World Cup 2026

[andy]

Absolutely painful viewing that draw ridiculouly awkward....could have had a worse group however definitely not a walk over...Panama won't be a problem but Ghana are always tricky and we always seem to get Croatia somewhere in a major tournament and they are always a threat...add to the fact we notoriously don't do well in hot conditions means it's a tricky draw that

[Durhamfootman]

hot conditions should only be a problem in the KO stages

Ghana have fallen dramatically in the FIFA rankings in the last few years. I think they are about 72nd or something and I think they were around about the top 20 mark, but yes, they could prove tricky if England don't play near their best. I think I'm right in saying that they didn't make it through to the AFCON finals which start in the New Year

Out of curiosity, is Modric doing a Messi/Ronaldo and sticking around into his dotage?

[mikesiva]

Iran says that they're withdrawing from the World Cup.

The right decision.

Other countries should follow suit.

The USA is a terrorist state.

[andy]

How have Italy failed to qualify for three world cups in a row?!

[Durhamfootman]

by being worse than England, presumably

yet if Italy played England tomorrow, they'd probably win it

[Durhamfootman]

Iran says that they're withdrawing from the World Cup.

The right decision.

now Infantile says they will be playing and they will be playing in the US

I'm glad somebody knows what's going on

[Durhamfootman]

Iran will be playing their matches in the US, but will be staying in Mexico

[Durhamfootman]

FIFA have reversed their policy of allowing fans to refill water containers within the stadium, citing risks to players from fans hurling bottles at them

instead, water can be purchased in the stadium for any fan who thinks water might be a good idea in 35o heat.

Sounds to me as though anything that can be used as a projectile, FIFA want to make a big profit on it... to protect the players, of course

[Durhamfootman]

FIFA backs down. factory sealed plastic water bottles can be brought into the ground, but not 'hard' water containers

[andy]

FIFA have lost control of the world cup I get Somalia is on the no entry list but a FIFA approved referee being denied entry is downright bizarre

[andy]

Will watch England Vs Costa rica tonight but expecting it to be a complete snoozefest!

[Durhamfootman]

FIFA have lost control of the world cup I get Somalia is on the no entry list but a FIFA approved referee being denied entry is downright bizarre

he had a valid visa as well

maybe he didn't have enough money to grease the wheels in modern day America. He only has himself to blame... he could have come over with the inaugural World Referees Association peace prize for Don Donald

[Durhamfootman]

I watched the warm up game v Costa Rica this morning. Match was delayed for an hour because of thunderstorms.

3-0 win for England. Goals from Rice, a Gordon pen and a Watkins goal poach. CR did what they do, loads of fouling, loads of play acting, not a lot of quality. Similar to the lionesses the day before, England scored 3 and should have scored 6. Three absolute sitters squandered. Madueke even contrived to hit the post trying to slide the ball into an empty net having got around the defence and the keeper. Rogers was put through one on one with the keeper and put it just wide with the goal gaping and somebody else did something similar in the first half. Not sure how long England will be able to afford being profligate with chances that should be buried 9 times out of 10

England looked much better moving the ball quickly and attacking the defenders than they did passing it around, although I suppose it'll be important to manage games in the heat. The passing was slick and good to watch. There were absolutely no defensive alarms apart from one of those Pickford moments, which I haven't seen from him for a while. He got caught out hesitating with the ball at his feet and had to dribble his way out of trouble. The resulting clearance went straight to a CR player, who could easily have chipped him had he thought a bit quicker, with Pickford stranded on the edge of his own box

A decent workout though and a decent performance, although the set pieces weren't great and looked like they needed a lot of work. I think they are working on set pieces in a behind closed doors game later today

[Durhamfootman]

All the BBC pundits have been predicting their WC winners

Almost everyone went for Spain/France/England.... daft knackers (England, I mean). I think Germany remain the only team to win a WC in the Americas in nearly 100 years of the competition. Presumably they think Brazil aren't good enough and Argentina are too old

Holland seem to be busy going around telling everyone that they are going to win it, so they're confident, or optimistic, or on the wind up

[Gingerfinch]

England looked really good last night. Not many pointless sideways passes. A couple of bad misses but better to miss them than not have the chances

For me it's between Spain, France and Portugal

England to reach the semis, which is a tough ask!

Mexico all over SA and are one up!