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

[Hispo]

Spaniards are in celebration tonight. Good for them.
I was betting in favor of France. I was convinced we were going to see a repeat of the 2022 world cup, but it seems I was completely wrong. Anyways...
It seems we could see an epic game Spain versus Argentina, assuming Messi and his team managed to take down England.

Mbappe is goin home earlier than he expected, and now Messi is closer than ever to get his throphy as the highest goaler of this tournament.

This match as a perfect example how the underdog can easily surprise the favorite and take them down when they least expect it. A lot of French people likely lose many Euros today.

[eightdots]

France 0, Spain 2.

This match once again proved that the best team is defined by the quality of their midfielders. Spain dominated France, and I almost forgot the bookies made Spain the underdogs. In case you are looking for Mbappe, check in the pocket of Cubarsi 

Rodri is basically the best midfielder in the world. He is the hero for tonight. Congratulations to Spain for qualifying for the 2026 World Cup final.

Tonight's battle between France and Spain was won in the middle of the park.

France who obviously had a more lethal attacking line couldn't find the back of the net because Spain's midfield was too difficult to keep up with.

Rodri tonight proved that class is permanent and reminded everyone doubting his abilities after that long injury lay off that he's still the man that won the Balon D'or.

The result was different from what I predicted but I just have to accept make peace with it. France were simply outclassed by Spain

Despite having a very good attacking line, France struggled to create chances. Spain defended very well against their opponent, rendering France's attack ineffective. There was a great battle between the midfielders, and we watched a good match.

France was the favorite but couldn't win. In football, teams that dominate with their midfield, like Spain, gain a significant advantage in matches.

[Akbarkoe]

As I said before when I saw France too superior and too many income polls saw France without them realizing behind it all Spain made a lot of people surprised, and this is indeed a difficult match in rediction, to be honest I am a little strange with the way the French players play somehow they feel different, either the strategy is messy or indeed they are confused by The Players of Spain, 2-0 without reply is very unexpected we are friends, do you feel the same thing? although I support Spain for its probabilities beyond many people's more confident views on France last night.

[snipie]

Yes, I think even those who were expecting Spain to win didn't think it would have been so easy. France almost didn't play this match, as Spain totally annulled them on the field. Spain played nearly to perfection, while France did nothing to prevent that. I was one of those who thought it was a guaranteed victory for France, but I'm happy for the result, as we going to have a different final game on this edition of the world cup, and I hope it's going to be against England.

I mentioned few times here that I hope to see Spain playing against England in the final match. I wasn't surprised to see Spain moving first to the final game. The score of this match in the other hand was quite bad for bettors and the French national football team. They failed to score any goal and received two goals. Congratulations for Spain their good victory. Farewell Deschamps, we will hear after few days who will replace him. Zidane must be stressed right now.
I hope to see England following them soon and defeating Argentina for good.

[Charles-Tim]

Spain really tried, they won France as predicted but I still decided to go for France which I lost. I wanted France to win, but Spain won which will make me to go for Spain in the Final. I wish Spain to win the 2026 world cup. The watch was an exciting match, but Spain played France than I expected. England versus Argentina will be played today.

[Forsyth Jones]

Spaniards are in celebration tonight. Good for them.
I was betting in favor of France. I was convinced we were going to see a repeat of the 2022 world cup, but it seems I was completely wrong. Anyways...
It seems we could see an epic game Spain versus Argentina, assuming Messi and his team managed to take down England.

Mbappe is goin home earlier than he expected, and now Messi is closer than ever to get his throphy as the highest goaler of this tournament.

This match as a perfect example how the underdog can easily surprise the favorite and take them down when they least expect it. A lot of French people likely lose many Euros today.

I think most people expected France to beat Spain because France's lineup was stronger on paper, but what we saw was Spain dominating almost the entire game and France failing to finish well, reminding me a bit of brazil's poor finishing in their last game.

Historically, Spain beats France, they have better team cohesion, their quick passing is better than France. Now France is the new favorite on platforms like polymarket. Anyone who bet $100 on France just because they thought it was a sure thing and underestimated the Spanish tactics lost money (I probably would have too, as I thought France would win).

Now I'm looking forward to the Argentina vs England game tomorrow. It's a kind of game very hard to bet on, because both teams are very evenly matched, only watching the game will tell.

We are nearing the end of this World Cup. Did you guys enjoy this World Cup? Are you expecting to see a thrilling final like the one in 2022 (for me, the best World Cup final I've ever seen in my lifetime)?

[Hispo]

Spaniards are in celebration tonight. Good for them.
I was betting in favor of France. I was convinced we were going to see a repeat of the 2022 world cup, but it seems I was completely wrong. Anyways...
It seems we could see an epic game Spain versus Argentina, assuming Messi and his team managed to take down England.

Mbappe is goin home earlier than he expected, and now Messi is closer than ever to get his throphy as the highest goaler of this tournament.

This match as a perfect example how the underdog can easily surprise the favorite and take them down when they least expect it. A lot of French people likely lose many Euros today.

I think most people expected France to beat Spain because France's lineup was stronger on paper, but what we saw was Spain dominating almost the entire game and France failing to finish well, reminding me a bit of brazil's poor finishing in their last game.

Historically, Spain beats France, they have better team cohesion, their quick passing is better than France. Now France is the new favorite on platforms like polymarket. Anyone who bet $100 on France just because they thought it was a sure thing and underestimated the Spanish tactics lost money (I probably would have too, as I thought France would win).

Now I'm looking forward to the Argentina vs England game tomorrow. It's a kind of game very hard to bet on, because both teams are very evenly matched, only watching the game will tell.

We are nearing the end of this World Cup. Did you guys enjoy this World Cup? Are you expecting to see a thrilling final like the one in 2022 (for me, the best World Cup final I've ever seen in my lifetime)?

I have enjoyed this Worldcup so far, but I think it could have been better when comes to not allowing so many problems to ensue when comes to visas for both players and fans to enter the United States, not even mention the allegations of favoritism in favor of some teams by the FIFA.
Hopefully, the next World cup will have a different format which will be less of a mess for both players and fans who decide to partake of such important experience.

Time flies, these last four years passed very fast, It seems it was just yesterday when we were in 2022 and still dealing with the immediate effects of the pandemic due to COVID-19.

Anyways, when comes to the Spain vs France, it seems Spain player better as a team than France did, not even the presence of Mbappe could help enough to score a single goal.

[BRINIRHA]

The game between France and Spain was a very good game. I had bet on France to win, but unfortunately I lost my bet. Even so, I was very happy to have watched the game. Spain played very well, with a good defense, and didn't give France any space to play well. Mbappé didn't have much space. It was as if the Spanish players had studied him very well; of course, with so many games they've played against Mbappé in La Liga, they know his weaknesses. But the French coach made a mistake in not starting Désiré Doué. Anyway, it was the last game for the French coach; now we'll see if Zidane becomes France's coach.

Part of it will be in France because I also feel France are much more deserving of getting to the final before but this match showed that sometimes the previous stats don't really matter.

I like the French game but in this game I felt they were very different and didn't show the same scheme as they always do.
This is because their performance is clouded with the Spanish style of play which for me they just defend but instead of giving rhythm to France but they defend with their own rhythm with the possession they have.

Spain returned to the World Cup final after 16 years because the last time they were in the final was when the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

[Byebyebtc]

The game between France and Spain was a very good game. I had bet on France to win, but unfortunately I lost my bet. Even so, I was very happy to have watched the game. Spain played very well, with a good defense, and didn't give France any space to play well. Mbappé didn't have much space. It was as if the Spanish players had studied him very well; of course, with so many games they've played against Mbappé in La Liga, they know his weaknesses. But the French coach made a mistake in not starting Désiré Doué. Anyway, it was the last game for the French coach; now we'll see if Zidane becomes France's coach.

I just had that strong feeling that Spain will be able to win and I placed bet on them to win, all tho deep down I thought that France will win but I decided to not be sentimental and go for my first thought.
I feel people really underrated Spain, but I personally felt they had some sort of potentials for this match, and they delivered just right.
Tomorrow is another day of entertainment with the Argentina vs England match, Argentina feels like a better bet

[Adbitco]

After the 3 group stage matches between all teams and someone cam and said to me, Spain will make it to this years finals, I would simply laugh it off and conclude the person was just joking. Now look at it, Spain is in the finals against all odds. It's football and I'm not too surprised with what happened tonight, sometimes a team can be so good that people forget they are not indispensable. France from all indications looked like the team that's going to the final from the beginning of the competition, they have the players to carry them but just as football is, it happened and besides Spain seem to have their medicine.

[Rruchi man]

I feel people really underrated Spain, but I personally felt they had some sort of potentials for this match, and they delivered just right.

I even think that the French team underrated the Spanish team to an extent, because why would Deschamps have the experience of N'Golo Kante and keep him on the bench for this sort of game that was won in the midfield? There was no tactical change from the French coach; he only brought in the same kind of player that had the same profile as the players that went out to try and do something different. Spain won the game with the masterclass and brilliance of their midfield led by Rodri.

Tomorrow is another day of entertainment with the Argentina vs England match, Argentina feels like a better bet

It will interest you and other gamblers to know that England has the overall better record than Argentina in the number of times they have played each other. If England can play without fear and keep Messi quiet, if that is possible, they can win.

[Nightwalker(NW)]

I just had that strong feeling that Spain will be able to win and I placed bet on them to win, all tho deep down I thought that France will win but I decided to not be sentimental and go for my first thought.
I feel people really underrated Spain, but I personally felt they had some sort of potentials for this match, and they delivered just right.
Tomorrow is another day of entertainment with the Argentina vs England match, Argentina feels like a better bet

Your instincts aid off for you, sometimes it's not ok for us to add sentiment when there's a conviction already. You keep sentiments aside and focused on the reality and you won. France was favourites before the match, people will bet on them to win and forget that for a long time France has not been able to defeat Spain. This wasn't the expected result from many from the kind of disappointing that has been melted to France, comments from here shows members here believed France was going to win but the opposite happened.

[Nheer]

Spain really tried, they won France as predicted but I still decided to go for France which I lost. I wanted France to win, but Spain won which will make me to go for Spain in the Final. I wish Spain to win the 2026 world cup. The watch was an exciting match, but Spain played France than I expected. England versus Argentina will be played today.

Same thing happened with me and i was even surprised that France didn't even fight back, it was just as if the France team we saw was a different one because they played really differently from their last performance and it was really unusual. They were clearly the favorites in this game and they let us down (people who believed in them). I lost multiple bets today all because France couldn't win or score even a goal. They performed really poorly and made a lot of gamblers lose their bets.

As it stands Spain are quite better than any of Argentina or England but if France can lose like this despite being the best in the competition so far then I am convinced that anyone can actually win this tournament. England vs Argentina can actually go anyway but I'm rooting for England to surprise us.

[shinratensei_]

Back in the last pages. People were always talking France would be scoring a lot here and there. yet, the reality prove the opposite. That's why i have said that before Spain would be winning this. Spain has a better team, which more balanced in attack and defense.
They also have proper midfielder, which can properly holding the ball.

In result, Mbappe is getting pocketed, Olise is nowhere, Dembele being clueless, and Barcola can do nothing. Even it needs only two chances for Spain to scored two.
This france team was overrated and overhyped.  

I won't be surprised if England will be also getting same result as France.

[Adbitco]

I even think that the French team underrated the Spanish team to an extent, because why would Deschamps have the experience of N'Golo Kante and keep him on the bench for this sort of game that was won in the midfield? There was no tactical change from the French coach; he only brought in the same kind of player that had the same profile as the players that went out to try and do something different. Spain won the game with the masterclass and brilliance of their midfield led by Rodri.

Kanye hasn't been part of the team since they started, not that his not part of squad but his not part of the first team. Besides it's not something to blame the coach on, the entire team didn't lay to expectations from what I watched. It just seemed as if all of a sudden France didn't know how to play football anymore. Mbappe, Dembele and Olise who has been on fire after one game to another all of a sudden 3 of them were neutralised today. I have thought about it and it points to one thing for me and it's my opinion though, this Spanish manager has the antidote of France, that's just what I can lay my head on right now.

[SUPERSAIAN]

I didn't think France would be eliminated so easily. Spain played so well that they made France look like nobody in the match. Yamal was right when he said we are a better team than France, and they showed that. In fact, the statistics were almost the same in the match: shots on target, possession, passing. Although it was a balanced match, Spain was the team that finished the job.

[JiiBs]

I didn't think France would be eliminated so easily. Spain played so well that they made France look like nobody in the match. Yamal was right when he said we are a better team than France, and they showed that. In fact, the statistics were almost the same in the match: shots on target, possession, passing. Although it was a balanced match, Spain was the team that finished the job.

This has got to be their worst performance in the World Cup and obviously, their very last perhaps not their last as they would be playing against the losers today for the 2nd runner ups.
Not only did they give off a carefree foul in the goalkeeper’s box but, they stood by and watched the second goal find its way in. Their backline was left wide open and Spain wasn’t going to waste any chances knowing the team they were up against. They were even lucky the Yamal goal was cancelled as an offside.

[TedMosby]

[...]
This has got to be their worst performance in the World Cup and obviously, their very last perhaps not their last as they would be playing against the losers today for the 2nd runner ups.
[...]

Yeah, that was the first time France has had a very low Expected Goals (xG) stat in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The xG was below 1. It was only 0.31.



Spain made France play like a mediocre team in that match. Spain exploited France well with their off the ball movement today. Tactically, Spain was far better, especially in midfield. It kept France's forwards quiet. It seems like they didn't have a Plan B.

After this result, Spain became the favorite team to win the FIFA World Cup 2026 (based on Polymarket).

[Ale88]

As I said before when I saw France too superior and too many income polls saw France without them realizing behind it all Spain made a lot of people surprised, and this is indeed a difficult match in rediction, to be honest I am a little strange with the way the French players play somehow they feel different, either the strategy is messy or indeed they are confused by The Players of Spain, 2-0 without reply is very unexpected we are friends, do you feel the same thing? although I support Spain for its probabilities beyond many people's more confident views on France last night.

I thought France was going to win and no, they lost. If I have to be honest I'm pretty pleased with the result because I prefer Spain over France.
I also think that France didn't expect go concede a goal so early in the game, I feel like that psychologically it played a huge role, like mentally they were ready for a different kind of match and they didn't know how to react.

Congratulations to Spain, another final after Euro 2024!

[Cointikka]

The game between France and Spain was a very good game. I had bet on France to win, but unfortunately I lost my bet. Even so, I was very happy to have watched the game. Spain played very well, with a good defense, and didn't give France any space to play well. Mbappé didn't have much space. It was as if the Spanish players had studied him very well; of course, with so many games they've played against Mbappé in La Liga, they know his weaknesses. But the French coach made a mistake in not starting Désiré Doué. Anyway, it was the last game for the French coach; now we'll see if Zidane becomes France's coach.

It is a big upset, as I was also expecting France to dominate and win against Spain. They did not even dominate the match, and Spain was in full control of the match. 2-0 defeat in the semifinal is a significant win. I was expecting Argentina and France to play the final. Now it looks like Spain might play either Argentina or England in the final. England is not a team to be underestimated; they might defeat Argentina in the semifinals.