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

[Marvell1]

For these matches, I will favor South Korea and Iran who seem most likely to win the match. I also want to bet on the Japan vs Indonesia match. But I would like to choose Indonesia if it is because of my emotional feelings of love for my homeland. but statistically I know Japan will win that match. Still a dilemma for me on this one.

I don't see any reason for South Korea to lose. Korea's team is quite strong. And the opponent Kuwait is very weak. Kuwait is ranked 134th in Fifa ranking.

Several matches are likely to be one-sided. For example, Japan vs Indonesia and Japan is definitely the favorite in the match. Indonesia is quite weak. Also, Iran can be considered the favorite in the Iran vs North Korea match.

However, the matches of China vs Bahrain and Saudi Arabia vs Australia will be competitive. The opponents in these two matches are equally strong. I will try to enjoy the Saudi Arabia vs Australia match live.

[Arenga pinnata]

For these matches, I will favor South Korea and Iran who seem most likely to win the match. I also want to bet on the Japan vs Indonesia match. But I would like to choose Indonesia if it is because of my emotional feelings of love for my homeland. but statistically I know Japan will win that match. Still a dilemma for me on this one.

I don't see any reason for South Korea to lose. Korea's team is quite strong. And the opponent Kuwait is very weak. Kuwait is ranked 134th in Fifa ranking.

Several matches are likely to be one-sided. For example, Japan vs Indonesia and Japan is definitely the favorite in the match. Indonesia is quite weak. Also, Iran can be considered the favorite in the Iran vs North Korea match.

However, the matches of China vs Bahrain and Saudi Arabia vs Australia will be competitive. The opponents in these two matches are equally strong. I will try to enjoy the Saudi Arabia vs Australia match live.

In fact, other matches apart from South Korea vs Kuwait and Iran vs North Korea will be quite difficult to predict. Although there are definitely those who will predict that Japan will win easily when facing Indonesia. And I will understand that because Indonesia is indeed much weaker than Japan.

The Saudi Arabia vs Australia match will be really fierce. But I predict a draw will result in this match. Meanwhile for the China vs Bahrain match. Actually it also looks balanced. It's just that Bahrain should be slightly superior. But I wouldn't dare bet on that match.

[imamusma]

Spalletti deserved it. He's a serial loser especially in euros. He got lucky enough Italy was not sacked him after a terrible result in euro.

Happy to see them to stop their work with him. They have to sign a new coach who can do better, and it must be Ranieri.

If him stay even longer in the squad, it would cost italy qualification for the world cup. The decision to sack him is best now.

The Italian Football Federation is trying to convince Ranieri, and so far there has been no official news that an agreement with Ranieri has been reached. Spalletti will step down after the match against Moldova, and although Spalletti performance was quite bad, I think Italy will be able to secure full points in the match. In addition Spalletti said that he supports Ranieri to become the next Italy coach . Raneire was able to bring changes in a short time to AS Roma, maybe he will be able to do the same to Italy, although we know that it is never easy.

[Velvet78]

The coach of Italy has been sacked.
For the next game for the World cup they will have in the bench a coach who is not the coach of the team.

I think It is the 1st time that I've seen a coach going in the bench without being the coach of the team.
Was so hard to wait tommorrow and sack him, why the hell they sacked him the day before the game 

Spalletti was able to win only the half of the games he managed as Italy manager so far. This is a really bad record honestly. 

Now he is backing Ranieri for the emptied seat. I think it sounds really nice! He had a great time at Roma and he is about to be free agent soon.

Spalletti should have never left Napoli...

[KTChampions]

Spalletti was able to win only the half of the games he managed as Italy manager so far. This is a really bad record honestly. 

Now he is backing Ranieri for the emptied seat. I think it sounds really nice! He had a great time at Roma and he is about to be free agent soon.

Spalletti should have never left Napoli...

Spalletti has put his achievements and image at risk. Leaving Napoli as champions seemed like a smart move for a "cushy" job with the Italian national team, but now Conte has managed to repeat that success, while Spalletti has failed with the national team. A sad story (especially for Italy haha). I wonder what kind of job Spalletti will be able to find, it is unlikely to be a top club.
As for Ranieri, I am not thrilled with this idea, it is a temporary option, why can't they find a coach with prospects.

[Ale88]

Things like this are common in every team. No team is always in top form forever. There will come a time when the team will experience difficult times especially when they are transitioning, because the older players that were once good begin to age and retire, the younger ones that are replacing them will need to gain more experience and play together for sometime before they can find their feet again. If we check very well in the past we can see that things like this once happened to big teams like Germany, Spain, Brazil and others. Secondly Norway team is getting stronger as they have developed players that are so good and can compete very well. Just look at their squad, and see the kind of good players they have currently.

But the performance of the Italian national team has declined drastically. Just imagine the team won the Euro in 2020, but only a few years even to qualify for the World Cup they were so difficult. Worse in 2022 they were defeated by North Macedonia with a score of 0-1 at home, it was just embarrassing. And with the hope that after the failure of 2022 they could rise, but instead they did not improve, they still struggled in the qualifying phase. Even if we compare it with Brazil, though they are both in their slump, Brazil is still quite good, because they did not have difficulty in the qualifying phase and still have good talents like Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo, Endrick. So the situation of the Italian national team is actually more dire.

Italy team is bad, there is no other way to say it, and as Italian myself I have no problems admitting it. At the same time I wouldn't mix European qualifications with the ones in South America because over there 6 out of 10 teams qualify directly for the World Cup and the 7th will play an easy playoff. That means that 70% of the teams will go to the World Cup. Meanwhile in Europe if you don't win your group there is a high chance you'll miss the World Cup, that means that even losing a single match would compromise everything. Brazil lost against Paraguay and Argentina, they drew with Venezuela, Uruguay and Ecuador and yet they will easily qualify. There is too much difference in this qualification system.

[Silence Scream]

Things like this are common in every team. No team is always in top form forever. There will come a time when the team will experience difficult times especially when they are transitioning, because the older players that were once good begin to age and retire, the younger ones that are replacing them will need to gain more experience and play together for sometime before they can find their feet again. If we check very well in the past we can see that things like this once happened to big teams like Germany, Spain, Brazil and others. Secondly Norway team is getting stronger as they have developed players that are so good and can compete very well. Just look at their squad, and see the kind of good players they have currently.

But the performance of the Italian national team has declined drastically. Just imagine the team won the Euro in 2020, but only a few years even to qualify for the World Cup they were so difficult. Worse in 2022 they were defeated by North Macedonia with a score of 0-1 at home, it was just embarrassing. And with the hope that after the failure of 2022 they could rise, but instead they did not improve, they still struggled in the qualifying phase. Even if we compare it with Brazil, though they are both in their slump, Brazil is still quite good, because they did not have difficulty in the qualifying phase and still have good talents like Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo, Endrick. So the situation of the Italian national team is actually more dire.

Italy team is bad, there is no other way to say it, and as Italian myself I have no problems admitting it. At the same time I wouldn't mix European qualifications with the ones in South America because over there 6 out of 10 teams qualify directly for the World Cup and the 7th will play an easy playoff. That means that 70% of the teams will go to the World Cup. Meanwhile in Europe if you don't win your group there is a high chance you'll miss the World Cup, that means that even losing a single match would compromise everything. Brazil lost against Paraguay and Argentina, they drew with Venezuela, Uruguay and Ecuador and yet they will easily qualify. There is too much difference in this qualification system.

Of course, this is normal because the number of countries is not equal. There are many countries with small lands in Europe and they have very high-quality teams. The competition in Europe is much higher than in South America. When this is the case, it is of course easier to participate from other continents. Many teams that do not participate from Europe and cannot participate in the tournament are perhaps better than the teams from other continents that participate in the tournament. Maybe that is why the European Championship is followed as much as the World Cup.

[pusaka]

Spalletti was able to win only the half of the games he managed as Italy manager so far. This is a really bad record honestly. 

Now he is backing Ranieri for the emptied seat. I think it sounds really nice! He had a great time at Roma and he is about to be free agent soon.

Spalletti should have never left Napoli...

Spalletti has put his achievements and image at risk. Leaving Napoli as champions seemed like a smart move for a "cushy" job with the Italian national team, but now Conte has managed to repeat that success, while Spalletti has failed with the national team. A sad story (especially for Italy haha). I wonder what kind of job Spalletti will be able to find, it is unlikely to be a top club.
As for Ranieri, I am not thrilled with this idea, it is a temporary option, why can't they find a coach with prospects.

He tried a new challenge by leaving Napoli and joining the Italian National Team, but it turned out that it was not as easy as imagined, in the end he had to fail too.

However, being a National Team coach is not an easy job at all, because he only has a short time to gather players and in that short time they also have to implement the right strategy and of course it is not easy. It is different if he becomes a club coach, at the club they have time together almost all the time and that is a good time to form chemistry that is difficult to get in the National Team.

[Polkeins]

Belgium will be looking for a win against Wales.Wales are leading with 7 points and Belgium managed to get their first point in their first match in the group with a draw.The last time the 2 teams met there were always goals against each other and it seems likely that both teams will score in this match.Belgium should not tolerate losing points as it is a must-win match if they want to finish the group as leaders.
In the other match of the group, North Macedonia will be looking for a win against Kazakhstan.It will be a tough match for both teams, but it should be said that Macedonia is 1 step ahead.It seems likely that the match will end in a draw.

North Macedonia have just beaten Kazakhstan and moved to the top of the group with 8 points and 4 games.
Wales is still in second place with 7 points, but the game with Belgium will be hard for Wales because Belgium must win because Belgium has only 1 point and to get out of the group it is necessary to beat Wales and North Macedonia, because Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein are probably the main outsiders.

[armanda90]

In fact, other matches apart from South Korea vs Kuwait and Iran vs North Korea will be quite difficult to predict. Although there are definitely those who will predict that Japan will win easily when facing Indonesia. And I will understand that because Indonesia is indeed much weaker than Japan.

The Saudi Arabia vs Australia match will be really fierce. But I predict a draw will result in this match. Meanwhile for the China vs Bahrain match. Actually it also looks balanced. It's just that Bahrain should be slightly superior. But I wouldn't dare bet on that match.

Saudi  Arabia vs Australia is interest match but bigger chance for Australia qualifying to World Cup 2026 after having 8 goals difference and Saudi Arabia need to win above 8 goals if want finish as runner up position standings. Recently both team have three points left but Australia get advantage behind many goals difference from Saudi Arabia, just getting draw or loss under 8 goals enough to secure last ticket for this round.
Indeed Japan vs Indonesia not really important match after Indonesia have close for directly qualifying to World Cup but its important match to improve FIFA standings position, Indonesia have good trend under new manager Justin Kluivert by winning two of last three games. Actually Japan still the top team and favorable for winning the match but since have been qualified Japan not performed well and last match defeated by Australia.

[coinlocket$]

Quick recap.

Italy is winning 2-0 but Norway is also winning 1-0 so nothing will change for their position, they need to win every game and hope for Norway defeats.
Yes with a final S.
Belgium just scored the 4th goal and they are beating Wales.
Easy win for Croatia against Czech.

Isole Far Oer winning against Gibraltar for one of the less watched game ever in television, I'm sure about this stat even if I haven't checked  

[salad daging]

Indeed Japan vs Indonesia not really important match after Indonesia have close for directly qualifying to World Cup but its important match to improve FIFA standings position, Indonesia have good trend under new manager Justin Kluivert by winning two of last three games. Actually Japan still the top team and favorable for winning the match but since have been qualified Japan not performed well and last match defeated by Australia.

Very doubtful that Indonesia will win against Japan, we are still inferior in statistics to Japan even though this victory is very important for Indonesia for the FIFA ranking points.
Bookies offer unreasonable odds to Indonesia with odds of 11.00 while Japan is 1.22, this is quite a striking difference because they have guessed that Indonesia will likely lose.
But hope Kluivert can provide a good strategy when fighting Japan, a draw is also good enough for Indonesia.

[Joca97]

Quick recap.

Italy is winning 2-0 but Norway is also winning 1-0 so nothing will change for their position, they need to win every game and hope for Norway defeats.
Yes with a final S.
Belgium just scored the 4th goal and they are beating Wales.
Easy win for Croatia against Czech.

Isole Far Oer winning against Gibraltar for one of the less watched game ever in television, I'm sure about this stat even if I haven't checked  

Im not happy with how Italy played. They only scored two goals in this match and if var didnt cancelled the goal from Moldova it could have ended up a lot different. Italy isnt looking good anymore like they did in years before. I doubt they will qualify for the world cup. Also Norway struggled a lot to score the goal

[Ale88]

Spalletti was able to win only the half of the games he managed as Italy manager so far. This is a really bad record honestly.  

Now he is backing Ranieri for the emptied seat. I think it sounds really nice! He had a great time at Roma and he is about to be free agent soon.

Spalletti should have never left Napoli...

Spalletti has put his achievements and image at risk. Leaving Napoli as champions seemed like a smart move for a "cushy" job with the Italian national team, but now Conte has managed to repeat that success, while Spalletti has failed with the national team. A sad story (especially for Italy haha). I wonder what kind of job Spalletti will be able to find, it is unlikely to be a top club.
As for Ranieri, I am not thrilled with this idea, it is a temporary option, why can't they find a coach with prospects.

He tried a new challenge by leaving Napoli and joining the Italian National Team, but it turned out that it was not as easy as imagined, in the end he had to fail too.

However, being a National Team coach is not an easy job at all, because he only has a short time to gather players and in that short time they also have to implement the right strategy and of course it is not easy. It is different if he becomes a club coach, at the club they have time together almost all the time and that is a good time to form chemistry that is difficult to get in the National Team.

Spalletti left Napoli because he had problems with the president of the club (just like many other managers before him). His initial idea was to take one year off but then Italy called him up, and it's difficult to say no when your country is giving you the opportunity to manage the national team. He never left Napoli for Italy, what happened was totally unrelated.

[Raflesia]

Quick recap.

Italy is winning 2-0 but Norway is also winning 1-0 so nothing will change for their position, they need to win every game and hope for Norway defeats.
Yes with a final S.
Belgium just scored the 4th goal and they are beating Wales.
Easy win for Croatia against Czech.

Isole Far Oer winning against Gibraltar for one of the less watched game ever in television, I'm sure about this stat even if I haven't checked  

Im not happy with how Italy played. They only scored two goals in this match and if var didnt cancelled the goal from Moldova it could have ended up a lot different. Italy isnt looking good anymore like they did in years before. I doubt they will qualify for the world cup. Also Norway struggled a lot to score the goal

It seems strange when a club like Italy with a myriad of very good players with good dominance but instead a little hassle with the game carried out by Moldova even seeing on target and disallowed goals actually seems a little bad for the Italian midfield and defense in this match.

Indeed they won by 2 goals and that is something that cannot be denied, but still if you look at the depth of their squad, Spalletti should be able to be more able to organize the scheme in this match.
With these results Italy are still in 3rd place where now Norway seems like they are still quite dominating with 4 matches without losing but Italy's chance is certainly still very large to be able to compete in the race for the standings in group I this time.

[Sexylizzy2813]

For the first time in a long while, this is the first day I'm seeing Wales playing out their best, have always see them play even against Turkey their favorite opponent they hardly produce goals like tonight's game, the highest is 2 goals, tonight the have to struggle to get an equalizer and even a win without relenting, I had to applaud the Wales team because they saw the chances of getting a win no matter the amount of big names in the Belgium squad, it didn't stop them from fighting back but unfortunately they lost when they thought they could have gotten a draw. Wales did well but their defense is too weak tonight if not they would have shared the point. Belgium didn't do better with the squad they came with and it would have been a poor performance according to the fans if they had lost or draw again Wales, good thing De Bruyne came to their rescue to put them ahead.

[Zlantann]

Spalletti left Napoli because he had problems with the president of the club (just like many other managers before him). His initial idea was to take one year off but then Italy called him up, and it's difficult to say no when your country is giving you the opportunity to manage the national team. He never left Napoli for Italy, what happened was totally unrelated.

My guess is that Luciano Spalletti have already had an offer from the Italian Football Federation to take over the national team before the end of that season.  Maybe that was why he decided to take a break pending when he would be called to take over. It might also be true that he was having issues with Aurelio De Laurentiis. He has a track record of always having issues with Napoli coaches. De Laurentiis also had issues with Antonio Conte that made the coach almost leave the club after winning the Scudetto.

Spalletti was able to say goodbye with a win over Moldova with goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso. My thought was that the national team management would have given him more time to improve the team.

[tiCeR]

Spalletti was able to win only the half of the games he managed as Italy manager so far. This is a really bad record honestly. 

Now he is backing Ranieri for the emptied seat. I think it sounds really nice! He had a great time at Roma and he is about to be free agent soon.

Spalletti should have never left Napoli...

Spalletti has put his achievements and image at risk. Leaving Napoli as champions seemed like a smart move for a "cushy" job with the Italian national team, but now Conte has managed to repeat that success, while Spalletti has failed with the national team. A sad story (especially for Italy haha). I wonder what kind of job Spalletti will be able to find, it is unlikely to be a top club.
As for Ranieri, I am not thrilled with this idea, it is a temporary option, why can't they find a coach with prospects.

Timing can sometimes be quite wrong, like in this case.

It should be taken into account though that for someone who went through a stressful time and realizes they need a sort of break or less pressure, these jobs as the coach of a national team are highly sought-after. The salaries for coaching national teams have significantly increased over the past 10-15 years and the workload is probably not even 30% of what it is when you coach a team that plays at the top of a domestic league and participates in the CL.

I think Spalletti will find a top club again.

Italy is more shooting from the hip these days. The national team has been in a bit of trouble for some time now. Their performance declined, but now time is turning into serious pressure as it is only about a year until this World Cup takes place. Ranieri can't lose, he is old and sees this as a great opportunity to have some more fun coaching a big nation. If he fails, he can blame the predecessors, if he wins he will let the nation call him a hero without Ranierei praising himself.

[indah rezqi]

~~ Snip ~~

Im not happy with how Italy played. They only scored two goals in this match and if var didnt cancelled the goal from Moldova it could have ended up a lot different. Italy isnt looking good anymore like they did in years before. I doubt they will qualify for the world cup. Also Norway struggled a lot to score the goal

It seems strange when a club like Italy with a myriad of very good players with good dominance but instead a little hassle with the game carried out by Moldova even seeing on target and disallowed goals actually seems a little bad for the Italian midfield and defense in this match.

Indeed they won by 2 goals and that is something that cannot be denied, but still if you look at the depth of their squad, Spalletti should be able to be more able to organize the scheme in this match.
With these results Italy are still in 3rd place where now Norway seems like they are still quite dominating with 4 matches without losing but Italy's chance is certainly still very large to be able to compete in the race for the standings in group I this time.

A very important win for Italy, although it can no longer save Spalletti job. The win over Moldova went according to many people predictions, and on paper Italy does have the more complete attributes to secure full points. Of course, Italy chances of qualifying for the World Cup are still very much open, even though they have to go through the play-offs, and I think Norway will still be group winners. Italy fate in the future will depend greatly on the next manager, if they appoint the wrong person, it is likely that Italy will be absent from the World Cup again, which would be very embarrassing.

[Sithara007]

Today we will have the final phase of matches in AFC third round qualifier. Picture is a lot clear now. Iran and Uzbekistan has qualified from Group A, and for the latter this will be the first time that they are qualifying to the FIFA World Cup. From Group B, South Korea and Jordan have qualified. Japan and Australia have qualified from Group C. For the fourth round, the scenario is still not that clear. For me, the strongest teams in this round are Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.