International Football

The Cruyff Turn
363

I just love club football to be honest.

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364

I bet @Dane is feeling pretty chipper today. Has he left us though?

Looks like he had a spat with Mascot in Juneā€¦:roll_eyes:

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365

I thought it was tomorrow?

366

Tomorrow is the European play-off draw.

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367

Wonder how long they can drag this out for. Probably want to get their lunch/dinner out of it.

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368

Thatā€™s a lorra lorra national teams :see_no_evil_monkey::joy:.
The players are going to be knackered come the new season 2026-27.

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369

@Nikola
Will you being sorting out a new section for the World Cup 2026? I remember you used to do it really nicely.

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370

(Preliminary)

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371

Canada is not a soft team, but there will be a lot of Pot 2 sides hoping to land in Canadaā€™s group.

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372

Yeah I remember the difficult Norwegian teams of the 90s and Tore Andre Flo etc - they did well in qualifying but when it came to proper knock out WC football they were found wanting. This vintage is a higher standard but no doubt they will be dispatched when they face a team with pedigree in the quarter final etc.

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373

What is the second round format for this?

374

https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/match-schedule-fixtures-results-teams-stadiums

Edit

Edit

What is the format for the 2026 World Cup?

A record number of participating nations means there will be 104 matches for football fans to enjoy ā€“ 40 more than in Qatar.

As a result, the knockout stage will begin with a round of 32.

The previous format with 32 teams in eight groups has been replaced by one with 12 groups of four.

The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32.

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375

Itā€™s that weird ā€œbest third placeā€ thing again, isnā€™t it?

I remember when they had it in 1980s world cups and Scotland still failed to get to the knockout rounds! Then again, Scotland were the only unbeaten team at the 1974 World Cup and still didnā€™t progress. Itā€™s enough to drive you to drink!

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376

Donā€™t give them excuses

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377

Well, @Nikola?

Weā€™re waiting.

378

I actually donā€™t remember doing it, @Maria and @SBYM! :joy: It was probably someone else, I donā€™t want to steal anyoneā€™s credit!

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379

I remember you doing it. We had World Cup section and then sub threads which was headed each group A, B, C etc.

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380

Hereā€™s the Qatar thread

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381

We can do it once the group stage draw is completed, then discuss friendlies or whatever, post final squads, etc.

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382

Just thinking that was the last time we have Sept/Oct/Nov breaks like that.

Next year I think itā€™s played till late Sept then you have a bumper 3 week break and then another one in November and March.

I think that will be better, Iā€™ve not missed Liverpool as they are currently but I do like to know there is something on in the evening.

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