2026 World Cup

[Blackleaf]

2026 World Cup

Group A

Mexico 2-0 South Africa
Quiñones 9
Jiménez

Azteca Stadium, Mexico City
Attendance: 80,824

The 2026 World Cup - the 23rd World Cup - in Canada, USA and Mexico has just started, with co-hosts Mexico beating South Africa in the opening game.

This is the biggest World Cup ever with 48 teams taking part, having expanded from 32 teams...

 

[Blackleaf]

Tomorrow:

Group A

South Korea Vs Czech Republic

Group B

Canada Vs Bosnia

Spain are the favourites to win the tournament, with France second favourites and England third favourites.

 

[Blackleaf]

Three red cards as 2026 World Cup begins

Mexico 2-0 South Africa

The 23rd World Cup, featuring a whopping 48 nations, more than ever before, has started in style in a match which saw a poor South Africa easily beaten by co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City. Of the 48 nations only one will lift that famous golden trophy on 19th July.

The opening match saw three red cards, two for South Africa, and according to the ITV pundits the referee made the correct decision each time...

 

[petros]

My wife in her infinite fucking wisdom turned down free tickets from a local Rez that is "hosting the World Cup on their unceded territory" for Canada Vs Qattar next Thursday thinking I wouldnt have wanted to go.

Jesus Fucking Christ woman....WTF were you thinking?

 

[Blackleaf]

My wife in her infinite fucking wisdom turned down free tickets from a local Rez that is "hosting the World Cup on their unceded territory" for Canada Vs Qattar next Thursday thinking I wouldnt have wanted to go.

Jesus Fucking Christ woman....WTF were you thinking?

And what would that have entailed? Would there have been free beer and food, too?

 

[petros]

And what would that have entailed? Would there have been free beer and food, too?

Noooooo. It's $12 for a water. The "hosts" I mentioned made FIFA allow attendees to bring 1 bottle for health and safety reasons. FIFA claimed if people brought their own water they'd be used to throw at players.

She turned down around $1000 in tickets

 

[Blackleaf]

Noooooo. It's $12 for a water. The "hosts" I mentioned made FIFA allow attendees to bring 1 bottle for health and safety reasons. FIFA claimed if people brought their own water they'd be used to throw at players.

She turned down around $1000 in tick

Well that's the thing. You can't win either way.

Also the ticket prices: Someone in work told me this week that people are paying £700 to watch World Cup games in the stadiums. So why not just way games on TV at home or in the pub?

 

[petros]

Well that's the thing. You can't win either way.

Also the ticket prices: Someone in work told me this week that people are paying £700 to watch World Cup games in the stadiums. So why not just way games on TV at home or in the pub?

Yeah around $1000CAD ea for the tickets she turned down.

I wont watch intentionally in the pub but its world cup. When will the next chance I'll have for to be a 25 minute train ride away and for free?

 

[spaminator]

 

[Blackleaf]

Yeah around $1000CAD ea for the tickets she turned down.

I wont watch intentionally in the pub but its world cup. When will the next chance I'll have for to be a 25 minute train ride away and for free?

That's crazy.

 

[Blackleaf]

How a Kansas City suburb is welcoming England, who will be based in the suburb during the tournament. The Three Lions arrive tomorrow...

 

[Blackleaf]

Group A

South Korea 2-1 Czech Republic



Akron Stadium, Zapopan
Attendance: 44,985

 

[Blackleaf]

Group B

Canada 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina



Substitute Larin rescues a point for co-hosts Les Rouges

BMO Field, Toronto
Attendance: 43,002

 

[Blackleaf]

There are a few new roles to the game that have been introduced in this tournament by FIFA.

One is that players have a maximum of five seconds to take a throw-in. Should a player infringe that rule then the throw-in is awarded to the opposing side. Bosnia were incensed when they became the first team to infringe that rule and the throw-in was then awarded to Canada.

That new rule puts an ends to teams who are winning in the latter stages of games deliberately wasting time by taking a long time taking throw-ins.

 

[Blackleaf]

Tomorrow sees the first of the Big Boys at this tournament as mighty five-time winners Brazil make their first appearance...

Group B

Qatar Vs Switzerland

Group C

Brazil Vs Morocco

Group D

USA Vs Paraguay

 

[Blackleaf]

England have a great chance to win a second World Cup

England, under their German manager Thomas Tuchel, are looking good to win their second world title.

On paper, they probably have the strongest squad at this World Cup and will have Bayern Munich goalscoring machine Harry Kane - who scores in almost evey match he plays - spearheading their attack.

England have come into the World Cup with an easy straightforward 3-0 friendly win against Costa Rica but 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia, in England's opening match next week, will pose a far sterner test.

As you can see on Tuchel's top, there is a gold star above the Three Lions crest. That means England have won one World Cup. That star appears above every Three Lions crest on every England player's shirt. Hopefully in a month's time there'll be two stars above the Three Lions crest. Only a handful of nations have the honour of having at least one gold star above the crest in their national team's shirt. The World Cup isn't easy to win...