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

[verdinio]

Italian couples needs to start to pumping out more babies NOW, they need them and the world need them, i dont like to see Italy full of inmigrants which are not italian, that pyramid seem very troublesome for the pension system, so all the pèople who can have a babie please start to have.

And so also italian football can have new footballers.

This is a problem not only in Italy but also in most European countries, where they are currently facing a demographic crisis caused by low birth rates and aging populations, which in turn affects many sectors. This trend is largely driven by the high cost of living and governments that seem to de-prioritize policies aimed at encouraging young couples to have children. As a result, population pyramids in these countries are becoming increasingly problematic.

Meanwhile, immigrants are less affected by this issue and continue to grow in number. Since many of them come from lower-middle-class backgrounds, they are more motivated to advance and succeed. This has led many to represent national teams, not only out of a desire for a better life but also because of their strong motivation to prove themselves. That drive is what pushes them to progress. So it is not surprising that the current trend is for many national teams to be filled with players of immigrant descent, because they are capable and competitive.

exactly, what you say is extremely true in fact the representatives of the European national teams are children of second generation immigrants who proliferate as if there were no tomorrow, but in Italy this phenomenon is not yet seen and apparently the birth rate is rising

[Lida93]

<Snip out>

Yes, it's true, it's useless, even I, as an Italian, am a bit pissed off and I'm sorry for the current situation, but things change and we are no longer the strongest national team of all, surely something needs to change at the level of the Italian football system where physique is privileged over technique

Most times it solely depends on the type of coach that is in charge of the team, some coaches are highly technical whereas some tend to be less technical but usually engage in physicality as a pattern or strategy and this has been the Italian style for several decades now, sometimes it works for them but this pattern is becoming less attractive due to the changes or reforms that are being introduced to the game.

[cande86]

I really don't understand why you guys think that Italy has a problem with the number of people: between 1982 and 2006 Italy have always been one of the best teams in the world, during those 24 years we won 2 World Cup and we lost the final against Brazil in 1994 and the Italian population was more or less the same. Do we have a demographic decline? Yes, but it doesn't happen overnight. In football, just like in life, there are cycles, for years we had many incredible players and now we don't, hopefully in the future things will change but the solution for sure is not bringing foreign people with the hope that someone will be a great football player, it doesn't make sense.

Yes, the main problem lies in the football ecosystem, which has not been managed well from the start. During Italy's prime, they had a strong foundation, such as academies, state-of-the-art stadiums, and a domestic league that was among the best in the world. However, over time, the Italian football ecosystem has failed to develop. Many stadiums are old and outdated, while many clubs struggle financially and cannot produce talented young players. Furthermore, a problematic federation has not created a positive environment for Italian football. All of these issues have accumulated and directly impacted the performance of Italian clubs at the european level and the Italian national team itself. If only the Italian federation and clubs had done a better job of maintaining the foundations they built during their glory days, perhaps the problems would not be as complex as they are now.

Yes exactly, the system is dilapidated and is struggling to grow, although I have to say that there are clubs with money, but the disparity between those who have it and those who don't is felt and makes everything more difficult. A young person can't grow in Italy, but for any sport, it's difficult.

[imamusma]

~~

This is a problem not only in Italy but also in most European countries, where they are currently facing a demographic crisis caused by low birth rates and aging populations, which in turn affects many sectors. This trend is largely driven by the high cost of living and governments that seem to de-prioritize policies aimed at encouraging young couples to have children. As a result, population pyramids in these countries are becoming increasingly problematic.

Meanwhile, immigrants are less affected by this issue and continue to grow in number. Since many of them come from lower-middle-class backgrounds, they are more motivated to advance and succeed. This has led many to represent national teams, not only out of a desire for a better life but also because of their strong motivation to prove themselves. That drive is what pushes them to progress. So it is not surprising that the current trend is for many national teams to be filled with players of immigrant descent, because they are capable and competitive.

exactly, what you say is extremely true in fact the representatives of the European national teams are children of second generation immigrants who proliferate as if there were no tomorrow, but in Italy this phenomenon is not yet seen and apparently the birth rate is rising

In this case, I'm reminded of the French national team 2018 World Cup victory, where Didier Deschamps starting lineup consisted primarily children of second generation immigrants. It makes sense why they command greater trust from their managers, they are key pillars of their respective clubs. Furthermore, I agree that their ambition to achieve a better life drives them to become great players who work twice as hard as others. Indirectly, population growth can indeed increase the chances for the Italian national team to have talented players from different generations, but at the moment Italy golden generation seems to have been stopped.

[AmoreJaz]

Yes, it's true, it's useless, even I, as an Italian, am a bit pissed off and I'm sorry for the current situation, but things change and we are no longer the strongest national team of all, surely something needs to change at the level of the Italian football system where physique is privileged over technique

Most times it solely depends on the type of coach that is in charge of the team, some coaches are highly technical whereas some tend to be less technical but usually engage in physicality as a pattern or strategy and this has been the Italian style for several decades now, sometimes it works for them but this pattern is becoming less attractive due to the changes or reforms that are being introduced to the game.

In short, the team should also make sure to upgrade their techniques to get a hold of the changing environment. Sure, their old tactics were working before, but should assess its applicability in today's generation so as not to be left behind. Just like any other game or sports, everyone should also check the current performance of their team and how to be competitive with others. The old one is not the absolute path to be taken but they can always gain insights on how to proceed their succeeding plans.

They need an outsider for them to realize that something needs to change within their team. Otherwise, they will see the aftermath of their strategies after the season is over. For now, people can just speculate on what they will offer to their fans as well as their audience.

[Ale88]

~~

This is a problem not only in Italy but also in most European countries, where they are currently facing a demographic crisis caused by low birth rates and aging populations, which in turn affects many sectors. This trend is largely driven by the high cost of living and governments that seem to de-prioritize policies aimed at encouraging young couples to have children. As a result, population pyramids in these countries are becoming increasingly problematic.

Meanwhile, immigrants are less affected by this issue and continue to grow in number. Since many of them come from lower-middle-class backgrounds, they are more motivated to advance and succeed. This has led many to represent national teams, not only out of a desire for a better life but also because of their strong motivation to prove themselves. That drive is what pushes them to progress. So it is not surprising that the current trend is for many national teams to be filled with players of immigrant descent, because they are capable and competitive.

exactly, what you say is extremely true in fact the representatives of the European national teams are children of second generation immigrants who proliferate as if there were no tomorrow, but in Italy this phenomenon is not yet seen and apparently the birth rate is rising

In this case, I'm reminded of the French national team 2018 World Cup victory, where Didier Deschamps starting lineup consisted primarily children of second generation immigrants. It makes sense why they command greater trust from their managers, they are key pillars of their respective clubs. Furthermore, I agree that their ambition to achieve a better life drives them to become great players who work twice as hard as others. Indirectly, population growth can indeed increase the chances for the Italian national team to have talented players from different generations, but at the moment Italy golden generation seems to have been stopped.

I don't think it's possible to compare France and Italy when we talk about immigrants: France, for centuries, had colonies in several parts of the world, especially in Africa; Italy on the other hand has never been a colonizer country so, of course, France's catchment area is way bigger than Italy's.

But you can't just bring in any immigrant because the social and political situation is becoming more and more tense everywhere in the world because many immigrants take advantage of the system. The idea of having more immigrants so there are more kids (eventually) playing football doesn't make any sense. A country is much more than a football team.

[Lidger]

As Italian I am extremely pissed off with the current situation but every big team had its bad periods in history, there is not a single team that has been getting results for 50-60 years in a row, it's simply not possible, things change, just like there are golden generations there also are bad generations, it's like a wheel. National teams, clubs, it doesn't matter, it's like that for everyone.

Yes, every team has its ups and downs, but I think Italy is a completely different story. Other teams have good players and sometimes they perform poorly, but I don't see any good players in Italy at the moment, and I don't see any talent in any of the players who will lead or represent the Italian team in the future. This is certainly a concern for Italian fans. A team never wants to perform badly, so there is no doubt that Italy is not trying to make their team the best again. We all hope that the former four-time World Cup winner Italy will return to good form, but for some reason it seems like it will take them a long time to do so.

I totally agree that we don't have a great team compared to what we used to have, the biggest problem is that we have some very good players in certain roles and we totally lack good players in others. We have Donnarumma which is currently the best goalkeeper in the world (or at least top 3), as central defenders there are Bastoni and Calafiori, as left back Dimarco; as midfielders Barella and Tonali. These are the first ones that came to my mind. Are they as good as Buffon, Maldini, Cannavaro, Pirlo, etc? Of course not, but still they are above average. The biggest problem is the striker, which is not a news.

Donnarumma is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper and if the list of the five best goalkeepers in the world is made now, then Donnarumma will definitely make his place in that list. However, the bad news for Italy is that this goalkeeper may not be able to provide good service for much longer because he is already old enough. In the selection of goalkeepers, different clubs or different teams always give more importance to young footballers, in that case, in two to three years, this goalkeeper may not be in the same form as before. I wonder what will happen to the Italian team when most of the players who are currently playing for the Italian national team retire. Italy may continue to play football, but we may not see good performances from them.

[Ale88]

Donnarumma is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper and if the list of the five best goalkeepers in the world is made now, then Donnarumma will definitely make his place in that list. However, the bad news for Italy is that this goalkeeper may not be able to provide good service for much longer because he is already old enough. In the selection of goalkeepers, different clubs or different teams always give more importance to young footballers, in that case, in two to three years, this goalkeeper may not be in the same form as before. I wonder what will happen to the Italian team when most of the players who are currently playing for the Italian national team retire. Italy may continue to play football, but we may not see good performances from them.

What do you mean that Donnarumma is already old enough? He is 26 years old, he was born in 1999, the other teams still play with players like Courtois (1992), Oblak (1993), Neuer (1986), Maignan (1995), Pickford (1994), Alisson (1992), just to mention a few, so I really have no idea how you can say that a 26 years old goalkeeper is old. Buffon played until he was 40+ years old.

[promise444c5]

~

What do you mean that Donnarumma is already old enough? He is 26 years old, he was born in 1999, the other teams still play with players like Courtois (1992), Oblak (1993), Neuer (1986), Maignan (1995), Pickford (1994), Alisson (1992), just to mention a few, so I really have no idea how you can say that a 26 years old goalkeeper is old. Buffon played until he was 40+ years old.

Was wondering same thing when he said the goal keeper might not be able to provide good service… AFAIK is a top class Gail keeper and I believe there must be a particular reason PSG want to sell him(not because of his performance, I believe).He’s not old either, even Wojciech Szczęsny is 35, seniors him with 9 years and still played for Poland last year and even in the last World Cup so why would Donnarumma considered old already.

[Mr Reporter]

Donnarumma is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper and if the list of the five best goalkeepers in the world is made now, then Donnarumma will definitely make his place in that list. However, the bad news for Italy is that this goalkeeper may not be able to provide good service for much longer because he is already old enough. In the selection of goalkeepers, different clubs or different teams always give more importance to young footballers, in that case, in two to three years, this goalkeeper may not be in the same form as before. I wonder what will happen to the Italian team when most of the players who are currently playing for the Italian national team retire. Italy may continue to play football, but we may not see good performances from them.

What do you mean that Donnarumma is already old enough? He is 26 years old, he was born in 1999, the other teams still play with players like Courtois (1992), Oblak (1993), Neuer (1986), Maignan (1995), Pickford (1994), Alisson (1992), just to mention a few, so I really have no idea how you can say that a 26 years old goalkeeper is old. Buffon played until he was 40+ years old.

I think i agree with you on this 26 is relatively young for a goalkeeper and many top goalkeepers continue to really perform at a high level well into their 30s well from the example you gave earlier such as courtois, oblak, Neue, and others, demonstrate the goalkeeper can maintain their skills and physical abilities for an extended period of time, i think from what i had it reasonable to expect Donnarumma to come continue performance at a high level for several more years.

I really don't understand why you guys think that Italy has a problem with the number of people: between 1982 and 2006 Italy have always been one of the best teams in the world, during those 24 years we won 2 World Cup and we lost the final against Brazil in 1994 and the Italian population was more or less the same. Do we have a demographic decline? Yes, but it doesn't happen overnight. In football, just like in life, there are cycles, for years we had many incredible players and now we don't, hopefully in the future things will change but the solution for sure is not bringing foreign people with the hope that someone will be a great football player, it doesn't make sense.

Yes, the main problem lies in the football ecosystem, which has not been managed well from the start. During Italy's prime, they had a strong foundation, such as academies, state-of-the-art stadiums, and a domestic league that was among the best in the world. However, over time, the Italian football ecosystem has failed to develop. Many stadiums are old and outdated, while many clubs struggle financially and cannot produce talented young players. Furthermore, a problematic federation has not created a positive environment for Italian football. All of these issues have accumulated and directly impacted the performance of Italian clubs at the european level and the Italian national team itself. If only the Italian federation and clubs had done a better job of maintaining the foundations they built during their glory days, perhaps the problems would not be as complex as they are now.

Yes exactly, the system is dilapidated and is struggling to grow, although I have to say that there are clubs with money, but the disparity between those who have it and those who don't is felt and makes everything more difficult. A young person can't grow in Italy, but for any sport, it's difficult.

Particularly i  terms of responsible and resources and opportunities, the disparity between a well funded clubs and those with limited resources can create significant barriers for young raw talent athletes. And aslo the Italian sports system is facing broader structural issues that can hinder the development of youngsters athletes.

[emrecemsan]

We are still 2 weeks away from next qualifier matches in CONMEBOL and UEFA both. At least I'm following the matches in these 2 regions. It's been lovely to watch Norway so far. Do you think they can have a good achievement in the World Cup after a potential qualification?

What do you mean that Donnarumma is already old enough? He is 26 years old, he was born in 1999, the other teams still play with players like Courtois (1992), Oblak (1993), Neuer (1986), Maignan (1995), Pickford (1994), Alisson (1992), just to mention a few, so I really have no idea how you can say that a 26 years old goalkeeper is old. Buffon played until he was 40+ years old.

The same here... Why would someone think 26 is an old age for a goalkeeper?    He is even very young for his position to tell the truth.

Goalkeepers can play at least until 40. They usually play longer than other players from different positions. Donnarumma wouldn't retire from national team for long years IMO.

[Adbitco]

This is a problem not only in Italy but also in most European countries, where they are currently facing a demographic crisis caused by low birth rates and aging populations, which in turn affects many sectors. This trend is largely driven by the high cost of living and governments that seem to de-prioritize policies aimed at encouraging young couples to have children. As a result, population pyramids in these countries are becoming increasingly problematic.

Meanwhile, immigrants are less affected by this issue and continue to grow in number. Since many of them come from lower-middle-class backgrounds, they are more motivated to advance and succeed. This has led many to represent national teams, not only out of a desire for a better life but also because of their strong motivation to prove themselves. That drive is what pushes them to progress. So it is not surprising that the current trend is for many national teams to be filled with players of immigrant descent, because they are capable and competitive.

I thought most part of the first world countries wants population decline or is it only applicable to Africans alone? Because the last time I checked, they wanted Africa to reduce in population, so I just wondering why you guys so much care about their demographic level. I have read some articles back then on why they feel that people shouldn't give birth again because it's going to over populate the world sooner or later. I just saying this in general note though and not to anyone in the process.

[Ale88]

This is a problem not only in Italy but also in most European countries, where they are currently facing a demographic crisis caused by low birth rates and aging populations, which in turn affects many sectors. This trend is largely driven by the high cost of living and governments that seem to de-prioritize policies aimed at encouraging young couples to have children. As a result, population pyramids in these countries are becoming increasingly problematic.

Meanwhile, immigrants are less affected by this issue and continue to grow in number. Since many of them come from lower-middle-class backgrounds, they are more motivated to advance and succeed. This has led many to represent national teams, not only out of a desire for a better life but also because of their strong motivation to prove themselves. That drive is what pushes them to progress. So it is not surprising that the current trend is for many national teams to be filled with players of immigrant descent, because they are capable and competitive.

I thought most part of the first world countries wants population decline or is it only applicable to Africans alone? Because the last time I checked, they wanted Africa to reduce in population, so I just wondering why you guys so much care about their demographic level. I have read some articles back then on why they feel that people shouldn't give birth again because it's going to over populate the world sooner or later. I just saying this in general note though and not to anyone in the process.

The world right now is split in two: there are first world countries with very low birth rates, and could could create a problem for the future because there would be not enough work force to sustain the system; at the same time third world countries with limited resources and finances see their population increasing and increasing. Nigeria alone in the next 25 years should have more people than the whole Europe, how can all those people have a decent life? It's impossible.
We also have poor Asian countries that keep adding up more and more people, India for example, and rich Asian countries like Japan and South Korea that are having a huge demographic decline.

This is a big problem for everyone, we need a balance that we are not going to have.

[Sithara007]

I thought most part of the first world countries wants population decline or is it only applicable to Africans alone? Because the last time I checked, they wanted Africa to reduce in population, so I just wondering why you guys so much care about their demographic level. I have read some articles back then on why they feel that people shouldn't give birth again because it's going to over populate the world sooner or later. I just saying this in general note though and not to anyone in the process.

Maybe this map will give a better idea:

Outside Africa, Yemen and Afghanistan are the only two countries where the birth rates are high. In the first world, the natural population growth is in mostly negative, and in case the population is growing, that is solely based on immigration. If this trends continue, half of the world population by 2100 will be African. 

[joniboini]

-snip-

Interesting map. That being said, most countries seem to have a 1.0 fertility rate if I'm reading that map correctly, so I don't think that's a negative growth rate? Unless the number of deaths is higher than that. I can't imagine what will happen in 2100, but there's a chance most players will be dual citizens if the government can't find a solution for their population issue. I'm not sure if my country will have the opportunity to play in the World Cup consistently even if that happens.

[Lidger]

Donnarumma is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper and if the list of the five best goalkeepers in the world is made now, then Donnarumma will definitely make his place in that list. However, the bad news for Italy is that this goalkeeper may not be able to provide good service for much longer because he is already old enough. In the selection of goalkeepers, different clubs or different teams always give more importance to young footballers, in that case, in two to three years, this goalkeeper may not be in the same form as before. I wonder what will happen to the Italian team when most of the players who are currently playing for the Italian national team retire. Italy may continue to play football, but we may not see good performances from them.

What do you mean that Donnarumma is already old enough? He is 26 years old, he was born in 1999, the other teams still play with players like Courtois (1992), Oblak (1993), Neuer (1986), Maignan (1995), Pickford (1994), Alisson (1992), just to mention a few, so I really have no idea how you can say that a 26 years old goalkeeper is old. Buffon played until he was 40+ years old.

There is no guarantee that Donnarumma will be able to maintain his fitness like the goalkeepers you mentioned. If he passes 30, we will definitely not get the same performance from him as he is now. Teams usually prefer young goalkeepers like Donnarumma is getting now. If you let this goalkeeper pass 30, then you will see that the demand for this goalkeeper is not very high and it may be that this goalkeeper has to leave for a club outside Europe. I did not say he is old, I only said that considering his age, he may have another three to four years of great performance but after that his performance may become more stable. We want him to play for the Italian national team for a long time but it completely depends on Donnarumma's fitness and his performance.

[masulum]

There is no guarantee that Donnarumma will be able to maintain his fitness like the goalkeepers you mentioned. If he passes 30, we will definitely not get the same performance from him as he is now. Teams usually prefer young goalkeepers like Donnarumma is getting now. If you let this goalkeeper pass 30, then you will see that the demand for this goalkeeper is not very high and it may be that this goalkeeper has to leave for a club outside Europe. I did not say he is old, I only said that considering his age, he may have another three to four years of great performance but after that his performance may become more stable. We want him to play for the Italian national team for a long time but it completely depends on Donnarumma's fitness and his performance.

Every goalkeeper is physically different, but if Donnarumma can maintain his fitness and avoid making dangerous saves, he might still be able to perform well. I agree with you, he maybe need more few years to become top level of his ablity. If he can control his ego and maintain his fitness, I think he can prove himself at the upcoming World Cup. But he also needs a coach and other capable players to play at the top form while playing for the Italian national team and club.

[cande86]

~~

This is a problem not only in Italy but also in most European countries, where they are currently facing a demographic crisis caused by low birth rates and aging populations, which in turn affects many sectors. This trend is largely driven by the high cost of living and governments that seem to de-prioritize policies aimed at encouraging young couples to have children. As a result, population pyramids in these countries are becoming increasingly problematic.

Meanwhile, immigrants are less affected by this issue and continue to grow in number. Since many of them come from lower-middle-class backgrounds, they are more motivated to advance and succeed. This has led many to represent national teams, not only out of a desire for a better life but also because of their strong motivation to prove themselves. That drive is what pushes them to progress. So it is not surprising that the current trend is for many national teams to be filled with players of immigrant descent, because they are capable and competitive.

exactly, what you say is extremely true in fact the representatives of the European national teams are children of second generation immigrants who proliferate as if there were no tomorrow, but in Italy this phenomenon is not yet seen and apparently the birth rate is rising

In this case, I'm reminded of the French national team 2018 World Cup victory, where Didier Deschamps starting lineup consisted primarily children of second generation immigrants. It makes sense why they command greater trust from their managers, they are key pillars of their respective clubs. Furthermore, I agree that their ambition to achieve a better life drives them to become great players who work twice as hard as others. Indirectly, population growth can indeed increase the chances for the Italian national team to have talented players from different generations, but at the moment Italy golden generation seems to have been stopped.

I don't think it's possible to compare France and Italy when we talk about immigrants: France, for centuries, had colonies in several parts of the world, especially in Africa; Italy on the other hand has never been a colonizer country so, of course, France's catchment area is way bigger than Italy's.

But you can't just bring in any immigrant because the social and political situation is becoming more and more tense everywhere in the world because many immigrants take advantage of the system. The idea of having more immigrants so there are more kids (eventually) playing football doesn't make any sense. A country is much more than a football team.

exactly, there are far fewer Italian players and Italy has never been a colonial country, so even the immigrants, many are just passing through here and are just waiting to go to France and stay there permanently, that's where they grow up, have children and talents like Mbappe or other players emerge.

[verdinio]

Donnarumma is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper and if the list of the five best goalkeepers in the world is made now, then Donnarumma will definitely make his place in that list. However, the bad news for Italy is that this goalkeeper may not be able to provide good service for much longer because he is already old enough. In the selection of goalkeepers, different clubs or different teams always give more importance to young footballers, in that case, in two to three years, this goalkeeper may not be in the same form as before. I wonder what will happen to the Italian team when most of the players who are currently playing for the Italian national team retire. Italy may continue to play football, but we may not see good performances from them.

What do you mean that Donnarumma is already old enough? He is 26 years old, he was born in 1999, the other teams still play with players like Courtois (1992), Oblak (1993), Neuer (1986), Maignan (1995), Pickford (1994), Alisson (1992), just to mention a few, so I really have no idea how you can say that a 26 years old goalkeeper is old. Buffon played until he was 40+ years old.

There is no guarantee that Donnarumma will be able to maintain his fitness like the goalkeepers you mentioned. If he passes 30, we will definitely not get the same performance from him as he is now. Teams usually prefer young goalkeepers like Donnarumma is getting now. If you let this goalkeeper pass 30, then you will see that the demand for this goalkeeper is not very high and it may be that this goalkeeper has to leave for a club outside Europe. I did not say he is old, I only said that considering his age, he may have another three to four years of great performance but after that his performance may become more stable. We want him to play for the Italian national team for a long time but it completely depends on Donnarumma's fitness and his performance.

you are talking about a top player, one who is considered and is also one of the strongest goalkeepers in the WORLD, not someone who has been playing football since yesterday, he is strong, very strong and can still have a long career considering that goalkeepers play even after 40 years of age

[armanda90]

exactly, there are far fewer Italian players and Italy has never been a colonial country, so even the immigrants, many are just passing through here and are just waiting to go to France and stay there permanently, that's where they grow up, have children and talents like Mbappe or other players emerge.

Its classic problem every national team dominance with immigrants players how current starting line up of France national team dominance by players from Africa, its not huge problem from FIFA during they have been the national team players they can play for their national team not matter with any players have difference national team with their brother such as happening with Iñaki Williams played for Ghana national team and his brother Nico Williams played for Spain national teams.

Right now have new way for any national team naturalization their players such as my national team Indonesia who fight at round four of Asian qualifying round have many players from Netherland. All national recently have several immigrants players not only with small national team but the top national team such as France, England and Spain most of them not original citizen.