World Cup 2026

[Wanderlust]

I love the WC despite all its imperfections, politics and off field bullshit because ATEOTD it’s a footie fest and an opportunity to see players we don’t usually get to see. Always throws up surprises and interest.

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, L/H White said:

All times BST:

Group Stage (Group L)

Date	Match	Venue	BST
Wed 17 Jun	England v Croatia	AT&T Stadium, Dallas	9pm
Tue 23 Jun	England v Ghana	Gillette Stadium, Boston	9pm
Sat 27 Jun	England v Panama	MetLife Stadium, New York/NJ	10pm

---

Knockout rounds — depends on group finish:

If group winners:

• Last 32 — Tue 1 Jul: 5pm
• Last 16 — Sat 5 Jul: 1am
• QF — Fri 11 Jul: 10pm

If runners-up:

• Last 32 — Wed 2 Jul: midnight
• Last 16 — Sun 6 Jul: 8pm
• QF — Thu 10 Jul: 8pm

If third place:

• Last 32 — Thu 3 Jul: 2:30am
• Last 16 — Mon 7 Jul: 9pm
• QF — Fri 11 Jul: 2am

Semi-finals: Mon 14 / Tue 15 Jul — 8pm Final: Sat 19 Jul, MetLife Stadium — 8pm

So if we can finish runners up in the group, and progress to the final, our last 4 games will KO at 8pm, plus 2 group games at 9pm and one at 10pm.  Perfect other than the midnight Wednesday game.

(The days are out by one, eg 3rd and 10th July are Fridays not Thursdays).

[Dr. Feelgood]

Yep more "tweaks" to the wasting time rules.

5 second throw-ins, whole teams going for tactical updates while one gets treatment for actually 'injury' (especially keepers), need for speed to take goalkicks. VAR reviews for 2nd yellows, you CAN be judged to foul before a corner comes in ....

All quite sensible, but somebody will find new loopholes. But it's rltruly dispiriting that so much shithousery dominated so much.

[Traf]

All those day/dates are wrong.

[Traf]

[L/H White]

Yet more VAR rules 

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/13549645/world-cup-ifab-confirm-new-var-powers-10-second-substitutions-and-tactical-timeout-ban-in-major-rule-changes

[Zico]

12 hours ago, gonzo said:

The kick of times are pretty rubbish aren't they.

If we win the group our next game is 1am on a Monday morning.

 

 

12 hours ago, L/H White said:

All times BST:

Group Stage (Group L)

Date	Match	Venue	BST
Wed 17 Jun	England v Croatia	AT&T Stadium, Dallas	9pm
Tue 23 Jun	England v Ghana	Gillette Stadium, Boston	9pm
Sat 27 Jun	England v Panama	MetLife Stadium, New York/NJ	10pm

---

Knockout rounds — depends on group finish:

If group winners:

• Last 32 — Tue 1 Jul: 5pm
• Last 16 — Sat 5 Jul: 1am
• QF — Fri 11 Jul: 10pm

If runners-up:

• Last 32 — Wed 2 Jul: midnight
• Last 16 — Sun 6 Jul: 8pm
• QF — Thu 10 Jul: 8pm

If third place:

• Last 32 — Thu 3 Jul: 2:30am
• Last 16 — Mon 7 Jul: 9pm
• QF — Fri 11 Jul: 2am

Semi-finals: Mon 14 / Tue 15 Jul — 8pm Final: Sat 19 Jul, MetLife Stadium — 8pm

better than mine

[jayjayoghani]

2am for the weekend's game I could have done without. 

[bolty58]

1 hour ago, jayjayoghani said:

2am for the weekend's game I could have done without. 

I'll be using the 'catch up' function for some of them.

[Zico]

5 hours ago, jayjayoghani said:

2am for the weekend's game I could have done without. 

 

4 hours ago, bolty58 said:

I'll be using the 'catch up' function for some of them.

same for everyone but it's mad that in the early stages there are 4 games a day, earliest kick off is 2am, latest is 2pm

so for UK that's 5pm and 5am

[Marc505]

Not feeling it yet, still think there's way too many teams in it and that there will be some dire games. But I'll get into it as it goes on hopefully.

Glad I've not put us into financial ruin by proceeding with the plan to go out there in the end, but now jealous of anyone going out 😃

Anyhow, to get into the spirit...

Some superb goals at USA94 and a great collection of superstar names:

 

[burnden]

These are the 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗗 new rules for the 2026 World Cup! •

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄-𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 (𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀): If a player deliberately delays the restart of play, the throw can be given to the opposition. •

𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹-𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 (𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀): Also applies to deliberate attempts to run down the clock and can result in a corner being awarded. •

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲-𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝟭𝟬 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀): Substituted players have 10 seconds to leave the field at the nearest point. If they fail to do so, the substitute cannot enter the field for at least one minute and the team must continue with 10 players. •

𝗢𝗳𝗳-𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲): Players who are treated by the physio must stay off the field for 60 seconds. There are some exceptions, including for goalkeepers, injuries and if the opponent is booked or sent off. •

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘀: Any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card. •

𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱: If VAR can make sure that a corner has been correctly awarded, but this must be done quickly and before the restart. Does not apply to wrongly awarded goal-kicks. •

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱: Players sent off for two cautions can have the second booking checked - but there will be no reviews for potential second yellows.

[Traf]

So players can verbally & racially abuse an opponent whilst covering their mouth if they don't look like they're being conforntational?

Just ban covering the mouth or don't bother.

[bwfc2003]

I thought they were banning these stupid goalie time outs

[gonzo]

1 hour ago, bwfc2003 said:

I thought they were banning these stupid goalie time outs

They have said players aren't allowed to congregate at the touchline but there's no punishment if they do

[bolty58]

4 hours ago, Marc505 said:

Not feeling it yet, still think there's way too many teams in it and that there will be some dire games. But I'll get into it as it goes on hopefully.

I am well on the way. Watching the Brazilian squad visiting their trophy room; England at their hotel in Miami and the likes of Messi and Ronaldo in transit has me not far off fever pitch already.

You are correct about 'dire games' although they can often throw up something sensational, memorable or even amusing. I've already been all over the wall chart with green highlighter for the 'must watch' games,  red for the 'hoping to see them lose' watch games and all the others can be caught up with in the highlights shows.

[L/H White]

any had any outright bets?  I've a list going and will share if anyones arsed

[bolty58]

1 hour ago, L/H White said:

any had any outright bets?  I've a list going and will share if anyones arsed

Backed Argentina and Brazil (obviously). Spain also and then a toss up between France and Germany.

Opted for Germany on the basis that the arrogant surrender monkeys usually end up having an in camp squabble and completely fuck up the 'team' ethos.

Hearing this has heightened my anticipation even more.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/39281101/john-barnes-recreates-world-cup-rap/

[noxid]

4 hours ago, burnden said:

These are the 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗗 new rules for the 2026 World Cup! •

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄-𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 (𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀): If a player deliberately delays the restart of play, the throw can be given to the opposition. •

𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹-𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 (𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀): Also applies to deliberate attempts to run down the clock and can result in a corner being awarded. •

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲-𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝟭𝟬 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀): Substituted players have 10 seconds to leave the field at the nearest point. If they fail to do so, the substitute cannot enter the field for at least one minute and the team must continue with 10 players. •

𝗢𝗳𝗳-𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲): Players who are treated by the physio must stay off the field for 60 seconds. There are some exceptions, including for goalkeepers, injuries and if the opponent is booked or sent off. •

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘀: Any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card. •

𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱: If VAR can make sure that a corner has been correctly awarded, but this must be done quickly and before the restart. Does not apply to wrongly awarded goal-kicks. •

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱: Players sent off for two cautions can have the second booking checked - but there will be no reviews for potential second yellows.

Like most of these except var on corners. Surely a ref and linesman can get it right most of the time without a var delay?

Edited 3 hours ago by noxid
Typo

[Dr. Feelgood]

4 hours ago, Traf said:

Just ban covering the mouth or don't bother.

Then ban the media from using lip-readers & certainly from reporting what's said.

[Johnnyrotten]

I'll no doubt get into it eventually but you can't feign excitement, and mine is low. 

For Euro 2024 and for previous world cups (excluding Qatar in the winter) I was all over the wallcharts, pre-tournament betting and entering those office comps where you pick the result for every game and get points per correct result and correct teams going through the knockout stages.  Then getting the updated standings every day or 2, great stuff.  All that feels like too much of an effort currently, is it because we've just had the high of Wembley so recently?

I put it down to 1. too many games and teams that are insignificant 2. KO times meaning for the first I won't be trying to watch every game 3. England bore me, we might get a nice surprise but this is the dullest team I can recall 4. no jeopardy for England getting through the group, I can remember celebrating any goals in group games wildly in the days of Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney but knowing we can finish 3rd and still qualify, its hard to get excited yet.

I'm expecting things to pick up if and when some great things start to happen in the group games and we get some context about for each game.

[Traf]

I've currently no interest in it at all.

[little whitt]

4 minutes ago, Traf said:

I've currently no interest in it at all.

THIS 

[Campos_Wig]

Sheehan starts for Wales tonight in their match against Ghana. Will be interesting to see if Ghana pose any potential threat to England in the group stages. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Campos_Wig

[desperado]

5 minutes ago, Campos_Wig said:

Sheehan starts for Wales tonight in their match against Ghana. Will be interesting to see if Ghana pose any potential threat to England in the group stages. 

Hope he’s sober enough! 😂