FIFA World Cup 2026 :Canada/Mexico/United States: Discussion Thread

[halcybtc]

Unable to stomach the 2-0 scoreline, Ronaldo elbowed his opponent.
If the score had been 1-1 or even 1-0, rather than 2-0, he wouldn't have made that move.
Portugal played better football, but Ireland scored the goals.
This is a uniquely beautiful aspect of football.
Portugal easily defeated Armenia at home in their final match and finished top of the group.

[Unsoldier]

Today many top national teams are playing, but their opponents are minnows. That's why the most interesting match for me is Poland vs Netherlands.

The outlook looks optimistic for the Dutch. The Netherlands are in excellent form and lead the group with 16 points. The only thing that slightly hindered them was the draw with Poland in their first match. That game ended 1-1, but the Dutch dominated and created more chances. Now they have every opportunity to get their revenge. Poland will, of course, fight hard—they have the motivation to stay in the top two—but against a stronger opponent, that might not be enough.

I think the Netherlands will show their quality and win.

[Webetcoins]

I can't believe on my eyes as Malta is leading against Finland as it's their first win in these qualifiers, and they already score their 2nd goal of this event as well 82nd goal from Grech is enough for Malta to have something extraordinary in this game which is currently playing at Helsinki Olympic Stadium.

No changes going to happen after this match, but this is going to be huge moment for Malta in soccer because no one was expecting this is coming like this before start of this game odds for Malta was @10 and too many gamblers on one casino site chatting were crying @1.37 are free money so grab as many gamblers can but now most probably they are crying and having nothing to do with this.

[Agbe]

Unable to stomach the 2-0 scoreline, Ronaldo elbowed his opponent.
If the score had been 1-1 or even 1-0, rather than 2-0, he wouldn't have made that move.
Portugal played better football, but Ireland scored the goals.
This is a uniquely beautiful aspect of football.
Portugal easily defeated Armenia at home in their final match and finished top of the group.

Your right the Portuguese can easily win Armenia in the last game to qualify for the world cup. But bad sportsmanship display from a player like Ronaldo that is a big nama in sport and is a role model to so many players, he should not have allowed emotions to override his actions yesterday. In football you don't win always you lose some and win some . Portugal was poor in front of goal yesterday they dominated the game but was not sharp in front of goal and Ireland knew that they can't play in possession game with them but waited on the counter attack to score goals and their game plan worked for them.

[Solosanz]

I can't believe on my eyes as Malta is leading against Finland as it's their first win in these qualifiers, and they already score their 2nd goal of this event as well 82nd goal from Grech is enough for Malta to have something extraordinary in this game which is currently playing at Helsinki Olympic Stadium.

Even though Finland have a bad recent history, but it's too much for them to lose against a weak and small team like Malta. Malta is completely nothing in football, they're really lucky to beat Finland, well this lose will cost them a lot because they're in a competitive group.

Poland and Netherlands are too strong, very hard for Finland to catch them up.

[Uruhara]

Of course, we can't always expect Portugal to win every game. They are bound to suffer a few defeats among their many victories. And well, that's just how soccer is. Even the favorites can sometimes fall in unexpected ways.

Yesterday's match was no exception. Portugal lost in a way I found unexpected. Despite dominating the game, it was Ireland who managed to score the goal. What concerns me is that Cristiano Ronaldo ended up receiving a red card for the foul he committed. And well, that's quite unfortunate, though we're no longer surprised by Cristiano Ronaldo's behavior, which can sometimes be like this.

I expected someone like Ronaldo to be very professional in handling situations like that, someone of his profile should be able to control his anger and not let it over clout him cause eyes are always on him and anything he does would always be on the media, well I don't know if what he did was an act of revenge or a mistake but he should be careful, he should've learnt from the experience of Zidane.
 Well the lose would definitely be a painful one to the Portuguese team cause they couldn't even score a goal, this should let them know that they're not invincible so they shouldn't underate any country.

Portugal must realize this. So that they can be better prepared when facing other teams. And even the next match against Armenia could be just as difficult if the Portuguese national team does not play to their full potential. Meanwhile, that match is a crucial one. In other words, Portugal cannot afford to lose in the upcoming match if they want to qualify directly for the World Cup. And yes, they must not underestimate the teams they will face.

Cristiano Ronaldo's attitude is sometimes like that. I'm not surprised at all. But usually, there's a reason behind his attitude. Sometimes there's provocation from the opponent or something like that. And yes, in this case, Cristiano Ronaldo does have a weakness in controlling his emotions like this.

[Alex077]

I think it's worth to bet on Poland vs Netherlands match.

The match will held in Poland's home, all of their players are available, and their recent history is good. It just their head to head is bad, so far Poland never won in all of their match.

I know Netherlands have many high quality players, but despite having quality players, their performance aren't really impressive.

But in my opinion, betting on Poland vs Netherlands is quite risky. If you look at the old matches, you will realize that the Dutch have clearly dominated. According to UEFA statistics, the Netherlands have won 9 of the 19 matches between the two teams, while Poland have won just 3 matches and  remaining 7 meet have been drawn. Looking at the recent matches, it can be understood that Poland is actually very fragile against the Netherlands.

Yes, Poland might be playing at home and there will be plenty of enthusiasm among them. But on paper, the Netherlands still looks very strong. If you bet on Poland only because Poland will have the advantage of home conditions, you are going against history. So, unless you discover any kind of strong lineup insight or attractive odds, I would not say lean too hard on Poland.

[PremiumcryptoHub]

Portugal's performance was very disappointing. We never expected anything like this from Portugal. Especially Portugal's defense seemed very weak. Because whenever the Irish players attacked, they were able to break the Portugal defense very easily. The first goal was scored due to the mistake of the Portuguese goalkeeper.

Ronaldo did this move intentionally and he did it very strongly. He may have received a red card because of his own fault, first he received a yellow card, then when he gestured with his hands and eyes, the referee checked again and then he was given a red card. After Ronaldo received a red card, all the spectators in the gallery made fun of Ronaldo a lot. It was very beautiful to see.

Portugal have suffered their first defeat in a World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland but more controversial than the result of this World Cup qualifying match was Cristiano Ronaldo's red card because we believe that everyone has witnessed this superstar player elbowed a Republic of Ireland defender. To be honest, all the bookies had their eyes on Portugal because the Portuguese had a high chance of winning this match, anyway it really seemed like a dream that they would lose 2-0 to a mediocre team like the Republic of Ireland in their fifth World Cup qualifying match in Dublin. There are doubts about the presence of reliable players in this team because what we do know is that he may be prevented from participating in a few matches, it is conceivable that they are now fully focused on the next round match against Armenia, they need the right players here.

[Mr Reporter]

Unable to stomach the 2-0 scoreline, Ronaldo elbowed his opponent.
If the score had been 1-1 or even 1-0, rather than 2-0, he wouldn't have made that move.
Portugal played better football, but Ireland scored the goals.
This is a uniquely beautiful aspect of football.
Portugal easily defeated Armenia at home in their final match and finished top of the group.

I must really say u have really spotted that  Portugal should have enough firepower to see off Armenia and book their spot. I think that Ronaldo’s reaction was a bit of a let‑down; even the biggest stars need to keep their cool, especially when they’re role models for so many youngsters.

And from from what I could say that  Ireland game was a classic case of a well‑executed counter‑attack plan. They sat deep, forced Portugal to dominate possession, and punished the few chances they got. It’s a reminder that dominating the ball doesn’t always translate into goals.

[Fiatless]

Even without Ronaldo, Portugal should be just fine with beating Armenia easily. This time they are qualifying for that World Cup directly instead of extending it to playoffs. Their group is just too easy already.

But their last 2 point losses were really meaningless... Ronaldo says this is his last World Cup and naturally it is the last chance for a trophy here. Will he achieve it? I don't think so. There are more deserving teams than them.  

Ronaldo's contribution to the Portuguese national team is minimal.  His age has effected his output but Roberto Martínez is just keeping him in the team out of respect. Goncalo Ramos will be a worthy replacement for the former world footballer of the year in the game against Armenia. The win gave Scotland a lifeline and made the group more competitive.

[hyudien]

Today many top national teams are playing, but their opponents are minnows. That's why the most interesting match for me is Poland vs Netherlands.

The outlook looks optimistic for the Dutch. The Netherlands are in excellent form and lead the group with 16 points. The only thing that slightly hindered them was the draw with Poland in their first match. That game ended 1-1, but the Dutch dominated and created more chances. Now they have every opportunity to get their revenge. Poland will, of course, fight hard—they have the motivation to stay in the top two—but against a stronger opponent, that might not be enough.

I think the Netherlands will show their quality and win.

This is a crucial match for both teams. Whoever wins will significantly improve their chances of qualifying for the World Cup. On paper the Netherlands certainly have the upper hand but as you mentioned, Poland managed to draw in the first meeting, and that was on the road. Today they are the hosts, so they have a better chance of winning, but they clearly have the ability to beat each other. The lineups for both teams have been confirmed, and I'm delighted that Lewa will start this match.

[Uruhara]

Even without Ronaldo, Portugal should be just fine with beating Armenia easily. This time they are qualifying for that World Cup directly instead of extending it to playoffs. Their group is just too easy already.

But their last 2 point losses were really meaningless... Ronaldo says this is his last World Cup and naturally it is the last chance for a trophy here. Will he achieve it? I don't think so. There are more deserving teams than them.  

In terms of overall strength, teams like France and Spain actually look better at the moment. But in the World Cup, sometimes we can't predict anything at all. Because sometimes the teams that rise to the top are the ones we never expected. And the teams we hoped would rise to the top sometimes suffer quick defeats and are quickly eliminated. In the upcoming World Cup, everything will be more difficult. And if the Portuguese national team wants to be a team that can win the World Cup title, they must show their readiness starting now. They must not underestimate any team.

However, in the match against Armenia, Portugal might indeed win quite easily. And yes, even without Cristiano Ronaldo. Because the strength of the Portuguese national team is not concentrated in just one player. But so far, the Portuguese national team has a fairly balanced strength across all lines. Because this team has many extraordinary European star players, in my opinion.

[Silikiem]

Even without Ronaldo, Portugal should be just fine with beating Armenia easily. This time they are qualifying for that World Cup directly instead of extending it to playoffs. Their group is just too easy already.

But their last 2 point losses were really meaningless... Ronaldo says this is his last World Cup and naturally it is the last chance for a trophy here. Will he achieve it? I don't think so. There are more deserving teams than them.  

Ronaldo's contribution to the Portuguese national team is minimal.  His age has effected his output but Roberto Martínez is just keeping him in the team out of respect. Goncalo Ramos will be a worthy replacement for the former world footballer of the year in the game against Armenia. The win gave Scotland a lifeline and made the group more competitive.

This is the first Cristiano Ronaldo’s international red card for the Portuguese national team and obviously his first time of being sent off for red card offense, although the action that led to his sending off was really uncalled for, he should have understood the game more better for a player of such caliber who’s undoubtedly one of the greatest in the game. But above all, you can’t say his overall performances and contributions for the national team is minimal, even at his current age he still the highest goal scorer for the national team in this World Cup qualifiers, he’s done extremely good in this qualifying round, but sometimes in football, moments like this do happen. It’s just a bad day for the Portuguese team and Cristiano Ronaldo himself.

[BRINIRHA]

I can't believe on my eyes as Malta is leading against Finland as it's their first win in these qualifiers, and they already score their 2nd goal of this event as well 82nd goal from Grech is enough for Malta to have something extraordinary in this game which is currently playing at Helsinki Olympic Stadium.

No changes going to happen after this match, but this is going to be huge moment for Malta in soccer because no one was expecting this is coming like this before start of this game odds for Malta was @10 and too many gamblers on one casino site chatting were crying @1.37 are free money so grab as many gamblers can but now most probably they are crying and having nothing to do with this.

This is just like when everyone bet on Portugal with great confidence. They even put more money on them without hesitation. But in the end, Portugal lost. Finland seems to have experienced the same thing. Malta surprisingly won the match. I also didn't expect Finland to be unable to score a goal in that match. So my hopes of seeing both teams score goals were dashed in that match.

Now, an exciting match is currently underway between Croatia and the Faroe Islands. Both teams have scored, and the current score is 1-1. I hope Croatia doesn't disappoint in this match.

[Zaguru12]

This is just like when everyone bet on Portugal with great confidence. They even put more money on them without hesitation. But in the end, Portugal lost. Finland seems to have experienced the same thing. Malta surprisingly won the match. I also didn't expect Finland to be unable to score a goal in that match. So my hopes of seeing both teams score goals were dashed in that match.

Now, an exciting match is currently underway between Croatia and the Faroe Islands. Both teams have scored, and the current score is 1-1. I hope Croatia doesn't disappoint in this match.

International games are usually tricky for those who wager on them, superior nations easily lose out because of the competitiveness sometimes most especially during qualifiers is high for all nations and it is essential for each country to actually compete at the highest levels in this periods. Yesterday Portugal definitely weren’t at their peak best but the manager also made his own mistakes by twerking the team at this crucial moment and that affected them. Ireland were on the verge of ending their World Cup qualifying hopes but this Win against group leaders puts them in a perfect position to get Atleast a playoff.

[Lillominato89]

I don't think they will take into account the goal difference between the two matches between Italy and Norway, but the total goal difference counts, and currently Norway has a goal difference of +29 and Italy +12.
So a 3-0 win for Italy would not be much use, as Norway would remain in first place.

yes but even if we go through to the next round, using luck, a favorable wind and friendly referees, next time we're out
we are without a team
and we have poor players

Our time is over now, the time of the Italy of the 4 World Cups, they all take foreign players and not Italians, the foreign ones grow in skill and not the Italians
we're screwed, before we start we're already finished

Let's say that if a player has foreign origins but was born in Italy, he is Italian through and through. That doesn't bother me, partly because we've always had them. Unfortunately, the problem lies elsewhere! The problem is the football league, which has failed to promote our young players.
The Italy of four World Cups is now over, and not just since today, but for at least 10 years.

[Slow death]

Unable to stomach the 2-0 scoreline, Ronaldo elbowed his opponent.
If the score had been 1-1 or even 1-0, rather than 2-0, he wouldn't have made that move.
Portugal played better football, but Ireland scored the goals.
This is a uniquely beautiful aspect of football.
Portugal easily defeated Armenia at home in their final match and finished top of the group.

I understand his frustration; he tries very hard, but the formation and strategy the coach has been using aren't helping the team win. Therefore, in my opinion, Cristiano Ronaldo's frustration makes perfect sense.

I watched the game, and Portugal clearly dominated, but the problem was that their shots weren't creating danger for the opposing goalkeeper. Portugal's attackers weren't playing well; they didn't seem like the same players who play for the big teams. It was as if they were players from third-division teams. They were playing very strangely.

[indah rezqi]

In terms of overall strength, teams like France and Spain actually look better at the moment. But in the World Cup, sometimes we can't predict anything at all. Because sometimes the teams that rise to the top are the ones we never expected. And the teams we hoped would rise to the top sometimes suffer quick defeats and are quickly eliminated. In the upcoming World Cup, everything will be more difficult. And if the Portuguese national team wants to be a team that can win the World Cup title, they must show their readiness starting now. They must not underestimate any team.

However, in the match against Armenia, Portugal might indeed win quite easily. And yes, even without Cristiano Ronaldo. Because the strength of the Portuguese national team is not concentrated in just one player. But so far, the Portuguese national team has a fairly balanced strength across all lines. Because this team has many extraordinary European star players, in my opinion.

According to the FIFA rankings, Spain, Argentina, France, and England are still better than Portugal, so it will certainly be very difficult for Portugal to win the World Cup. Furthermore, the format of the 2026 World Cup has changed, with more teams involved. This will clearly make the competition much more competitive and even more difficult to predict.

I see Portugal still placing high hopes on Ronaldo, but I think he's getting too old to continue relying on him. Fortunately, if Ronaldo can participate in the 2026 World Cup, it will certainly boost the mentality and confidence of the Portuguese national team as a whole. Personally, I think Portugal has good bargaining power in the upcoming World Cup, but they are not the only favorites.

[Dr.Osh]

Today many top national teams are playing, but their opponents are minnows. That's why the most interesting match for me is Poland vs Netherlands.

The outlook looks optimistic for the Dutch. The Netherlands are in excellent form and lead the group with 16 points. The only thing that slightly hindered them was the draw with Poland in their first match. That game ended 1-1, but the Dutch dominated and created more chances. Now they have every opportunity to get their revenge. Poland will, of course, fight hard—they have the motivation to stay in the top two—but against a stronger opponent, that might not be enough.

I think the Netherlands will show their quality and win.

I just followed the Luxembourg vs Germany match, at first I was very weak watching it because in the first half there were no goals scored by Germany, and when I opened it again suddenly I saw the score 0-2 Germany was ahead, but I was expecting from that whether Luxembourg managed to break through Germany's defense or whether Germany could get 3 goals

[LTU_btc]

A bit unexpected Finland loss to Malta at home. This result puts my Lithuania into last place of group - a bit embarrassing...  
Faroe Islands hopes to qualify it's over - it was tiny, but anyway. They took a lead against Croatia, but Croatia made powerful response and won the game.
Netherlands secured spot in World Cup after draw with Poland 1:1, Polandwill have to play in playoff tournament. Honestly, it wasn't most exciting game to watch.