World Cup 2026
 

Time for a topic on this as the playoffs draw is tomorrow.

England have already qualified, and well done to Scotland, that was an exciting match last night.

Wales and Ireland have qualified for the playoffs via 2nd place in their groups, and Northern Ireland should qualify for them via their Nations League position.

Congrats also to Curacao, the smallest nation to ever qualify for the main competition.

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Sunday just gone was Hungary vs Republic of Ireland. I had a choice at 2pm Portugal who gave Armenia a thumping or Republic of Ireland with a slim chance of making the next round. I chose Hungary thinking Szoboszlai will give a MOTM performance. The game was incredible. Hungary looked as though they had enough to see them through but they took it for granted later on in the game. Hungary should have finished Republic of Ireland off. What came about was Hungarys own doing. Incredible Republic of Ireland. Good for them for turning up. :clap:

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Fantastic to have both Scotland and Curacao both qualify.:tu:

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Shame UEFA appear to be a bunch of muppets.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2084wyx1plo

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Consistency would be good. Social media influencers tend to cross the line often.

Strict :rolleyes:

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Update

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Would that be AI cocking it up again you reckon? ;)

Re: World Cup 2026
 

The final draw is tomorrow. The show is to begin at 5pm UK time

https://www.youtube.com/live/9HX_tQBA-Iw

Re: World Cup 2026
 

So happy that Scotland will finally be at the World Cup again after 27 years. I have actually still got my Scotland Home top from Euro 96, and it still fits, lol. Was that lovely tartan one.

Re: World Cup 2026
 

My first World Cup wallchart was in 1978. Scotland were the only UK country that qualified.

The wallchart was a complicated affair, that involved placing stickers of the countries flags, against the appropriate fixtures. Seem to remember having a lot of Scotland stickers left over at the end of the tournament ;)

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Fans are going to need very deep pockets to follow their teams through the tournament…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/extra/i4...-stadium-guide

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...4&d=1764880742

For instance, for teams who will be in the "Western Region", Vancouver and LA are over 2,000Km apart.

Central Region - Guadalajara to Kansas City - 2,500Km

Eastern Region - Miami to Boston or Toronto - 1,500Km

The quarter-finals are in LA, KC, Miami, & Boston, the semis are in Dallas & Atlanta, the game for 3rd place in Miami, and the Finals are in New Jersey…

So, if you’re fortunate enough for your team to get to the Final, you could (after getting through the qualifying stage, the Round of 32, and the Round of 16), you could be travelling from LA to Dallas to New Jersey (2,300Km then 2,200Km).

Update - and then you’ve got the Ticket prices…

https://archive.ph/CKthr

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Anybody know what times these matches will be played generally each day.

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Past your bedtime Den :LOL:

I think we'll find out later. Watch the draw on YouTube at 5pm

Re: World Cup 2026
 

The dates of all the matches are set, but they dont seem to have times yet.

Given the timezones, I would think around 8pm at the earliest (i.e. a 3pm Eastern kickoff).
The latest could be 4am (8pm Pacific kickoff).

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Thanks.

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Times to be released tomorrow Den

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Let's hope the tournament is a lot better than this travesty of a draw.

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Well i didnt watch it as I was out, what was the travesty ?

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It took 2h 15 minutes. Shoddy production at times. And trump gets a peace award especially made for him by FIFA who don't like to mix politics and sport.

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Our initial matches are evening kick-offs in the UK.

Wed 17 June, England v Croatia @ 9pm

Tue 23 June, England v Ghana @ 9pm

Sat, 27 June, England v Panama @ 10pm

Re: World Cup 2026
 

Our game times are a bit late to watch at the pub!

Scotland - Group C

02:00, Sun, 14 June v Haiti - Boston (21:00 local)

23:00, Fri, 19 June v Morocco - Boston (18:00 local)

23:00, Wed, 24 June v Brazil - Miami (18:00 local)

Re: World Cup 2026
 

:rofl:

like Iran isn't already pissed off :LOL:

LGBTQIA+ :shocked:

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Oh well, nevermind. Aren't the US banning everyone from those countries from entering the US anyway?

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Regardless of who it is, why schedule a match to clash with a festival, seems like poor planning.

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Well, other things will be happening in the city when football games are on. London wouldn't postpone Pride if a World Cup game were happening at Wembley, I don't think.

Re: World Cup 2026
 

"Supporters hoping to attend next year's World Cup final face paying vast prices, with tickets in the 'supporter value tier' starting at £3,119 ($4,185)."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/c80x38e04yro

Re: World Cup 2026
 

They missed a cracking headline there

"Trump introduces tariffs for football supporters" :D

Re: World Cup 2026
 

I was intending to go. I've been collecting England 'caps', i.e attending England games, for the last couple of years and joined the England Supporters Travel Club with a view to this World Cup, but the prices are insane. Far more than anyone was expecting.

But never mind. Hopefully, the Euros won't be as expensive, and so far, UEFA have priced both the Euros and the Champions League final far more reasonably. Around £100 for one of the cheaper tickets at both finals and around £1000 for the most expensive.

I should have enough England caps by then to attend every England game up to and including the final should we make it. :D

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Makes the BBC licence fee option look excellent value.

Re: World Cup 2026
 

The prices for the final are just nuts, I hope the stadium is empty.

The group matches dont seem as bad, around £165 for at least two of them.

After that it starts to get silly again, over £500 for the quarter finals, £700+ for the semis.