World Cup 2026

[Heimdallr]

I'm more baffled as to how 30-40,000 of them can head off to the states,many having been there from the start and it's cost most of them upwards of £10k? It makes no sense given the economic uncertainty at the moment up here.

Given the size of Scotland it seems like a pretty big percentage and if you had the same amount pro-rata going to support England there'd be 300'000 over there?

Where the **** do they get the kind of money it takes to fund such journeys?

Its simple maths, Ric. For the English, it's a once every four years event. For the Scots, it's a once every thirty years event. Combine this with the lower life expectancy of 56 years old due to alcohol and heroin abuse, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

[Phin T Bookbinder2]

scotland to go through needs 4 of these to happen

Group E: Both Ecuador (v Germany) and Curacao (v Ivory Coast) to fail to win.

Or Curacao to win by no more than four goals and Ecuador fail to win.

Group F: Sweden to lose to Japan by four or more goals.

Group D: Paraguay and Australia are on three points and play each other, a draw would send both through.

Scotland need Paraguay to lose by two or more goals, or Australia to be beaten by at least four goals.

FRIDAY

Group F: Senegal and Iraq to draw.

Or Iraq to beat Senegal by no more than two goals.

Group H: Uruguay to lose to Spain.

Group G: Iran to lose to Egypt.

SATURDAY

Group L: Croatia to lose to Ghana by at least three goals.

Group K: DR Congo v Uzbekistan to be a draw.

Or Uzbekistan to win by no more than three goals.

Group J: This is a carbon copy of Group D, with Austria and Algeria on three points and a draw would send both through.

Scotland need Algeria to lose by two or more goals, or Austria to be beaten by at least four goals.
oals.

Or the equivalent of Lord Lucan turning up at a Belgravia club and ordering a G and T

 

[DJBlackandamberarmy(No4)]

am i right in thinking some teams might not be confirmed through until the early hours of Monday, then have to play on Weds?
i know theres always a tight turnaround to an extent, but how are they supposed to travel, train, and generally prepare for that, or have i got it wrong?

 

[Ric Glasgow]

Its simple maths, Ric. For the English, it's a once every four years event. For the Scots, it's a once every thirty years event. Combine this with the lower life expectancy of 56 years old due to alcohol and heroin abuse, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Wow,great debate.


Have you got a link to your life expectancy claim?

 

[Charon]

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It's been suggested that 'the Bell' should have been red carded for this

 

[PLT]

am i right in thinking some teams might not be confirmed through until the early hours of Monday, then have to play on Weds?
i know theres always a tight turnaround to an extent, but how are they supposed to travel, train, and generally prepare for that, or have i got it wrong?

The groups will be sorted by tomorrow night when the last group games are played. There is a short turnaround for some, but not that short.

 

[PLT]

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It's been suggested that 'the Bell' should have been red carded for this

It's nonsense. That rule is specifically about confrontational situations. Because they weren't arguing at the time it's irrelevant.

That is a quite ridiculous thing to be ruling on though isn't it.

 

[Charon]

the whole system of separating the third place teams is fundamentally flawed when over half the teams know what results they need to stay in the World Cup when others have already finished their games

 

[originallambrettaman]

For all the anti us sentiment

Seems canada turned down more than half of all world cup visitor applications

The rejected applications were almost all from Africa, India and Pakistan. The African ones were primarily due to Ebola, the India and Pakistan ones were because they didn't believe they were coming to the World Cup, they thought it was just a way to try and get into the country.

 

[Newland Tiger]

Any system where 3rd placed teams in a 4 team group go through
is wrong as far as I'm concerned but it's the result of having 48 teams now

Some people like the idea of more teams qualifying but this is what
you get with the extra 16 teams

 

[Blaknamberblood]

Can't understand why they're using head to head as opposed to gd, surely a gd deciding factor allows a little belief that teams can turn around a deficit with a thumping win in the last game.

 

[Ernie Shackleton]

The rejected applications were almost all from Africa, India and Pakistan. The African ones were primarily due to Ebola, the India and Pakistan ones were because they didn't believe they were coming to the World Cup, they thought it was just a way to try and get into the country.

I was amazed when applying for a visa to enter India now much animosity there is between India and Canada. There's a specific set of questions for Canadians on the visa application form which basically result in you being refused entry to India if you admit to being Canadian or being related to a Canadian. (at least on the online fast track).

 

[Kalman II]

I was amazed when applying for a visa to enter India now much animosity there is between India and Canada. There's a specific set of questions for Canadians on the visa application form which basically result in you being refused entry to India if you admit to being Canadian or being related to a Canadian. (at least on the online fast track).

It’s because Canada’s immigration policy was very relaxed, a lot of Indians took advantage of it in bad faith and were scamming both the Canadian government and Canadian citizens, Canada tightened immigration restrictions on India to prevent defrauding government agencies and education providers and the Indian government are now coping and seething about it.

 

[originallambrettaman]

Not verified this, but it sounds a bit mad - 'There have been a lot of jaw-dropping stats at this World Cup, but I don't think anything will beat the fact that during the first half, Scotland had the ball in the Brazilian half of the pitch for only 47 seconds'.

 

[Phin T Bookbinder2]

Not verified this, but it sounds a bit mad - 'There have been a lot of jaw-dropping stats at this World Cup, but I don't think anything will beat the fact that during the first half, Scotland had the ball in the Brazilian half of the pitch for only 47 seconds'.

Was that from Brazilian back passes?

 

[originallambrettaman]

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[Kempton tiger]

Not verified this, but it sounds a bit mad - 'There have been a lot of jaw-dropping stats at this World Cup, but I don't think anything will beat the fact that during the first half, Scotland had the ball in the Brazilian half of the pitch for only 47 seconds'.

Even more amazing if true as I am sure the stats said that Scotland had more possession than Brazil in the first half.

 

[Edelman]

I'm more baffled as to how 30-40,000 of them can head off to the states,many having been there from the start and it's cost most of them upwards of £10k? It makes no sense given the economic uncertainty at the moment up here.

Given the size of Scotland it seems like a pretty big percentage and if you had the same amount pro-rata going to support England there'd be 300'000 over there?

Where the **** do they get the kind of money it takes to fund such journeys?

There must be a bit of cask kicking around when you see the amount of homes getting built in Fife and just across the Forth rd Bridge .

 

[Ric Glasgow]

Not verified this, but it sounds a bit mad - 'There have been a lot of jaw-dropping stats at this World Cup, but I don't think anything will beat the fact that during the first half, Scotland had the ball in the Brazilian half of the pitch for only 47 seconds'.

I think it was the final third but yeah,shoddy at best.

 

[Chazz Rheinhold]

It’s really quite simple

How are teams ranked within groups?​

Teams level on points are separated, in order, by head-to-head points; head-to-head goal difference; head-to-head goals scored; overall goal difference; overall goals scored; team conduct score; Fifa ranking.
The top two in each group qualify along with the eight best third-placed sides.

Who are through to the last 32?​

Argentina, France, Germany, Mexico, Norway, USA, Colombia, Canada, Switzerland, Brazil, Morocco, South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Australia.

Who have been eliminated?​

Haiti, Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey, Panama, Qatar, Czechia and Curaçao.

How does the third-place qualification work?​

The eight best third-placed teams qualify for the last 32 based on a ranking that, in order, takes into account: points, goal difference (GD), goals scored, fair-play status (conduct) and Fifa ranking. Five points will definitely be enough to qualify, given results so far.
Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ecuador are through to the last 32, as they are guaranteed to finish among the eight best-ranked third-placed teams. Algeria (Group J) cannot overtake them with a draw in their last match, and victory would see their next opponents – Austria – drop into third place on three points. Paraguay have finished with four points but could still be overtaken. Scotland and South Korea have finished with three points.

Third-place table​

Group A​

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South Africa celebrate after securing their spot in the last 32. Photograph: Raquel Cunha/Reuters
Mexico are through as group winners with a perfect record to face a third-placed team from Group C, E, F, H or I at the Estadio Azteca.
South Africa finished second on four points and will meet Canada at Los Angeles Stadium.
South Korea dropped to third with three points and must wait to see whether they progress to the last 32.
Czechia’s loss to Mexico condemned them to fourth place in the group and ended their World Cup hopes.

[TR]
[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Mexico[/td][td]3[/td][td]6[/td][td]9[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]South Africa[/td][td]3[/td][td]-1[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]South Korea[/td][td]3[/td][td]-1[/td][td]3[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Czech Republic[/td][td]3[/td][td]-4[/td][td]1[/td]
[/TR]

Group B​

Switzerland have won the group and face the third-place team from Groups E, F, G, I, or J in Vancouver on Thursday 2 July local time, 4am BST Friday 3 July.
Canada face South Africa – the runners-up from Group A – in Los Angeles on Sunday 28 June at noon local time, 8pm BST.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will face the USA in San Francisco Bay Area Stadium at 5pm local time on Wednesday 1 July (1am BST Thursday 2 July).
Qatar are eliminated.

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[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Switzerland[/td][td]3[/td][td]4[/td][td]7[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Canada[/td][td]3[/td][td]5[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Bosnia-Herzegovina[/td][td]3[/td][td]-1[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Qatar[/td][td]3[/td][td]-8[/td][td]1[/td]
[/TR]

Group C​

Brazil have won the group and now face Japan, the runners-up from Group F, in Houston on Monday 29 June at noon local time, 6pm BST.
Morocco are through and play the Netherlands, as the winners of Group F, in Monterrey at 7pm local time on Monday 29 June, 2am BST Tuesday 30 June.
Scotland must wait to see if three points and a goal difference of -3 is enough to qualify for the last 32.
Haiti are eliminated.

[TR]
[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Brazil[/td][td]3[/td][td]6[/td][td]7[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Morocco[/td][td]3[/td][td]3[/td][td]7[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Scotland[/td][td]3[/td][td]-3[/td][td]3[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Haiti[/td][td]3[/td][td]-6[/td][td]0[/td]
[/TR]

Group D​

USA are through as Group D winners, despite the last-gasp defeat to Turkey, and will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco at 6pm local time on Wednesday 1 July, 1am BST Thursday 2 July.
Australia are through to the last 32 as runners-up and will meet the second-place finisher from Group G (Egypt, Iran, Belgium or New Zealand) in Dallas.
Paraguay join the third-place teams hoping to progress to the knockout stage after moving to four points with a draw in their last group game against Australia. But they must wait for other groups to finish to confirm their place in the last 32.
Turkey are eliminated.

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[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]USA[/td][td]3[/td][td]4[/td][td]6[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Australia[/td][td]3[/td][td]0[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Paraguay[/td][td]3[/td][td]-2[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Turkey[/td][td]3[/td][td]-2[/td][td]3[/td]
[/TR]

Group E​

Germany are through as group winners and will now face a third-placed team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in Boston at 4.30pm local time, 9.30pm BST, on Monday 29 June.
Côte d’Ivoire finished second, and will head to Dallas to play the runners-up in Group I – either Norway or France – on 30 June at noon local time, 6pm BST.
Ecuador have qualified as one of the best third-place teams but must wait to find out the identity of their last-32 opponents.
Curaçao are eliminated.

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[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Germany[/td][td]3[/td][td]6[/td][td]6[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Ivory Coast[/td][td]3[/td][td]2[/td][td]6[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Ecuador[/td][td]3[/td][td]0[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Curacao[/td][td]3[/td][td]-8[/td][td]1[/td]
[/TR]

Group F​

The Netherlands are through as group winners and will now face Group F runners-up Morocco at Monterrey Stadium at 7pm local time on Monday 29 June, 2am BST Tuesday 30 June.
Japan have qualified for the knockout stage as runners-up to meet Group C winners Brazil at Houston Stadium on Monday 29 June at noon local time, 6pm BST.
Sweden will progress as one of the best third-place teams after moving to four points with a draw in their last group game against Japan. But they must wait to find out the identity of their last-32 opponents.
Tunisia are eliminated.

[TR]
[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="243.109375px"]Netherlands[/td][td]3[/td][td]6[/td][td]7[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="243.109375px"]Japan[/td][td]3[/td][td]4[/td][td]5[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="243.109375px"]Sweden[/td][td]3[/td][td]0[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="243.109375px"]Tunisia[/td][td]3[/td][td]-10[/td][td]0[/td]
[/TR]

Group G​

Egypt would guarantee qualification with a draw or win against Iran.
Iran would guarantee qualification with a win against Egypt.
Belgium would guarantee qualification with a win against New Zealand.
New Zealand need to beat Belgium to have a third-place route and hope Iran fail to beat Egypt to finish second.
Remaining fixtures Egypt v Iran, New Zealand v Belgium.

[TR]
[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Egypt[/td][td]2[/td][td]2[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Iran[/td][td]2[/td][td]0[/td][td]2[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Belgium[/td][td]2[/td][td]0[/td][td]2[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]New Zealand[/td][td]2[/td][td]-2[/td][td]1[/td]
[/TR]

Group H​

Spain would guarantee qualification with a draw or win against Uruguay.
Uruguay need to beat Spain to guarantee qualification. A draw would give them a slim chance of a third-place route but this may be clearer by time they play.
Cape Verde will progress if they beat Saudi Arabia. A draw would give them a slim chance of a third-place route but this may be clearer by time they play.
Saudi Arabia need to beat Cape Verde to have at least a third-place route and Uruguay to fail to win against Spain to take second.
Remaining fixtures Uruguay v Spain, Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia.

[TR]
[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Spain[/td][td]2[/td][td]4[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Uruguay[/td][td]2[/td][td]0[/td][td]2[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Cape Verde[/td][td]2[/td][td]0[/td][td]2[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Saudi Arabia[/td][td]2[/td][td]-4[/td][td]1[/td]
[/TR]

Group I​

France and Norway have qualified for the last 32.
Senegal and Iraq facing each other both know they must win to stand any chance of progressing as one of the best eight third-placed teams, but need favours elsewhere to make three points sufficient.
Remaining fixtures Norway v France, Senegal v Iraq.

[TR]
[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]France[/td][td]2[/td][td]5[/td][td]6[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Norway[/td][td]2[/td][td]4[/td][td]6[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Senegal[/td][td]2[/td][td]-3[/td][td]0[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Iraq[/td][td]2[/td][td]-6[/td][td]0[/td]
[/TR]

Group J​

Argentina are through as group winners and will face the runners-up from Group H in the last 32 in Miami at 6pm local time, 11pm BST, on Friday 3 July.
Austria would progress with a win or a draw against Algeria.
Algeria would reach the last 32 if they beat Austria.
Group J is the last group to finish and so Austria and Algeria may be in position to know they could qualify in third with a narrow defeat, or in Algeria’s case if a draw would be sufficient.
Jordan are eliminated.
Remaining fixtures Algeria v Austria, Jordan v Argentina.

[TR]
[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Argentina[/td][td]2[/td][td]5[/td][td]6[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Austria[/td][td]2[/td][td]0[/td][td]3[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Algeria[/td][td]2[/td][td]-2[/td][td]3[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Jordan[/td][td]2[/td][td]-3[/td][td]0[/td]
[/TR]

Group K​

Colombia have qualified and will top the group if they avoid defeat by Portugal.
Portugal qualify if they avoid defeat against Colombia and with four points and a strong goal difference would have to lose heavily to miss out on a third-place route.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) need to beat Uzbekistan to keep their hopes alive but as one of the last groups to kick off would probably know how many goals they needed to win by for a third-place route, or if any win would be sufficient.
Uzbekistan will need to beat the DRC by a big margin to retain an interest in the tournament and will be eliminated by the time if too many groups have third-placed teams with four points.
Remaining fixtures Colombia v Portugal, Democratic Republic of the Congo v Uzbekistan

[TR]
[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Colombia[/td][td]2[/td][td]3[/td][td]6[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Portugal[/td][td]2[/td][td]5[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Congo DR[/td][td]2[/td][td]-1[/td][td]1[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Uzbekistan[/td][td]2[/td][td]-7[/td][td]0[/td]
[/TR]

Group L​

England qualify if they avoid defeat against Panama, and if they lose by less than four goals.
Ghana qualify if they avoid defeat against Croatia, or if they lose by less than three goals.
Croatia need to beat Ghana to come second while a draw would give them fourth points and a minus one goal difference, so they would qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
Panama have been eliminated.
Remaining fixtures England v Panama, Croatia v Ghana

[TR]
[th]Pos[/th][th]Team[/th][th]P[/th][th]GD[/th][th]Pts[/th]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]1[/td][td width="244.296875px"]England[/td][td]2[/td][td]2[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]2[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Ghana[/td][td]2[/td][td]1[/td][td]4[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]3[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Croatia[/td][td]2[/td][td]-1[/td][td]3[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]4[/td][td width="244.296875px"]Panama[/td][td]2[/td][td]-2[/td][td]0[/td]
[/TR]