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

[HustleZ]

Based on what I've watched of the friendly matches so far, it doesn't look like it's going to be a tournament worth our expectations. Especially a few of the favorites seem like they might genuinely surprise us. But at least it's good just for the chance to watch Messi and Ronaldo. Who knows, maybe we'll get to watch these two in the final of what could be their last World Cup, I hope so, at least.

I cant stop but agree on this. The 2022 worldcup has a special place in everyone’s hearts and it’s going to be very hard for The teams to recreate a worldcup like that hence it will be lower than what is expected because people will expect it to be at the same level/ better than the Wc22 but everyone it will be hard for WC26 to repeat the thrill and excitement of WC22. It will be hard to watch Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar and other legends’ last worldcup but we will also see alot of emerging talent so i expect it to be good if not great.

[Joy_learns_crypto]

Is anyone noticing the amount of promotional deals Lamine Yamal is having this period or am I just getting too excited for this football talent.
Lamine Yamal has done several promotional ads for big names like Visa, Coca-Cola, Adidas, McDonalds these are just some of those he has done and posted by himself on his account.
Lamine Yamal is already heading to generational wealth from his Barcelona contract but these deals he is having with this Giant companies means more generational wealth for the club very gifted teenage kicks, I hope Spain can go far in this World Cup.

[Stormisover]

The current tournament is the last world cup for some senior players including Ronaldo that's why he was very ambition want to help Portugal to won the trophy because this could be a good achivement for Ronaldo before he is retired but indeed there was no official statement from Ronaldo regarding his retirement from football which probably Ronaldo possibly will playing at least for next 2 or 3 years and speaking about Portugal chances currently i was put them into one of my favourite that because Portugal squad is very good quality besides Ronaldo there are some players who possibly will playing well such as Vitinha, Rafael Leao or Joao Neves who just won champion league trophy with PSG

Will Portugal fail to win the World Cup? i don't know, but certainly understood as a team and as a national team it will certainly have the possibility in future years, but what you don't take into account is that there is a certain gentleman called Cristiano Ronaldo who is doing everything to win this trophy and i wouldn't take him for granted.

They are among the countries that I believe is going to win the World Cup this year, they have a very good squad right now and all they need is determination and determination is already in the club because of Cristiano Ronaldo. All the players in Portugal want Cristiano Ronaldo to win the World Cup and they are going to fight for it and with the squad they have i believe they can actually do it. They should put a fight in this year‘s World Cup because Ronaldo deserve to retire with the World Cup. I believe that we complete his career and I know that is what all the Portugal players want so they should just be determined to do that and they will achieve it.

Like seriously speaking if not France I don't see any other team that has a better squad than Portugal, and I really hope they win it this time, though it's not easy but I believe they can, they have the best midfielders in the tournament, and a couple of good attackers, so I'm confident they are winning it by God grace, like I'm really rooting for either Portugal or France to win this year world cup, but Portugal is the main deal, this is Christiano Ronaldo's last game in the tournament and it won't be bad if he uses it to say goodbye to his national team.

[hyudien]

I'm going to be honest on this. I can't be so sentimental about Neymar.    Because man, this guy has sometimes acted like he is injured also.

He is a very talented player of course. But I don't see him anymore like he loves to play football professionally. As he couldn't play properly for a long time I wouldn't call him to national team if I were in Ancelotti's place.

Neymar is another example of a Brazilian player who is so talented but the quality of his game is declining despite his age due to his lifestyle, and I don't expect much from him at the world cup, although Ancelotti has different plans for him as to why he was included in the squad, but I'm pretty sure Neymar will only be more of a support for his teammates on the bench.

[Felicity_Tide]

Based on what I've watched of the friendly matches so far, it doesn't look like it's going to be a tournament worth our expectations. Especially a few of the favorites seem like they might genuinely surprise us. But at least it's good just for the chance to watch Messi and Ronaldo. Who knows, maybe we'll get to watch these two in the final of what could be their last World Cup, I hope so, at least.

Both countries in the final?, I wonder what the odds that would be.
I think we might eventually see other less dominate countries, pulling off great stunts in the very competition.
In as much as friendlies doesn't count, I must say that I'm really impressed with what some countries have been able to build in the past 4 years. I could remember Morocco pulling one of the greatest surprises in the very last world cup tournament, and I have this great feeling that we might be seeing other countries doing the same. I look forward to a very competitive tournament, although I still have my favourites.

[WatChe]

Like seriously speaking if not France I don't see any other team that has a better squad than Portugal, and I really hope they win it this time, though it's not easy but I believe they can, they have the best midfielders in the tournament, and a couple of good attackers, so I'm confident they are winning it by God grace, like I'm really rooting for either Portugal or France to win this year world cup, but Portugal is the main deal, this is Christiano Ronaldo's last game in the tournament and it won't be bad if he uses it to say goodbye to his national team.

Messi has done the job for his country but its the last opportunity for CR7 to help his country in lifting the trophy for the first time. France has won the world cup twice and also finished as runner up back in 2006 and 2022. Portugal despite having good squad in almost every world cup they have  played, still were not able to lift the cup. CR7 don't have a impressive record in FIFA world cup and he must make his last world cup memorable by improving his stats in his last world cup.

[Taricoins]

I'm going to be honest on this. I can't be so sentimental about Neymar.    Because man, this guy has sometimes acted like he is injured also.

He is a very talented player of course. But I don't see him anymore like he loves to play football professionally. As he couldn't play properly for a long time I wouldn't call him to national team if I were in Ancelotti's place.

Neymar is another example of a Brazilian player who is so talented but the quality of his game is declining despite his age due to his lifestyle, and I don't expect much from him at the world cup, although Ancelotti has different plans for him as to why he was included in the squad, but I'm pretty sure Neymar will only be more of a support for his teammates on the bench.

Off the pitch, Neymars life style is really wild, but one thing about Neymar is the fact that regardless of his lifestyle, he still turns up but his age decline is a factor the will most likely hinder his performance but I hope to see Neymar on the pitch

Talking about flair, I still hope to see Cherki being cheeky on the pitch as he already demonstrated some level of it yesterday in there friendly match.

[Jaycoinz]

Like seriously speaking if not France I don't see any other team that has a better squad than Portugal, and I really hope they win it this time, though it's not easy but I believe they can, they have the best midfielders in the tournament, and a couple of good attackers, so I'm confident they are winning it by God grace, like I'm really rooting for either Portugal or France to win this year world cup, but Portugal is the main deal, this is Christiano Ronaldo's last game in the tournament and it won't be bad if he uses it to say goodbye to his national team.

Messi has done the job for his country but its the last opportunity for CR7 to help his country in lifting the trophy for the first time. France has won the world cup twice and also finished as runner up back in 2006 and 2022. Portugal despite having good squad in almost every world cup they have  played, still were not able to lift the cup. CR7 don't have a impressive record in FIFA world cup and he must make his last world cup memorable by improving his stats in his last world cup.

Everyone is just pushing this narrative that Portugal needs to win this world cup by all means of which we understand why but it's not that easy for this Portuguese team to do so. It would be great that it happens but still with how fierce this competition is and looking at the national teams of other countries that are competing in the world cup I could just say that Portugal can try their best and anywhere they finish is their fate.

[retreat]

Will Portugal fail to win the World Cup? i don't know, but certainly understood as a team and as a national team it will certainly have the possibility in future years, but what you don't take into account is that there is a certain gentleman called Cristiano Ronaldo who is doing everything to win this trophy and i wouldn't take him for granted.

Although Ronaldo isn't as good as he was in his prime, I think he'll give it all to help Portugal win the World Cup. I don't have high expectations for his performance, but his presence on the field can serve as a unifying force, motivating the team and boosting their morale. Especially this year they have a better squad, which could allow them to compete more evenly against the other teams favored to win the World Cup. So I'm sure they still have a chance to win the World Cup trophy this year.

[Juse14]

Is anyone noticing the amount of promotional deals Lamine Yamal is having this period or am I just getting too excited for this football talent.
Lamine Yamal has done several promotional ads for big names like Visa, Coca-Cola, Adidas, McDonalds these are just some of those he has done and posted by himself on his account.
Lamine Yamal is already heading to generational wealth from his Barcelona contract but these deals he is having with this Giant companies means more generational wealth for the club very gifted teenage kicks, I hope Spain can go far in this World Cup.

Lamine Yamal is a talented young player, he has good dribbling, succeeded several times in passing opponents with his agility, good shooting accuracy, this is not much different from Messi so he gets a lot of contracts from big brands like the one you mentioned.

One day he can get the Ballon D'Or because now he is still young, his career path is still long so this is an asset that Barcelona and Spain have, I have no doubt that Spain is now favored to win the World Cup this time.

[MorganaX]

Will Portugal fail to win the World Cup? i don't know, but certainly understood as a team and as a national team it will certainly have the possibility in future years, but what you don't take into account is that there is a certain gentleman called Cristiano Ronaldo who is doing everything to win this trophy and i wouldn't take him for granted.

Although Ronaldo isn't as good as he was in his prime, I think he'll give it all to help Portugal win the World Cup. I don't have high expectations for his performance, but his presence on the field can serve as a unifying force, motivating the team and boosting their morale. Especially this year they have a better squad, which could allow them to compete more evenly against the other teams favored to win the World Cup. So I'm sure they still have a chance to win the World Cup trophy this year.

I think the expectation are too high for this Portugal side, I don't know but that's from my own view of things, I don't know if it's just this community or everywhere that this expectation on Portugal is this high because for almost every discussion I come across here they are all about Ronaldo and Portugal having the chance of winning it which is quite understandable but for me the team I feel will win it is that French national team with almost a near perfection team but football sometimes has crazy stories to tell so let's watch out.

[Adams0001]

Although Ronaldo isn't as good as he was in his prime, I think he'll give it all to help Portugal win the World Cup. I don't have high expectations for his performance, but his presence on the field can serve as a unifying force, motivating the team and boosting their morale. Especially this year they have a better squad, which could allow them to compete more evenly against the other teams favored to win the World Cup. So I'm sure they still have a chance to win the World Cup trophy this year.

I don’t think he will be easy for Ronaldo to win the World Cup because is not doing that good when is still young last 8 years but anything can be possible because is not only the stay in the country they have many players that are in good shape and can help me achieve is goal, I can says this will be is last World Cups for is career and he will do everything possible to get it done this time around but he just need to do harder before he can win it because they have many countries that are chasing the trophy for so long and this is the biggest trophy in the world every country will wish to get it. I will surly be very happy for Ronaldo if he achieve it this season and he as complete football.

[dezoel]

Why would you want to cover your mouth in the first place if you are not saying something bad? I think the rule is fair. Let them say whatever they want to say but let the world see what they said.

I also like that part of players getting punished for time-wasting. Let the football flow.

is that unfortunately there is a lot of rudeness in this sport and no one realizes that this must be a lesson for everyone who watches children, they always have the possibility of teaching many important things and instead they always get lost in a glass of water, they are spoiled kids and there must be stricter rules.

Money has too many changes in sports, especially soccer, which is losing its spirit. Sports have too many violations, but things are not coming under control. This is more problematic; rules are not helping to control these things. Rudeness is having no space, but it's increasing.

Future players are also getting this poison, and they are also having the same path like current players are doing. How to bring this on the right way: it's looking not easy for management; punishment is not working because there are too many flaws in these things, but still hopes are alive for having improvement.

[Obim34]

Everyone is just pushing this narrative that Portugal needs to win this world cup by all means of which we understand why but it's not that easy for this Portuguese team to do so. It would be great that it happens but still with how fierce this competition is and looking at the national teams of other countries that are competing in the world cup I could just say that Portugal can try their best and anywhere they finish is their fate.

Narratives don't matter, it doesn't decide the outcome of the world cup. Every country will play their best, performances on the pitch will decide if by the end of Ronaldo's carrier, he is going to win the world cup, although i doubt if the current Portugal squad is capable of helping him win the world cup.

One last trial for Ronaldo, I know how this means a lot to him, I hope they go far even if i don't see them as favorites to win, one last dance for him, and i hope he enjoys every bit of it.

[coinlary]

Is anyone noticing the amount of promotional deals Lamine Yamal is having this period or am I just getting too excited for this football talent.
Lamine Yamal has done several promotional ads for big names like Visa, Coca-Cola, Adidas, McDonalds these are just some of those he has done and posted by himself on his account.
Lamine Yamal is already heading to generational wealth from his Barcelona contract but these deals he is having with this Giant companies means more generational wealth for the club very gifted teenage kicks, I hope Spain can go far in this World Cup.

Despite that, Fabrizio posted today or yesterday  the Lamine is the most valuable player in the world as of 2026 with a worth around  €350M. Onto of that, he won Laliga player of the 2025/2026 season. All these achievements are making companies and  sponsors more interested in him.

Despite all that, alot of people still thinks he doesn't deserve the hype but trust me he's doing more that makes alot of people want him on the pitch

[Ale88]

There will be no more nostalgia for the modern era of soccer at the World Cup once this tournament is over, because Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will be spectators, not players.
Lionel Messi has already won this trophy with Argentina. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to win the World Cup with Portugal.

It’s no surprise that many people are hoping Portugal will give it their all to win this World Cup, as they all want to see Ronaldo—an icon of modern soccer—lift the trophy now that Argentina has done so for Messi.
This isn’t about whether or not they’re Ronaldo fans; they simply want Portugal to win.

How many years or days will we get the next legend after losing these two legends? It is still uncertain. Although there are star players like Kylian Mbappe, Dembele, Julian Alvarez, Vinicius Junior and Rafinha at the moment, they have not yet shown the ability to become legendary players. Although Lamine Yamal is considered the successor of Lionel Messi, he is still far from being a legend.

Kylian Mbappé isn’t quite ready to be considered a legend yet, as he still has many shortcomings that prevent soccer fans from viewing him in the same light as Ronaldo and Messi.
Given Dembele and Raphinha’s current ages—and the fact that they belong to a generation where Ronaldo and Messi were still active, even though they no longer play in major leagues like those in Europe—it feels like they aren’t the right generation to carry on the legacy of Ronaldo and Messi. As for Yamal, given his age, it’s still possible because his performances so far have left a lasting impression on soccer fans, in my opinion.

I think it's even offensive putting in the same phrase Dembelé and Raphinha together with Messi and Ronaldo. Those two aren't even good enough to bring their bags. Theoretically the new generation should have been Mbappé and Haaland, and they are both huge players, but nowhere close to be as good as the Argentinian and the Portuguese. I don't think many people actually realize how big those two were.

[snipie]

I think it's even offensive putting in the same phrase Dembelé and Raphinha together with Messi and Ronaldo. Those two aren't even good enough to bring their bags. Theoretically the new generation should have been Mbappé and Haaland, and they are both huge players, but nowhere close to be as good as the Argentinian and the Portuguese. I don't think many people actually realize how big those two were.

Mbappe and Haaland were hyped at some point when Messi left Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi Pro League. People thought they will replace Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi but they are far from that from what I see.
It would be better for them to drive their teams and nations to collect titles by scoring many goals whether locally or internationally.
For France for example, the situation doesn't look promising and I don't know if Deschamps warning about the situation there is a false claim or him being serious.

[MarjorieZimmermanGinger]

I don’t think he will be easy for Ronaldo to win the World Cup because is not doing that good when is still young last 8 years but anything can be possible because is not only the stay in the country they have many players that are in good shape and can help me achieve is goal, I can says this will be is last World Cups for is career and he will do everything possible to get it done this time around but he just need to do harder before he can win it because they have many countries that are chasing the trophy for so long and this is the biggest trophy in the world every country will wish to get it. I will surly be very happy for Ronaldo if he achieve it this season and he as complete football.

Of course it won't be easy because several other countries are also considered strong candidates and Cristiano Ronaldo will not be able to bring Portugal to become champion on his own, so a solid team is needed so that Portugal has hope of competing with other countries. If you look at the depth of Portugal's squad, you could say they have the quality to compete for the world cup trophy, but sometimes squad depth is not always the reason because they also need a coach who is able to maximize the potential that exists in competing. Cristiano Ronaldo's age is no longer young so it will slightly affect his performance and of course the changes are quite noticeable, unlike when he was at his peak performance and I hope that at this world cup Cristiano Ronaldo can get a trophy because this could be his last world cup.

[hd49728]

Mbappe and Haaland were hyped at some point when Messi left Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi Pro League. People thought they will replace Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi but they are far from that from what I see.
It would be better for them to drive their teams and nations to collect titles by scoring many goals whether locally or internationally.
For France for example, the situation doesn't look promising and I don't know if Deschamps warning about the situation there is a false claim or him being serious.

Mbappe does not show that he is ready for changing his attitude and wanting to actually become a captain who can lead the whole team to success. Latest videos about him in French national team for pre-World Cup sessions don't show that he lowers down his high ego for common benefit of a national team. I really dislike his egotistical attitude from Real Madrid to French national team, and he has probability of being recorded as one of most terrible captains in French national team history.

With Mbappe playing style that relies mainly on his pace, when he passes his 30-year old, his playing efficiency will decline a lot in intensity and his career will move to another chapter like downsides in career of Gareth Bale or Theo Walcott.

[Sithara007]

Mbappe does not show that he is ready for changing his attitude and wanting to actually become a captain who can lead the whole team to success. Latest videos about him in French national team for pre-World Cup sessions don't show that he lowers down his high ego for common benefit of a national team. I really dislike his egotistical attitude from Real Madrid to French national team, and he has probability of being recorded as one of most terrible captains in French national team history.

With Mbappe playing style that relies mainly on his pace, when he passes his 30-year old, his playing efficiency will decline a lot in intensity and his career will move to another chapter like downsides in career of Gareth Bale or Theo Walcott.

It's not just Kylian Mbappé. The French national team is quite infamous for the lack of team bonding and cohesion. Remember the incident during Euro 2020 between Adrien Rabiot and Paul Pogba? Then there was an incident between Olivier Giroud and Mbappé himself. And from what I am hearing now, it seems that these issues are continuing. France has a very talented side, and is considered to be one of the tournament favorites this time in the FIFA World Cup 2026. But if the team bonding is bad, then I can't imagine them lifting the trophy this time.