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

[Lida93]

The places for the world cup are gonna be always a problem, for me is ok to see europe having much more than other federations since they have a lot more teams and they have a lot more high level teams compared to other federations which only have numbers but shit performance.

Africa now have a lot of places they cant blame anyone anymore.

it's true that Europe has places more places than any other federation but you can't blame them for that, it's as a result of the number of nations that are involved in  UEFA and European teams have always created much impact in several World Cup and, perhaps it's justifiable to say they deserve all the places that they get in the World Cup considering how much impact they create in previous events.

[Joca97]

The places for the world cup are gonna be always a problem, for me is ok to see europe having much more than other federations since they have a lot more teams and they have a lot more high level teams compared to other federations which only have numbers but shit performance.

Africa now have a lot of places they cant blame anyone anymore.

it's true that Europe has places more places than any other federation but you can't blame them for that, it's as a result of the number of nations that are involved in  UEFA and European teams have always created much impact in several World Cup and, perhaps it's justifiable to say they deserve all the places that they get in the World Cup considering how much impact they create in previous events.

Europe should have the most places in the world cup because they have the most teams and the most teams with a lot of quality. For example i dont understand why south america has so much spots. They have 10 teams and o most 7 go to the world cup and o most every team goes. I think for me that is insane

[Ale88]

I find this kind of statement very insulting and demeaning to an entire race. What's more annoying is that the continent his refering to has more countries in it than the continent he still wants more slots for. His sentimental, greedy and full of himself. A coach that even if you want to mention the best 200 coaches in the world, his name won't even be in the next 500, I wonder how the Italians ended up with someone like Gattuso as their coach. Imagine a team like Norway whopping Italy 4 - 1 even after they scored first, this to tell you the level of how he has reduced the team.
Another one from same man again, Gattuso needs to be checked mentally.

I'm Italian and I have no problem admitting that this is one of the worst national teams I have ever seen in my life. But let's not make this about race because it has nothing to do with that. The point of his full declaration was to point out that since they chose to expand from 32 to 48 teams, these 16 extra teams have not been distributed in a fair way. UEFA spots only increased by 3 units, clearly this expansion is helping other federations. In South America potentially 70% of the teams can qualify for the World Cup, that is ridiculous. And Africa and Asia have been helped a lot as well. These are simply facts because in Europe you can miss the qualification because you lose a single match. Italy for example, and I repeat it, we are shit since 2010, missed the last 3 qualifications losing 3 matches in total out of 24. In my opinion there is something wrong when there are teams that qualify losing half the games they play and other teams that get eliminated just because they lose one match.

[M47AK16]

Europe should have the most places in the world cup because they have the most teams and the most teams with a lot of quality. For example i dont understand why south america has so much spots. They have 10 teams and o most 7 go to the world cup and o most every team goes. I think for me that is insane

I agree with you, Europe deserve to be had more places because they are having competitiveness and their quality is also consistent no other federation have sources and quality like them even in last few years African continent have good development but still they needed more time for proving things.

South American have one of the luxurious thing out of 10 they have 6 direct into world cup and 1 through qualification this is surely needed to be rechecked because they are having the fewest teams for qualifications but still it's going good for all those have good quality and consistency. Many countries lost their quality, but they can do good in future as they have good structure, and they are also had enough skilled players while many countries are having not enough system due to lack of funds.

[yudi09]

-snip-

Europe should have the most places in the world cup because they have the most teams and the most teams with a lot of quality. For example i dont understand why south america has so much spots. They have 10 teams and o most 7 go to the world cup and o most every team goes. I think for me that is insane

Having many teams and teams from Europe with good quality is one of the reasons I support Europe getting many slots. For South America, I also wonder why many get quotas from the 10 available teams. Teams 1 to 6 qualify automatically, and the team in 7th place qualifies for the next stage. It seems that the organizers treat them differently.

What's even more ironic is that the 2026 World Cup qualifiers are taking place in Asia. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are hosting the event, even though Qatar and Saudi Arabia, like Iraq and Oman, including Indonesia, are competing for a spot in the 2026 World Cup. This is even crazier.

[Zlantann]

]
I'm Italian and I have no problem admitting that this is one of the worst national teams I have ever seen in my life. But let's not make this about race because it has nothing to do with that. The point of his full declaration was to point out that since they chose to expand from 32 to 48 teams, these 16 extra teams have not been distributed in a fair way. UEFA spots only increased by 3 units, clearly this expansion is helping other federations. In South America potentially 70% of the teams can qualify for the World Cup, that is ridiculous. And Africa and Asia have been helped a lot as well. These are simply facts because in Europe you can miss the qualification because you lose a single match. Italy for example, and I repeat it, we are shit since 2010, missed the last 3 qualifications losing 3 matches in total out of 24. In my opinion there is something wrong when there are teams that qualify losing half the games they play and other teams that get eliminated just because they lose one match.

You have made some important observations. It's unfair for a team to lose fewer games and get knocked out of the competition while others enjoy more chances. Paraguay won just six of eighteen games and it was enough to give them a slot in the World Cup. But Italy, which won six out of eight games, will still have to play two more games in the playoffs to seek qualification. FIFA would have to reevaluate this World Cup qualifying process and come up with a fair one.

The absence of Italy in the two events in Qatar and Russia is not nice. The four-time World Champions have produced some of the best teams in the world. Watching the World Cup without them makes the event incomplete.

[dollyamo]

If in the 2022 final, France is able to win the match vs Argentina, then Kylan Mbappe will be the player who has won two World Cup finals and buried the dream of Lionel Messi, who really wants to lift the World Cup trophy in the history of his football career.
Those who say Mbappe is a loser probably don't mean to say it because it could be a mistake made unintentionally.
Kylan Mbappe may still have a chance to win the 2026 world cup if you look at the current strength of the French squad.

I would love for him to lift the Lionel Messi Cup, for several reasons, the most important of which is to end his wonderful career on a high note.
Clearly in the world plan it will face perhaps too many difficulties to be able to achieve this ambitious goal.
I don't deny though that Mbappe has all the characteristics to get the cup too, i am sure we'll see good numbers for this long-awaited competition.

[execijutiere]

The Czech Republic easily defeated Gibraltar and finished second in the group. Gibraltar may well be the weakest team in this tournament. Therefore, we can say that they conceded plenty of goals in every match.
In the other match of the group, Montenegro lost at home to Croatia. Despite leading at halftime thanks to goals scored in the early minutes, Montenegro failed to win the match. Croatia turned the match around and finished the group undefeated.

[ingiltere]

The point of his full declaration was to point out that since they chose to expand from 32 to 48 teams, these 16 extra teams have not been distributed in a fair way. UEFA spots only increased by 3 units, clearly this expansion is helping other federations.

This is definitely the biggest problem. Although Europe is the most active football continent, it has very few participants compared to the quotas given to others. I like that there are different countries in the World Cup, I'm not against that, but from a competitive standpoint, it makes no sense that a tournament that includes the Cape Verde Islands could potentially exclude Italy, Türkiye, Ukraine or Poland. If the European quota had been properly increased, none of these discussions would be happening.

[yixichloro2xx]

I find this kind of statement very insulting and demeaning to an entire race. What's more annoying is that the continent his refering to has more countries in it than the continent he still wants more slots for. His sentimental, greedy and full of himself. A coach that even if you want to mention the best 200 coaches in the world, his name won't even be in the next 500, I wonder how the Italians ended up with someone like Gattuso as their coach. Imagine a team like Norway whopping Italy 4 - 1 even after they scored first, this to tell you the level of how he has reduced the team.
Another one from same man again, Gattuso needs to be checked mentally.

I'm Italian and I have no problem admitting that this is one of the worst national teams I have ever seen in my life. But let's not make this about race because it has nothing to do with that. The point of his full declaration was to point out that since they chose to expand from 32 to 48 teams, these 16 extra teams have not been distributed in a fair way. UEFA spots only increased by 3 units, clearly this expansion is helping other federations. In South America potentially 70% of the teams can qualify for the World Cup, that is ridiculous. And Africa and Asia have been helped a lot as well. These are simply facts because in Europe you can miss the qualification because you lose a single match. Italy for example, and I repeat it, we are shit since 2010, missed the last 3 qualifications losing 3 matches in total out of 24. In my opinion there is something wrong when there are teams that qualify losing half the games they play and other teams that get eliminated just because they lose one match.

Gattuso makes noise too much, instead of him to focus on how he can make his team qualify for the world he is busy putting blame on Fifa qualification system for other continents. He had an easy group, the Italian team can easily top the group but I don't really know what really happened to them. I hope they can qualify through the playoffs phase.

[henmark]

The point of his full declaration was to point out that since they chose to expand from 32 to 48 teams, these 16 extra teams have not been distributed in a fair way. UEFA spots only increased by 3 units, clearly this expansion is helping other federations.

This is definitely the biggest problem. Although Europe is the most active football continent, it has very few participants compared to the quotas given to others. I like that there are different countries in the World Cup, I'm not against that, but from a competitive standpoint, it makes no sense that a tournament that includes the Cape Verde Islands could potentially exclude Italy, Türkiye, Ukraine or Poland. If the European quota had been properly increased, none of these discussions would be happening.

This topic is surely having some good argument about many things, but I am not agreed about this why Cape Verde is in world cup and Italy is on verge of another exit they are because they are going down into their quality and their opponents are doing good which is surely their internal issue not about others right.

Europe still have the largest pool in world cup because of their quality and skills but from them now many countries are losing their rhythm which is needed to be improved, but they fail so just because of this facing these results World Cup mean not all teams from Europe every continent is having quota due to their quality and performance. Now 48 teams are good, and I am happy because FIFA need to stay on this for long time hopefully many countries will be able to have good changes into their structure and things could be competitive in all regions of the world.

[Balmain]

I don't have high hopes for the Turkey-Spain match. Olmo's goal in the 34th minute already put Spain ahead 1-0. Spain had already won the previous match by a large margin, and they might have scored even more. Spain will have more possession, and as in the previous match, they will try to score with quick passing, and they will likely succeed. If Turkey can quickly change the flow of the game with the balls they win, they might be able to score on the counter.

[Joy_learns_crypto]

I don't have high hopes for the Turkey-Spain match. Olmo's goal in the 34th minute already put Spain ahead 1-0. Spain had already won the previous match by a large margin, and they might have scored even more. Spain will have more possession, and as in the previous match, they will try to score with quick passing, and they will likely succeed. If Turkey can quickly change the flow of the game with the balls they win, they might be able to score on the counter.

You may not have high hopes for Turkey but they have played with passion since Dani Olmo scored for Spain and that passion has brought them equal with Spain just before the end of first half.
Turkey needs to score more than eight goals at the end of the match and hope Spain don’t score for them to go straight to the World Cup without the playoffs but Spain is taking their pride to seriously that I think they will win Turkey.

[bitzizzix]

The first half of the Spain vs. Turkey match ended in a 1-1 draw, and I noticed Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir taking center stage. He defended his goal brilliantly, saving several shots on goal, including two powerful Olmo strikes, before scoring in the 4th minute.
Spain dominated the first half, and chances to score a second goal, or even more, were likely to come in the second half, given that Spain was still undefeated and had already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

[Ruttoshi]

I don't have high hopes for the Turkey-Spain match. Olmo's goal in the 34th minute already put Spain ahead 1-0. Spain had already won the previous match by a large margin, and they might have scored even more. Spain will have more possession, and as in the previous match, they will try to score with quick passing, and they will likely succeed. If Turkey can quickly change the flow of the game with the balls they win, they might be able to score on the counter.

Three minutes before the end of the first half came the equalizer by Deniz Gul to cancel Dani Olmo's goal. Turkiye performance was superb in the first half because I didn't expect them to give the European championships a tough first half.

Spain wouldn't take it easy in the second half because I saw how aggressive they attacked their visitors after the equalizer. If only Turkiye can continue in this vibration, they might be able to withstand Spain pressure. However, Turkiye might surprise us tonight.

[MK-74]

In Group J, Belgium is beating Liechtenstein 5–0 and they will win this match, qualifying directly for the World Cup as group leaders.
The most important match of this group is Wales vs. North Macedonia, and Wales is currently winning 4–1 with 40 minutes left. Most likely, Wales will qualify for the play-offs.

The most important match in Group H is Austria vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently winning 1–0 and if the match ends this way, they will qualify directly for the World Cup. If it ends in a draw or a loss for them, Austria will qualify directly.

[Joca97]

In Group J, Belgium is beating Liechtenstein 5–0 and they will win this match, qualifying directly for the World Cup as group leaders.
The most important match of this group is Wales vs. North Macedonia, and Wales is currently winning 4–1 with 40 minutes left. Most likely, Wales will qualify for the play-offs.

The most important match in Group H is Austria vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently winning 1–0 and if the match ends this way, they will qualify directly for the World Cup. If it ends in a draw or a loss for them, Austria will qualify directly.

It was expected that Belgium would win heavily and this is a good thing for their confidence and now they are surely at the world cup. Wales at the current pace secured the playoffs and that is a good thing i dont see Macedonia coming back from this big defecit. So now Macedonia is out of that race for sure for the playoffs

[Majestic-milf]

 Spain are currently being held to a draw by Turkey and like I said earlier, it would be a challenge for the European champions to be able to easily get a win from their visitors who are still reeling from their last thrashing of 6:0 from Spain so it would quite difficult. Not like it can't happen but it's still a matter of how well they can be able to break through the defence of Turkey cause it's as if the first half was a time to get their bearings right and now they(Turkey) are ready to match Spain toe to toe.

[blomen]

Spain are currently being held to a draw by Turkey and like I said earlier, it would be a challenge for the European champions to be able to easily get a win from their visitors who are still reeling from their last thrashing of 6:0 from Spain so it would quite difficult. Not like it can't happen but it's still a matter of how well they can be able to break through the defence of Turkey cause it's as if the first half was a time to get their bearings right and now they(Turkey) are ready to match Spain toe to toe.

actually, this match has no bearing on determining first or second place in the group. in other words, barring extremely unusual circumstances, the result of this match would not affect spain's first place or turkey's second place. however, it seems that neither team wants to concede the match. turkey seems to want to see what it can do before the world cup playoffs, while spain wants to continue its winning streak.

we are now in the final minutes, and the match is still 2-2. it was an enjoyable match, and i don't think anyone expected such a draw.

[LTU_btc]

If we look atgames which had importance today, I think there is no surprises. Maybe expected a bit more from Austria, they struggled against Bosnia anddidn't even got a win, butthat was enough for them.
What a game between Scotland and Denmark. Amazing goal of Mctominay which is worthy of Puskas award nomination. But Denamrk still managed to make score 2:2, despite playing without ejected Kristensen.And when it looked that's over, Tierney scores great goal and claims straight ticket to WC. And then McLean goal killed last hope for Denmark. I'm so glad that I choose this game to watch
Spain didn't managed to keep clean sheet and perfect record during whole qualifier. They conceded 2 goals and only ended with draw against Turkey. So, England ended as only team without conceded goals and perfect record.

I find this kind of statement very insulting and demeaning to an entire race. What's more annoying is that the continent his refering to has more countries in it than the continent he still wants more slots for. His sentimental, greedy and full of himself. A coach that even if you want to mention the best 200 coaches in the world, his name won't even be in the next 500, I wonder how the Italians ended up with someone like Gattuso as their coach. Imagine a team like Norway whopping Italy 4 - 1 even after they scored first, this to tell you the level of how he has reduced the team.
Another one from same man again, Gattuso needs to be checked mentally.

Gattuso is partially right, but you can't look at his words seriously after their failure to qualify directly. That's showing looser's mentality and looking for excuses.
I hate whole this new 48 teams format - it adds too many not highest level teams, and IMO, previous format with 32 teams was optimal. But after all, I don't see Gattuso beying so critical if Italy would have taken 1st place in group and direct ticket to WC.