*****Official World Cup 2026 Thread*****

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LeonardSkinner
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In reply to AgRyan04 • 8:59a, 6/25/26
Water is wet and the sky is blue
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Juan Solo
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9:27a, 6/25/26
AG
If Cabo Verde beats Saudi, Uruguay or Spain would be a 3rd place team
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wangus12
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In reply to Juan Solo • 9:38a, 6/25/26
AG
Juan Solo said:
If Cabo Verde beats Saudi, Uruguay or Spain would be a 3rd place team

I'm here for the madness of Cabo Verde beating Saudi by at least one more goal than Uruguay beating Spain. Thus result in Cabo Verde winning the group and Spain being 3rd.

Actually never mind. Spain being 3rd might actually put them on course to play Egypt and then us in Ro16
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Zombie Jon Snow
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In reply to wangus12 • 10:24a, 6/25/26
AG
wangus12 said:
Juan Solo said:
If Cabo Verde beats Saudi, Uruguay or Spain would be a 3rd place team

I'm here for the madness of Cabo Verde beating Saudi by at least one more goal than Uruguay beating Spain. Thus result in Cabo Verde winning the group and Spain being 3rd.

Actually never mind. Spain being 3rd might actually put them on course to play Egypt and then us in Ro16


Can you imagine though.

And that might be likely (that Spain would play Group G winner) because if A third place (SK) does not qualify then the most likely opponent for Group G winner is Spain from Group H.

And it's the same even if Uruguay wins the group and Cape Verde is second. Spain in third is a nightmare scenario. But also makes all the machinations about avoiding them as Group H winner moot.

Ugh.
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zgolfz85
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10:46a, 6/25/26
AG
I know our Bay Area game is a ways out, but….

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La Bamba
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11:41a, 6/25/26
AG
I'm sure it's already been discussed here but does anyone understand why, with the success we've had thus far in the tournament (2-0-0), were scheduled to play the "highest" rated 3rd place team by points? I mean if the US beats Turkey, wouldn't that make us one of the "highest rated" first place teams? I guess what I'm saying is… I don't get it.
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Zombie Jon Snow
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In reply to La Bamba • 11:49a, 6/25/26
AG
La Bamba said:
I'm sure it's already been discussed here but does anyone understand why, with the success we've had thus far in the tournament (2-0-0), were scheduled to play the "highest" rated 3rd place team by points? I mean if the US beats Turkey, wouldn't that make us one of the "highest rated" first place teams? I guess what I'm saying is… I don't get it.


Bosnia is only highest right now - they won't be. They have played 3 games and 9 groups have only played 2 games. They will get passed by a few at least.

But anyway it is all a random draw that is predetermined except for who goes where based on placement. All first and second place are basically set up like any tournament with those as the highest seeds.


The third place teams it depends. Eight group winners have an assigned 5 groups that they might have the third place team from (because only 1 of those is guaranteed to qualify).

But we are lucky in that 4 of the Group Winners (C F H and J) play a runner-up in the first round. That was also randomly drawn. So Brazil, Spain, NED/JAP and Argentina will be playing group runner-ups. Not third place teams.


In other words:

8 group winners - play a third place team (8)
4 group winners - play a group runner-up (4)
8 remaining runners-up play each other

We don't have a bad scenario. We have the best possible scenario.

And Bosnia for B is way better than playing much higher ranked opponents from one of the other possible groups. Although now the only other possibility is group I (Senegal or Iraq).
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zgolfz85
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In reply to La Bamba • 11:51a, 6/25/26
AG
La Bamba said:
I'm sure it's already been discussed here but does anyone understand why, with the success we've had thus far in the tournament (2-0-0), were scheduled to play the "highest" rated 3rd place team by points? I mean if the US beats Turkey, wouldn't that make us one of the "highest rated" first place teams? I guess what I'm saying is… I don't get it.

I don't think we play the highest rated 3rd place team. I've studied this multiple times and this is the only thing that resonates:

  • 8 Group Winners Face 3rd Place Teams: Eight of the 12 group winners are randomly assigned or predetermined to play against the advancing third-place teams from various groups. [
  • 4 Group Winners Face Group Runners-up
So, all I know is we were one 1 of 8 group winners predetermined to play a 3rd place team, and I think it's based on which groups have 3rd place teams that get through rather than 3rd place rankings.
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zgolfz85
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In reply to Zombie Jon Snow • 11:51a, 6/25/26
AG
Zombie Jon Snow said:
La Bamba said:
I'm sure it's already been discussed here but does anyone understand why, with the success we've had thus far in the tournament (2-0-0), were scheduled to play the "highest" rated 3rd place team by points? I mean if the US beats Turkey, wouldn't that make us one of the "highest rated" first place teams? I guess what I'm saying is… I don't get it.


Bosnia is only highest right now - they won't be. They have played 3 games and 9 groups have only played 2 games. They will get passed by a few at least.

But anyway it is all a random draw that is predetermined except for who goes where based on placement. All first and second place are basically set up like any tournament with those as the highest seeds.


T0he third place teams it depends. Eight group winners have an assigned 5 groups that they might have the third place team from (because only 1 of those is guaranteed to qualify).

But we are lucky in that 4 of the Group Winners (C F H and J) play a runner-up in the first round. That was also randomly drawn. So Brazil, Spain, NED/JAP and Argentina will be playing group runner-ups. Not third place teams.



ha good timing and agreed with all you said.
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Zombie Jon Snow
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In reply to zgolfz85 • 11:54a, 6/25/26
AG
zgolfz85 said:
La Bamba said:
I'm sure it's already been discussed here but does anyone understand why, with the success we've had thus far in the tournament (2-0-0), were scheduled to play the "highest" rated 3rd place team by points? I mean if the US beats Turkey, wouldn't that make us one of the "highest rated" first place teams? I guess what I'm saying is… I don't get it.

I don't think we play the highest rated 3rd place team. I've studied this multiple times and this is the only thing that resonates:

  • 8 Group Winners Face 3rd Place Teams: Eight of the 12 group winners are randomly assigned or predetermined to play against the advancing third-place teams from various groups. [
  • 4 Group Winners Face Group Runners-up
So, all I know is we were one 1 of 8 group winners predetermined to play a 3rd place team, and I think it's based on which groups have 3rd place teams that get through rather than 3rd place rankings.


He is just saying that right now Bosnia is the highest 3rd place team with 4 points. That will change. 9 groups still have to play their third game.
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zgolfz85
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In reply to Zombie Jon Snow • 11:57a, 6/25/26
AG
Zombie Jon Snow said:
zgolfz85 said:
La Bamba said:
I'm sure it's already been discussed here but does anyone understand why, with the success we've had thus far in the tournament (2-0-0), were scheduled to play the "highest" rated 3rd place team by points? I mean if the US beats Turkey, wouldn't that make us one of the "highest rated" first place teams? I guess what I'm saying is… I don't get it.

I don't think we play the highest rated 3rd place team. I've studied this multiple times and this is the only thing that resonates:

  • 8 Group Winners Face 3rd Place Teams: Eight of the 12 group winners are randomly assigned or predetermined to play against the advancing third-place teams from various groups. [
  • 4 Group Winners Face Group Runners-up
So, all I know is we were one 1 of 8 group winners predetermined to play a 3rd place team, and I think it's based on which groups have 3rd place teams that get through rather than 3rd place rankings.


He is just saying that right now Bosnia is the highest 3rd place team with 4 points. That will change. 9 groups still have to play their third game.


Right, our opponent is determined by draw like you said though and not final 3rd place rankings. They won't be top of those rankings by the time it's finalized I'm sure
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Zombie Jon Snow
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12:05p, 6/25/26
AG
Now the only way it is not Bosnia is if 8 3rd place teams pass Bosnia which would mean:

Sweden win or tie vs Japan
Croatia win vs Ghana
Algeria win vs Austria
Paraguay win vs Australia
Cape Verde win vs Saudi Arabia Or Saudi Arabia beat Cape Verde by 4 goals
Belgium win vs New Zealand Or New Zealand beat Belgium by 2 goals
DR Congo win vs Uzbekistan
Ecuador win vs Germany OR Curacao beat Ivory Coast by 5 goals

Not impossible but thats a hell of a 8 game parlay.

Any one of those 7 that need a win end up tied and Bosnia is in.
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wangus12
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In reply to Zombie Jon Snow • 12:09p, 6/25/26
AG
Yeah its a pretty wild possibility. As of right now, there are 246 3rd place team combinations left and only exactly 1 where the USA does not face Bosnia & Herzegovina.

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zgolfz85
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In reply to Zombie Jon Snow • 12:09p, 6/25/26
AG
Zombie Jon Snow said:
Now the only way it is not Bosnia is if 8 3rd place teams pass Bosnia which would mean:

Sweden win or tie vs Japan
Croatia win vs Ghana
Algeria win vs Austria
Paraguay win vs Australia
Cape Verde win vs Saudi Arabia Or Saudi Arabia beat Cape Verde by 4 goals
Belgium win vs New Zealand Or New Zealand beat Belgium by 2 goals
DR Congo win vs Uzbekistan
Ecuador win vs Germany OR Curacao beat Ivory Coast by 5 goals

Not impossible but thats a hell of a 8 game parlay.

Any one of those 7 that need a win end up tied and Bosnia is in.

it won't happen, but on paper, the only one from that list of 8 that would be hard to believe would be Ecuador over Germany (not even counting the beat by a certain amt of goal ones)
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zgolfz85
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In reply to wangus12 • 12:10p, 6/25/26
AG
wangus12 said:
Yeah its a pretty wild possibility. As of right now, there are 246 3rd place team combinations left and only exactly 1 where the USA does not face Bosnia & Herzegovina.


so do we start to make a plan for food poisoning at the bosnia team hotel now or give it a couple of days?
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wangus12
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12:30p, 6/25/26
AG
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Zombie Jon Snow
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In reply to zgolfz85 • 12:43p, 6/25/26
AG
zgolfz85 said:
Zombie Jon Snow said:
Now the only way it is not Bosnia is if 8 3rd place teams pass Bosnia which would mean:

Sweden win or tie vs Japan
Croatia win vs Ghana
Algeria win vs Austria
Paraguay win vs Australia
Cape Verde win vs Saudi Arabia Or Saudi Arabia beat Cape Verde by 4 goals
Belgium win vs New Zealand Or New Zealand beat Belgium by 2 goals
DR Congo win vs Uzbekistan
Ecuador win vs Germany OR Curacao beat Ivory Coast by 5 goals

Not impossible but thats a hell of a 8 game parlay.

Any one of those 7 that need a win end up tied and Bosnia is in.

it won't happen, but on paper, the only one from that list of 8 that would be hard to believe would be Ecuador over Germany (not even counting the beat by a certain amt of goal ones)


I agree except for the fact that historically so many games end up tied in the group stage. It seems unrealistic to have 8 outright wins. Especially when so many of those teams benefit from a tie.

In the first 2 rounds there were 14 ties. That's 14/48 or about 30% of the games.
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tysker
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In reply to wangus12 • 12:45p, 6/25/26
AG
wangus12 said:

I totally understand everything in that

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AustinScubaAg
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In reply to wangus12 • 12:48p, 6/25/26
AG
wangus12 said:

I am confused. How can USA vs Turkey has any impact on scotland.
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wangus12
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In reply to AustinScubaAg • 12:49p, 6/25/26
AG
I think that one is wrong personally. They just need either Paraguay or Australia to lose by enough goals to go below them in Goal Difference. USA v Turkey has no effect on them
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Mathguy64
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12:49p, 6/25/26
AG
I actually think they have a shot. Three of the 9 really should happen.

Germany should easily beat Ecuador and IC should beat Curaao. Check 1.

Egypt should beat Iran. Check 2

Spain should beat Uruguay. Check 3.

Now they just need one more.
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tysker
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In reply to Mathguy64 • 12:53p, 6/25/26
AG
Mathguy64 said:
I actually think they have a shot. Three of the 9 really should happen.

Germany should easily beat Ecuador and IC should beat Curaao. Check 1.

Egypt should beat Iran. Check 2

Spain should beat Uruguay. Check 3.

Now they just need one more.

Agreed, the Senegal vs. Iraq and Congo vs. Uzbekistan seem plausible as well.
I'm wondering if 2+ means '3 or more' or does it mean '2 or more'
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Mathguy64
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2:10p, 6/25/26
AG
Zlatan with the knife cut to Lalas' midsection.

"Rebecca don't you need to ask Alexi's a question? Oh no he's not here." Then points to Lalas' empty chair.

Thierry deadpans "that's not necessary."
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Out in Left Field
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2:34p, 6/25/26
AG
lol apparently Sweden have been training in Frisco's "crumbling" stadium
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wangus12
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In reply to Mathguy64 • 2:38p, 6/25/26
AG
Mathguy64 said:
Zlatan with the knife cut to Lalas' midsection.

"Rebecca don't you need to ask Alexi's a question? Oh no he's not here." Then points to Lalas' empty chair.

Thierry deadpans "that's not necessary."

I cannot wait for Zlatan to go. They should have just hired Thierry and Micah from the UCL show. They're great together
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Zombie Jon Snow
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In reply to Out in Left Field • 2:40p, 6/25/26
AG
why is it crumbling?
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Out in Left Field
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In reply to Zombie Jon Snow • 2:42p, 6/25/26
AG
FC Dallas planned renovations
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nai06
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3:40p, 6/25/26
AG
I'm locked in right now

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zgolfz85
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In reply to nai06 • 3:42p, 6/25/26
AG
nai06 said:
I'm locked in right now


that's hot
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Zombie Jon Snow
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3:50p, 6/25/26
AG

So no jinx but as it stands at halftime of E games

Ecuador if they remain tied or lose; and Curacao L, T or narrow win

means

Bosnia would be locked as our first round opponent

Because only 7 remaining teams could pass Bosnia meaning they are in the top 8 3rd place teams.
AND
SK(A) and Scotland (C), Paraguay (D) and Sweden (F) would all remain ahead of Ecuador (E). So Germany would play somebody other than Bosnia, one of (A C D F third place). Long way of saying Ecuador needed to pass all 4 of those for Germany to get Bosnia instead.
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Milwaukees Best Light
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3:53p, 6/25/26
AG
This lady ref isn't wearing the shoulder pads and half the other crap the men refs wear. Why?
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PatAg
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In reply to Out in Left Field • 3:54p, 6/25/26
AG
Out in Left Field said:
FC Dallas planned renovations

That is actually a newly built temporary office quarters that they accidentally demo'd.
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PatAg
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3:55p, 6/25/26
AG
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AustinScubaAg
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In reply to Milwaukees Best Light • 4:00p, 6/25/26
AG
Milwaukees Best Light said:
This lady ref isn't wearing the shoulder pads and half the other crap the men refs wear. Why?

Cause she does not want to be told she is wrong.

She does have the transmitter on just not as obvious for some reason.
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Zombie Jon Snow
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In reply to Zombie Jon Snow • 4:53p, 6/25/26
AG
Zombie Jon Snow said:

So no jinx but as it stands at halftime of E games

Ecuador if they remain tied or lose; and Curacao L, T or narrow win

means

Bosnia would be locked as our first round opponent

Because only 7 remaining teams could pass Bosnia meaning they are in the top 8 3rd place teams.
AND
SK(A) and Scotland (C), Paraguay (D) and Sweden (F) would all remain ahead of Ecuador (E). So Germany would play somebody other than Bosnia, one of (A C D F third place). Long way of saying Ecuador needed to pass all 4 of those for Germany to get Bosnia instead.


Uh oh.

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