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

[dollyamo]

Exactly, Lionel Messi still playing for Argentina national team for upcoming World Cup but look at his level competition right now just playing with MLS League teams and right now he was over 38 years old. Just bit reminder Lionel Messi fully without playing any one match yet until two months later since December Until February next years regarding the MLS League break out more than two months. Many top national teams fully with youth players such as England, France and Germany I think have bigger chance for winning World Cup 2026 than Argentina.

However its my prediction looking for current composition teams and how highest level competition playing for their club, Argentina current composition teams they have two players Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul are playing for MLS League team with lower level competition from Saudi Pro League and huge difference level if comparison with several top Europe domestic league.

I don't know man, your reasoning on paper is correct, but anyway we're talking about a champion, we're not just talking about a good player.
Furthermore, Argentina doesn't revolve around Messi, if anything it's just an addition of experience to the team, which absolutely doesn't hurt.

Maybe he has no chance of winning the world cup, but he has a chance to compete and bang his fist on the table saying: we're in the game too, be careful we're not joking!
I would like to see Argentina win the world championship, but I'm realistic and I understand that it's not easy, but let's remember nothing is impossible.

[LUCKMCFLY]

Can they win in 2026? Sure. But Ancelotti has 18 months to work out the best XI and stick with it. Otherwise, it is another quarter final loss and we are back in 2030

I think they can win the 2026 cup, it's not impossible. I think Portugal is the team that will arrive in the best form along with France The other teams are good, but I think those are the ones that are at the level for me at the moment. I still don't dare to make an accurate prediction because there's still time, but so far that's all I can say.

[Ale88]

Can they win in 2026? Sure. But Ancelotti has 18 months to work out the best XI and stick with it. Otherwise, it is another quarter final loss and we are back in 2030

I think they can win the 2026 cup, it's not impossible. I think Portugal is the team that will arrive in the best form along with France The other teams are good, but I think those are the ones that are at the level for me at the moment. I still don't dare to make an accurate prediction because there's still time, but so far that's all I can say.

Portugal can surely be a serious contender because they have so many great players, and it would be a totally new team winning the World Cup so I would be happy for them! Anyway, in my opinion, the number one candidate for the final victory would be Spain. The other teams could be England, France, and Argentina, but I don't see the current champions winning again because Messi would be 39 years old, in Qatar he played an incredible tournament, this time he'll be too old.

[Sithara007]

Portugal can surely be a serious contender because they have so many great players, and it would be a totally new team winning the World Cup so I would be happy for them! Anyway, in my opinion, the number one candidate for the final victory would be Spain. The other teams could be England, France, and Argentina, but I don't see the current champions winning again because Messi would be 39 years old, in Qatar he played an incredible tournament, this time he'll be too old.

LOL.. age is just a number nowadays. Cristiano Ronaldo is almost 41 years old, and he is playing as good as he was in his 20s. I guess it is same for Messi as well, but recently I haven't watched him play. Players are more fitness oriented nowadays, and on top of that medical supplements are available to sustain good fitness levels. Maybe a few decades ago, these were not available. So once again, during the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, the main battle is going to be between Messi and Ronaldo.

[Franctoshi]

Portugal can surely be a serious contender because they have so many great players, and it would be a totally new team winning the World Cup so I would be happy for them! Anyway, in my opinion, the number one candidate for the final victory would be Spain. The other teams could be England, France, and Argentina, but I don't see the current champions winning again because Messi would be 39 years old, in Qatar he played an incredible tournament, this time he'll be too old.

LOL.. age is just a number nowadays. Cristiano Ronaldo is almost 41 years old, and he is playing as good as he was in his 20s. I guess it is same for Messi as well, but recently I haven't watched him play. Players are more fitness oriented nowadays, and on top of that medical supplements are available to sustain good fitness levels. Maybe a few decades ago, these were not available. So once again, during the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, the main battle is going to be between Messi and Ronaldo.

Even without this medical supplements present years back, I would even say we had more older players in football then than we do have presently, football then were for men and not for the boys but nowadays, it's for the younger players.
In terms of the age it is just a number, and yes, if your body system allows you to keep playing why stop? football doesn't have much bad to do you as a player rather you're exercising body, which is good for body to steady healthier.

[banana33]

Exactly one of the characteristics of a renowned coach, it is his responsibility to bring out the best in his squad and make sure they attain their full potentials, the Brazilian national team has numerous stars who are potentially world champions but aren't living up to expectations because most of them lack the zeal or don't really understand the responsibilities attached to wearing the prestigious yellow and blue colours of the the Brazilian national team, I wish Ancelotti would succeed with this team and land them a major trophy in his spell as manager with Brazil.

Yes, in fact, we need to give Ancelotti the chance to have a place in terms of the squad and how he should behave afterwards. i am convinced that he's making his decisions on the matter and there won't be a few of them. It's clear that this is a matter that will slowly settle down. Let's give the coach time.

[Fuso.hp]

Portugal can surely be a serious contender because they have so many great players, and it would be a totally new team winning the World Cup so I would be happy for them! Anyway, in my opinion, the number one candidate for the final victory would be Spain. The other teams could be England, France, and Argentina, but I don't see the current champions winning again because Messi would be 39 years old, in Qatar he played an incredible tournament, this time he'll be too old.

LOL.. age is just a number nowadays. Cristiano Ronaldo is almost 41 years old, and he is playing as good as he was in his 20s. I guess it is same for Messi as well, but recently I haven't watched him play. Players are more fitness oriented nowadays, and on top of that medical supplements are available to sustain good fitness levels. Maybe a few decades ago, these were not available. So once again, during the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, the main battle is going to be between Messi and Ronaldo.

The players follow a strict diet and do a lot of physical exercise, which makes them look young despite their age. At 41, where ordinary people wait for a doctor's visit, Cristiano Ronaldo is playing football like a young man and his speed is still the same. I thought that the 2022 World Cup would be the last World Cup for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but they are preparing to play another World Cup to surprise their fans and this may be the last World Cup for these two legendary players. When Messi and Ronaldo played their last match in the last World Cup, I regretted that we will not see these two stars in the World Cup tournament at the same time, but it is really a joy to see them perform for their respective teams in another World Cup.

[Fiatless]

Yes, in fact, we need to give Ancelotti the chance to have a place in terms of the squad and how he should behave afterwards. i am convinced that he's making his decisions on the matter and there won't be a few of them. It's clear that this is a matter that will slowly settle down. Let's give the coach time.

I assume that Carlo Ancelotti's major task is to ensure that the Canarinho qualify for the World Cup and the Italian has achieved it. The next phase is to prepare for the World Cup and make an impact. He needs to be given enough time to do his job. Some fans are criticising the coach because Brazil lost to Japan in a friendly match. People fail to realise that friendly games are for experimentation.

[martinom]

Even without this medical supplements present years back, I would even say we had more older players in football then than we do have presently, football then were for men and not for the boys but nowadays, it's for the younger players.
In terms of the age it is just a number, and yes, if your body system allows you to keep playing why stop? football doesn't have much bad to do you as a player rather you're exercising body, which is good for body to steady healthier.

Honestly i think this is a lie, before there were supplements and medicines that allowed players to play without ever feeling the effort, they caused damage, now those substances are prohibited and it shows, there are many more players who in my opinion feel the effort, before we gave everything and ran much more

[giorgione]

Portugal can surely be a serious contender because they have so many great players, and it would be a totally new team winning the World Cup so I would be happy for them! Anyway, in my opinion, the number one candidate for the final victory would be Spain. The other teams could be England, France, and Argentina, but I don't see the current champions winning again because Messi would be 39 years old, in Qatar he played an incredible tournament, this time he'll be too old.

In my mind I just hope that Portugal can do much better than they have to and reach the final, and that Cristiano Ronaldo lifts the World Cup. I think that Messi won the World Cup in Qatar with a lot of luck and a little too much help, but that's just my impression.

[changaa]

LOL.. age is just a number nowadays. Cristiano Ronaldo is almost 41 years old, and he is playing as good as he was in his 20s. I guess it is same for Messi as well, but recently I haven't watched him play. Players are more fitness oriented nowadays, and on top of that medical supplements are available to sustain good fitness levels. Maybe a few decades ago, these were not available. So once again, during the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, the main battle is going to be between Messi and Ronaldo.

It's not true, age is not just a number and it shows, they can't keep up with the pace of so many matches and play them all at the highest level, this is not possible, also because they are half their age, and this is clearly visible, i think that in a shorter tournament like the World Cup instead it can be done

[verdinio]

I think they can win the 2026 cup, it's not impossible. I think Portugal is the team that will arrive in the best form along with France The other teams are good, but I think those are the ones that are at the level for me at the moment. I still don't dare to make an accurate prediction because there's still time, but so far that's all I can say.

I also hope that Portugal manages to go very far and maybe reach the final, they deserve all the good in the world, and then seeing Cristiano Ronaldo lift a World Cup would be priceless, i would be very happy, i really hope so, dreams do come true

[Slow death]

Can they win in 2026? Sure. But Ancelotti has 18 months to work out the best XI and stick with it. Otherwise, it is another quarter final loss and we are back in 2030

I think they can win the 2026 cup, it's not impossible. I think Portugal is the team that will arrive in the best form along with France The other teams are good, but I think those are the ones that are at the level for me at the moment. I still don't dare to make an accurate prediction because there's still time, but so far that's all I can say.

The French national team doesn't seem to be doing well to me. They manage to win games when Mbappé is playing, but they don't show pressure or motivation in most games, and especially when they're without Mbappé, their performance is terrible.

In my opinion, the English national team is the one that's showing the most strength; they haven't lost a single World Cup qualifying game so far. Another strong national team is Spain, and I agree that Portugal is also strong. Argentina too. So, in the next World Cup, the Brazilian national team will need to work very hard if they want to win the World Cup.

[Ale88]

Portugal can surely be a serious contender because they have so many great players, and it would be a totally new team winning the World Cup so I would be happy for them! Anyway, in my opinion, the number one candidate for the final victory would be Spain. The other teams could be England, France, and Argentina, but I don't see the current champions winning again because Messi would be 39 years old, in Qatar he played an incredible tournament, this time he'll be too old.

LOL.. age is just a number nowadays. Cristiano Ronaldo is almost 41 years old, and he is playing as good as he was in his 20s. I guess it is same for Messi as well, but recently I haven't watched him play. Players are more fitness oriented nowadays, and on top of that medical supplements are available to sustain good fitness levels. Maybe a few decades ago, these were not available. So once again, during the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, the main battle is going to be between Messi and Ronaldo.

Sure, age is just a number, so how come Ronaldo ended up in Saudi Arabia? Manchester United did whatever they could to get rid of him and not a single European club was interested in signing him because he was not worth anymore the money he was asking for. I really have no idea how you can say that this 40-year-old Ronaldo is the same player we saw at Real Madrid, probably we watch a different type of football otherwise he would have kept winning Golden Balls...

[FanEagle]

I think they can win the 2026 cup, it's not impossible. I think Portugal is the team that will arrive in the best form along with France The other teams are good, but I think those are the ones that are at the level for me at the moment. I still don't dare to make an accurate prediction because there's still time, but so far that's all I can say.

I also hope that Portugal manages to go very far and maybe reach the final, they deserve all the good in the world, and then seeing Cristiano Ronaldo lift a World Cup would be priceless, i would be very happy, i really hope so, dreams do come true

While emotionally that would be great, it is not realistic. Last world cup, I really hoped Argentina and Portugal would meet in the finals, they were on the other sides of the bracket so that means they could both be on the finals at the same time but portugal lost to morocco, which I did not expected at all, I assumed they would beat morocco but would lose to france to be honest. In any case, Portugal isn't good enough to win the title or even be in the finals at this moment, and being in the finals is worse than losing at like quarter finals.

Because at quarter finals, you just never got close at all, but at finals yet losing means you were 90 minutes away from the biggest cup in the world and lost, that's even bigger heartbreak.

[Agbe]

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While emotionally that would be great, it is not realistic. Last world cup, I really hoped Argentina and Portugal would meet in the finals, they were on the other sides of the bracket so that means they could both be on the finals at the same time but portugal lost to morocco, which I did not expected at all, I assumed they would beat morocco but would lose to france to be honest. In any case, Portugal isn't good enough to win the title or even be in the finals at this moment, and being in the finals is worse than losing at like quarter finals.

Because at quarter finals, you just never got close at all, but at finals yet losing means you were 90 minutes away from the biggest cup in the world and lost, that's even bigger heartbreak.

Portugal indeed has a great team right now but the fact is that they have not gotten to the point were they will play in the finals of the world cup. The world cup is the gathering of the Best footballing nations, Portugal may be good in the European continent but I don't think that they can replicate that in the world stage because that is the peak of football and in terms of the quality of play Portugal is still lacking behind, they have to develop themselves more before they can be thinking about playing in the world cup finals.

[Victorybit1]

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While emotionally that would be great, it is not realistic. Last world cup, I really hoped Argentina and Portugal would meet in the finals, they were on the other sides of the bracket so that means they could both be on the finals at the same time but portugal lost to morocco, which I did not expected at all, I assumed they would beat morocco but would lose to france to be honest. In any case, Portugal isn't good enough to win the title or even be in the finals at this moment, and being in the finals is worse than losing at like quarter finals.

Because at quarter finals, you just never got close at all, but at finals yet losing means you were 90 minutes away from the biggest cup in the world and lost, that's even bigger heartbreak.

Portugal indeed has a great team right now but the fact is that they have not gotten to the point were they will play in the finals of the world cup. The world cup is the gathering of the Best footballing nations, Portugal may be good in the European continent but I don't think that they can replicate that in the world stage because that is the peak of football and in terms of the quality of play Portugal is still lacking behind, they have to develop themselves more before they can be thinking about playing in the world cup finals.

Why would you say that they can't make it to the finals ? Portugal have the team and also the experience in their team to actually do anything that's can be achieved by any of the teams you are now calling elite teams. Portugal have shown their great strength although it won't be easy and that's goes for any other team too in that competition but I won't doubt or remove Portugal as a major con for the title and moreover this is football and anything and everything can happen as no one knows for sure and that's how it is.

[$weetne$$]

Yes, in fact, we need to give Ancelotti the chance to have a place in terms of the squad and how he should behave afterwards. i am convinced that he's making his decisions on the matter and there won't be a few of them. It's clear that this is a matter that will slowly settle down. Let's give the coach time.

This time that the coach does need is what most persons do not seem to want him to have, they do not have the patience again to wait maybe so they just want things up and running already but it does not matter how much you want to see results, the place of time cannot be substituted with your drive or push for that which you want, if Ancelotti is given the needed time, I believe even them will be glad he got the time he needed.

[AYOBA]

Ancelotti was chosen because he already knew some of the Brazilian stars from his time managing Real Madrid. There were Vinicius, Rodrigo, Endrick, and Casemiro. So, it's not like he has zero knowledge of Brazilian players. Ancelotti should be able to integrate and tune in with the Brazilian team immediately. But the reality on the field was different; they lost to the weak South American team Bolivia and also lost to the Asian team Japan.

That’s just the fact about Ancelotti; they intentionally chose him because they know that he has much knowledge about the Brazilian star players so that if he mingles with them, that will encourage those players to put more effort into each of their matches in order for them to achieve their goal in this 2026 World Cup.

And if we observe their performances since they brought in Ancelotti, their performances have been far different from before. That’s why a lot of people were saying that Brazil has big opportunities, but we shall watch and see what can actually happen at the end of the season.

[Adbitco]

Something is wrong with Brazil presently. This strange generational change nobody is discussing. Neymar? He's done. No national team time at all in a year, back to Santos, and frankly... They don't need him. Without him, they beat South Korea 5-0. Endrick (the next big thing) had not even made the squad at the time. He is gathering splinters at Real Madrid with this 18 year old Estevao playing for Brazil and also playing at Chelsea, scoring goals

So the talent is there, definitely. However, when Ancelotti became aggressive towards South Korea, they seemed to be invincible. They collapsed when he turned it against Japan by playing it safe. Which version shows up in 2026? Last month they were defeated by Bolivia. Bolivia! Then fell in FIFA ranking as Argentina climbed to 2nd

Can they win in 2026? Sure. But Ancelotti has 18 months to work out the best XI and stick with it. Otherwise, it is another quarter final loss and we are back in 2030

Not just recently, but for some time now the team has been horrible. Brazil only carries the n name now and not that threat again for now. I still when Brazil was Brazil and they were up against your team, the fans will already be trembling even before kickoff not this Brazil I'm seeing now. Just look that their qualification, what number did they end up with compared to Argentina. It's no longer the Brazil I knew back then, there's no way this Brazilian team can even play the semis let alone going all the way to the finals and winning it. They can't win the next WC.