey, beat the US and hope to scrape a draw against Paraguay. I can see the US as the bottom of the group. We can get third - but will need 4 points to proceed. Most teams will have minnows in their group so GD is important and 3 points a a small GD will not be enough for a best 3rd. Four points and a small GD may not be enough.
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The US are at home though. No way they don't go through.
 
I still think Kosovo have a decent chance at making it. Their squad is ridiculously stacked. Turkey are good for a choke.

I think every team is expecting Turkey but if any of the other 3 makes it, it'll add to the group conundrum.
 
HonestSpursFan said:
The US are at home though. No way they don't go through.
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How does that help. It does in football nations. I look at them like Qatar and South Africa - not France or Germany.

High ticket prices favour corporate and event goers. Paraguay, Turkey and Australia will be bringing vocal crowds. The current US team does nor play well in competitions. How will that pan out when the US struggle. It will be more like away games.
 
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