2026 FIFA Men's Soccer World Cup

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Time for the 2026 FIFA Men's Soccer World Cup, one of the most popular sports events on Tellus!

The 2026 tournament is played in Canada, Mexico and the USA between 11 June and 19 July 2026. For first time in 8 years, the tournament is played at in June and July again.

=Participating teams=
==Group A==
*Mexico
*South Korea
*South Africa
*Czech Republic

==Group B==
*Canada
*Bosnia and Herzegovina
*Qatar
*Switzerland

==Group C==
*Brazil
*Morocco
*Haiti
*Scotland

==Group D==
*USA
*Paraguay
*Australia
*Turkey

==Group E==
*Germany
*Curaçao
*Ivory Coast
*Ecuador

==Group F==
*Netherlands
*Japan
*Sweden
*Tunisia

==Group G==
*Belgium
*Egypt
*Iran
*New Zealand

==Group H==
*Spain
*Cape Verde
*Saudi Arabia
*Uruguay

==Group I==
*France
*Senegal
*Iraq
*Norway

==Group J==
*Argentina
*Algeria
*Austria
*Jordan

==Group K==
*Portugal
*DR Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
*Uzbekistan
*Colombia

==Group L==
*England
*Croatia
*Ghana
*Panama

=Broadcasting television networks=
*Sweden: SVT, TV4 Sweden
*UK: BBC, ITV, STV
*USA: Fox Sports, Telemundo

[Barkworm]

Haven‘t bothered with the FIFA‘s disgusting cesspool of commercialism and corruption in more than a decade. But the list of host countries for the last three tournaments is an appropiate fit (sans Canada; that‘s some company you‘ve got yourself into there…).

[sdp]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

Haven‘t bothered with the FIFA‘s disgusting cesspool of commercialism and corruption in more than a decade. But the list of host countries for the last three tournaments is an appropiate fit (sans Canada; that‘s some company you‘ve got yourself into there…).

What's wrong with Mexico? I didn't see Canada inviting or letting Iran's team play their games there.

[Barkworm]

Originally Posted by sdp

What's wrong with Mexico?

You mean apart from the ongoing drug war and the outrageous femicide rate? The amount of obese children.

[sdp]

all countries have problems and are doing their best to deal with it, Canada has the whole indigenous reconciliation, healthcare access issue, immigrant integration crisis. What makes a country "good enough" to host the world cup?
Are other countries not allowed to have it?

Germany exporting large amounts of plastic waste to other countries for example, in Mexico there's a big controversy right now over German companies coming to do their dirty stuff there instead of Germany and building ammonia plant polluting the environmetn. So Germany wouldn't be eligible?

[Barkworm]

Sure! See my point above, a country being sh*tty makes it a great fit for FIFA. We hosted the World Cup 20 years ago and that was primarily because of the amount of bribes officials here paid.

[sdp]

but why does Canada get the ok card?

[Barkworm]

My main point about hating FIFA was that they are grossly corrupt so let's just focus on that and ignore press freedom or human rights for now.

If we look at the Corruption Perceptions Index, the only countries to host the World Cup in the last 25 years which were perceived as "less corrupt" were Japan, Germany and Canada.

But to run with FIFA a country needs to sh*t on their integrity somehow so Canada's "OK card" is questionable.

[Prowler]

The strongest teams on paper are France, Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Argentina. England is strong on paper too, but they always fail in the end, so who knows.

Germany seems good too. Japan and Morocco are two of the underdogs to watch.

Portugal will be dragged down by an old man Ronaldo who can't accept the fact he's finished.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Prowler

The strongest teams on paper are France, Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Argentina. England is strong on paper too, but they always fail in the end, so who knows.

Germany seems good too. Japan and Morocco are two of the underdogs to watch.

Portugal will be dragged down by an old man Ronaldo who can't accept the fact he's finished.

There was a time when Team England almost always made it to the playoffs, only to be knocked out following a penalty shootout. They have improved a lot since the early 2010's so I wouldn't be surprised the day they win a new title.

[Prowler]

Holland 2-2 Japan what a game! Japan's 2nd goal made me nearly jump off my sofa in joy.

Also, Germany bullying Curaçao with a 7-1 thrashing. Harsh

[sdp]

Mexico won the opening match. USA won their first match. Canada...oh Canada.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Prowler

Portugal will be dragged down by an old man Ronaldo who can't accept the fact he's finished.

I'm sure Team Portugal will make it to tbe playoffs at least!

[sdp]

Thread theme

[Wesley]

I've been half watching the World Cup when I can. The time zones make it hard to follow properly, so I've mostly been catching highlights. It actually reminds me a bit of the 2002 World Cup when matches were on at all hours. Still quite enjoyable though, even just seeing bits here and there. But it doesn't seem to have the same buzz that older tournaments had. Maybe that's because people are busier these days, or because there are so many teams involved.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by sdp

Thread theme

Wow, Shakira's really holding it together. Better than anybody from her era.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by Wesley

I've been half watching the World Cup when I can. The time zones make it hard to follow properly, so I've mostly been catching highlights. It actually reminds me a bit of the 2002 World Cup when matches were on at all hours. Still quite enjoyable though, even just seeing bits here and there. But it doesn't seem to have the same buzz that older tournaments had. Maybe that's because people are busier these days, or because there are so many teams involved.

The group stage has 72 matches but will only eliminate 16 teams. It’s a money printing machine or so they hoped. There’s less jeopardy in going out at the moment.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I'm not a fan of sending 3 (rather than 2) out of 4 teams from a groupstage to the playoffs. It makes each groupstage game less interesting.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

I'm not a fan of sending 3 (rather than 2) out of 4 teams from a groupstage to the playoffs. It makes each groupstage game less interesting.

They wanted more matches, more money.

Personally it should have been 16 groups of three teams, and only the winners get through. But that’s only 48 group games, not enough money for FIFA! They could have still made it 12 groups of four, the winners and the four best second place qualify. Still get 72 group matches, just no round of 32.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Team Argentina defeated Team Austria, 2-0, following two goals by Lionel Messi.