***** Official World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Thread *****

135,884 Views | 2616 Replies | Last: 2 mo ago by randy828
ErnestEndeavor
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:45p, 6/30/26
1-0, could easily be 4-0
Reply Quote
wangus12
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:45p, 6/30/26
Ugh ****ing France
Reply Quote
bagger05
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:45p, 6/30/26
Just an unreal player.
Reply Quote
Thunder18
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:46p, 6/30/26
France finally breaks through after heavy pressure the last few minutes. Mbappe is a freak
Reply Quote
deadbq03
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:46p, 6/30/26
Hell of a goal.
Reply Quote
Thunder18
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:47p, 6/30/26
17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible
Reply Quote
bagger05
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:47p, 6/30/26
Sweden is generating some really good looking chances.
Reply Quote
Maximus_Meridius
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:47p, 6/30/26
That was almost an equalizer...
Reply Quote
boogieman
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:48p, 6/30/26
Mbappe is soo good.
Reply Quote
wangus12
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:49p, 6/30/26
How close was that.
Reply Quote
LouisHerbertWong
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Thunder18 • 4:56p, 6/30/26
Thunder18 said:
17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.
Reply Quote
Peter Piper
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to LouisHerbertWong • 5:06p, 6/30/26
LouisHerbertWong said:
Thunder18 said:
17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.
Reply Quote
1 edit
Enrico Pallazzo
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:08p, 6/30/26
I'd put $$$ on 35. 39 is more the question IMO
Reply Quote
The Ex Officio Director
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Peter Piper • 5:08p, 6/30/26
Peter Piper said:
LouisHerbertWong said:
Thunder18 said:
17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.
My gummy-bear died. My unicorn ran away. My imaginary friend got kidnapped. The voices in my head wont talk to me.
I've got a red bull. So I got that going for me.
Reply Quote
LeonardSkinner
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Peter Piper • 5:10p, 6/30/26
Peter Piper said:
LouisHerbertWong said:
Thunder18 said:
17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Not that I'm signing on to the prediction, but remind me who the current Golden Boot leader is, and his age?
Reply Quote
Enrico Pallazzo
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:10p, 6/30/26
Yep, Messi is obviously an outlier, but Mbappe certainly is an outlier of his own. I think he's good for at least 2 more barring significant injury/ies. And wouldn't write off a 3rd.
Reply Quote
Peter Piper
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Ex Officio Director • 5:11p, 6/30/26
The Ex Officio Director said:
Peter Piper said:
LouisHerbertWong said:
Thunder18 said:
17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.

Different type of player. He doesn't rely on his physicality. A better comparison would be with Ronaldo.
Reply Quote
Enrico Pallazzo
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:13p, 6/30/26
Not sure that's the direction you want to go with the "he won't be playing at 39" argument either
Reply Quote
The Ex Officio Director
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Peter Piper • 5:15p, 6/30/26
Peter Piper said:
The Ex Officio Director said:
Peter Piper said:
LouisHerbertWong said:
Thunder18 said:
17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.

Different type of player. He doesn't rely on his physicality. A better comparison would be with Ronaldo.

And Ronaldo is 41.
My gummy-bear died. My unicorn ran away. My imaginary friend got kidnapped. The voices in my head wont talk to me.
I've got a red bull. So I got that going for me.
Reply Quote
Peter Piper
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Ex Officio Director • 5:18p, 6/30/26
The Ex Officio Director said:
Peter Piper said:
The Ex Officio Director said:
Peter Piper said:
LouisHerbertWong said:
Thunder18 said:
17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.

Different type of player. He doesn't rely on his physicality. A better comparison would be with Ronaldo.

And Ronaldo is 41.

And dude sucks at 41. Dude is a mere shell of what he was 10 years ago. That's what age does to you when you rely on pace and explosiveness.
Reply Quote
LeonardSkinner
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:19p, 6/30/26
Honestly, we should probably assume he'll keep playing until he doesn't. I could argue that, in terms of a nation's soccer GOAT, he's on a similar trajectory for France as Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been for their countries.

And when you're the country's greatest of all time, they'll give you a roster spot until you say no.
Reply Quote
wangus12
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:20p, 6/30/26
That was a ****ing dirty play Upamecano. Straight hit in the face and no call
Reply Quote
AgLA06
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to wangus12 • 5:26p, 6/30/26
wangus12 said:
That was a ****ing dirty play Upamecano. Straight hit in the face and no call

I normally asume most is incidental, but I don't see how you can argue that's incidental at all. He deserves a fine for that.
Reply Quote
carl spacklers hat
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:32p, 6/30/26
Sweden keeper making himself some money in this match. Don't expect him to be in the Championship when the new season comes around.
People think I'm an idiot or something, because all I do is cut lawns for a living.
Reply Quote
carl spacklers hat
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Ex Officio Director • 5:33p, 6/30/26
The Ex Officio Director said:
Peter Piper said:
LouisHerbertWong said:
Thunder18 said:
17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.

Mbappe is no Messi.
People think I'm an idiot or something, because all I do is cut lawns for a living.
Reply Quote
Thunder18
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:33p, 6/30/26
Olise to Mbappe is unstoppable
Reply Quote
THE_CHOSEN_ONE
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:34p, 6/30/26
France looks unstoppable
Reply Quote
Who?mikejones!
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Peter Piper • 5:37p, 6/30/26
Yes, I agree. Ronaldo relied so heavily on his athletic ability and just straight bullied everyone, it tend to catch up to you more than a Messi who's vision, passing, positioning, etc that made him great.

Mbappe falls more under the Ronaldo mold. I think he will find it much harder to play at a high enough level to be on a French WC team beyond 35
Reply Quote
Enrico Pallazzo
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:38p, 6/30/26
Mbappe might only need the 2026 WC to track down Messi's career WC goals
Reply Quote
Who?mikejones!
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to THE_CHOSEN_ONE • 5:38p, 6/30/26
THE_CHOSEN_ONE said:
France looks unstoppable


Only thing stopping them are the posts
Reply Quote
boogieman
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:41p, 6/30/26
Juked outta their socks.
Reply Quote
YokelRidesAgain
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:42p, 6/30/26
I don't see Les Bleus losing at this tournament.
Reply Quote
wangus12
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Enrico Pallazzo • 5:43p, 6/30/26
Enrico Pallazzo said:
Mbappe might only need the 2026 WC to track down Messi's career WC goals


And that is with FIFA hooking Messi up with what will be the easiest ever path to a World Cup Final
Reply Quote
wangus12
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to THE_CHOSEN_ONE • 5:44p, 6/30/26
THE_CHOSEN_ONE said:
France looks unstoppable


People keep saying Argentina, but they've looked average outside of Messi moments against lackluster competition
Reply Quote
The Ex Officio Director
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to carl spacklers hat • 5:44p, 6/30/26
carl spacklers hat said:
The Ex Officio Director said:
Peter Piper said:
LouisHerbertWong said:
Thunder18 said:
17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.

Mbappe is no Messi.

I didn't say Mbappe was.

Just pointing out that Mbappe can be in late 30s or even early 40s and still be playing.
My gummy-bear died. My unicorn ran away. My imaginary friend got kidnapped. The voices in my head wont talk to me.
I've got a red bull. So I got that going for me.
Reply Quote
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.