World Cup 2026

[gallsman]

They're not over represented. 60% of the world's population lives in Asia.

Ok so quality isn't a factor great, I'm looking forward to Africa getting their fair share at the next ice hockey olympics.

Lots of silliness of both sides here.

2/3rds of that 60% live in either India or China. So your presentation of facts is quite Trumpesque.

But at the same time there is only one truly global sport. Much as I hate 48 team world cups, there is no need to fill a global celebration with a chunky percentage of mediocre European teams (like Scotland, Ireland and Wales) who have somewhere between 0.07% and 0% chance of winning the competition. If Italy can't find a way to climb past that mediocrity in qualifying, then arrivederci.

Fine, you want to look at it another way?

Uefa has 55 members, of whom 16 made it to the world cup. That's nearly 30% of Uefa teams make the World Cup. Those 16 teams are a THIRD of all teams at the tournament.

9 of 47 AFC nations qualified, which is less than 20%. One of those, Iraq, had to qualify via an intercontinental playoff for which Uefa teams are not eligible. In order to win they had to beat Bolivia, a CONMEBOL side.

There is no overrepresentation of Asian teams. If someone wants to watch more crap European sides playing each other the Euros will be rolling around again in a couple of years.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

They're not over represented. 60% of the world's population lives in Asia.

Ok so quality isn't a factor great, I'm looking forward to Africa getting their fair share at the next ice hockey olympics.

Lots of silliness of both sides here.

2/3rds of that 60% live in either India or China. So your presentation of facts is quite Trumpesque.

But at the same time there is only one truly global sport. Much as I hate 48 team world cups, there is no need to fill a global celebration with a chunky percentage of mediocre European teams (like Scotland, Ireland and Wales) who have somewhere between 0.07% and 0% chance of winning the competition. If Italy can't find a way to climb past that mediocrity in qualifying, then arrivederci.

Fine, you want to look at it another way?

Uefa has 55 members, of whom 16 made it to the world cup. That's nearly 30% of Uefa teams make the World Cup. Those 16 teams are a THIRD of all teams at the tournament.

9 of 47 AFC nations qualified, which is less than 20%. One of those, Iraq, had to qualify via an intercontinental playoff for which Uefa teams are not eligible. In order to win they had to beat Bolivia, a CONMEBOL side.

There is no overrepresentation of Asian teams. If someone wants to watch more crap European sides playing each other the Euros will be rolling around again in a couple of years.

I don't think we are going to agree on this one . The sensible solution is to go back in time and have a max if 32 teams at the world cup( would prefer 24) and 16 @ the Euros that way only good teams are there no matter where they come from and all the pub teams can watch from home like the rest of us.

[NAG1]

They're not over represented. 60% of the world's population lives in Asia.

Ok so quality isn't a factor great, I'm looking forward to Africa getting their fair share at the next ice hockey olympics.

Lots of silliness of both sides here.

2/3rds of that 60% live in either India or China. So your presentation of facts is quite Trumpesque.

But at the same time there is only one truly global sport. Much as I hate 48 team world cups, there is no need to fill a global celebration with a chunky percentage of mediocre European teams (like Scotland, Ireland and Wales) who have somewhere between 0.07% and 0% chance of winning the competition. If Italy can't find a way to climb past that mediocrity in qualifying, then arrivederci.

Fine, you want to look at it another way?

Uefa has 55 members, of whom 16 made it to the world cup. That's nearly 30% of Uefa teams make the World Cup. Those 16 teams are a THIRD of all teams at the tournament.

9 of 47 AFC nations qualified, which is less than 20%. One of those, Iraq, had to qualify via an intercontinental playoff for which Uefa teams are not eligible. In order to win they had to beat Bolivia, a CONMEBOL side.

There is no overrepresentation of Asian teams. If someone wants to watch more crap European sides playing each other the Euros will be rolling around again in a couple of years.

I don't think we are going to agree on this one . The sensible solution is to go back in time and have a max if 32 teams at the world cup( would prefer 24) and 16 @ the Euros that way only good teams are there no matter where they come from and all the pub teams can watch from home like the rest of us.

Think at this point we need to accept that the WC is bigger than just a football tourmament.

This is why the Euros will probably remain the premier tournament in terms of the quality of games.

[gallsman]

The Euros has always been a better, higher quality tournament. The expansion has destroyed it.

[Armagh18]

When it comes to the last 4 or last 8 bar a proper underdog story it'll still be the best teams and if any of the so called cannon fodder gets that far then fair play to them, expanded tournament harms no one and only serves to give smaller countries the experience of a lifetime for players and fans. Cabo Verde managed to come second, brilliant for them!

[DaleCooper]

Families of two football players killed and injured in Venezuela earthquakes


Lucas Trejo of Argentina loses wife and two children while Héctor Bello's partner dies saving their daughter. Horrible news

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/29/families-of-football-stars-hector-bello-lucas-trejo-killed-venezuela-earthquakes

[Captain Obvious]

I would hold off until tomorrow...

Think I'll wait another few days yet

Made an error to start watching yesterday. Maybe today will be improvement with the likes of Germany,Brazil in action. 

[AustinPowers]

I have a funny feeling Japan will   win this.

[Mourne Red]

I have a funny feeling Japan will   win this.

Have the same feeling.. Look good so far, lot of energy in their play.

[Mourne Red]

Great goal!

[Captain Obvious]

Great goal!

Good turnover and shooting efficiency.

[Milltown Row2]

Will take some effort and trickery to break these lads down, that said Brazil have that, problem is they are poor in midfield and defence isn't that great

[galwayman]

Casimero is a terrible player

[marty34]

Casimero is a terrible player

Was just going to say that. He needs hooked at half-time.

Japan well worth their lead. They bring a good energy.

[RedHand88]

👀