World Cup 2026 - Official Thread

Ecuador have to win, if they don't they're not going through to R32. So I imagine they care very much.

Ok sure, but they are almost definitely not going to, and personally I couldn't care less if they make it.

I'm watching Ivory Coast, purely to watch Sangare.

Ecuador have been dominating this game for the past 10 minutes, (since I started watching)

No you're wrong, Jim's already decided that they don't have a chance despite not actually watching it.

More dodgy refereeing in favour of the bigger brand.

Huge goal. If they can hold on I see it .... /checks notes ... means Ecuador finish a few places higher in the bizarre third place league table which only exists because FIFA wanted to grab a few more millions from the punters. Doesn't change anything in the group for Germany, Curacao or Ivory Coast.

I'm going to bed.

It's the difference between the knockout round, and going home. It has been a fabulous contest and it's incredibly dramatic.

If you aren't interested in a match like this then I think tournament football might not be for you.

That was great! Well done Ecuador.

Hipster pretending to dislike football when it's mainstream.

This tournament isn't helping our chances of getting Elanga back at a cut price. It does make Eddie Howe look a bit stupid though.

The US appear to have decided to throw this game by selecting their B-squad including Matt Turner. Coincidentally Turkey have scored their first goal of the tournament.

I don't think it really matters, a 5 goal GD swing from the US to Aus seems unlikely. I'm watching Aus-Paraguay and pulling for a Paraguay win, for all the reasons I mentioned the other day plus one that occurred to me earlier today: Kevin. Fucking. Muscat.

This has been by some considerable distance the worst match I've watched this tournament. Looks like Aus will somehow finish second despite being truly shit, but it does set up the entertaining prospect of an Aus v NZ R32 match up if NZ beat Belgium tomorrow night.

BWAHAHAHAHA
We've got like 60 professional footballlers, and this is often where squad really matters.
And it's bold to think Turner can't engineer a 5 goal swing on his own.

Belgium have looked pretty poor in their first two. Plus never underestimate Belgium's ability to puke down themselves.

Scotland down to a 5% chance of qualifying now. Still, at least they got to have a nice sing song and somehow went to Boston and pretended they had nothing to do with the British empire in the 18th century.