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World Cup 2026 - USA/Canada/Mexico
Comments
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If FIFA were to make qualification strictly "fair" by simply putting the 48 highest-ranked countries into the finals based on the rankings at the time of the draw (i.e. now), the numbers would look like:
26 Europe
7 Africa
7 South America
4 North America
4 Asia
0 Oceania
That looks a bit unbalanced and doesn't achieve the aim of having representation from all continents, so instead let's suggest the qualifiers should be the 42 highest ranked plus 1 country per continent chosen from the local equivalent of the Nations League:
22 Europe
8 Africa
7 South America
5 North America
5 Asia
1 Oceania
If anything, I'm a bit surprised that there are 4 North American countries in the top 42, I'd have guessed at 2 if I hadn't just looked it up. Asia was slightly surprising as well, but only because I'd forgotten that Iran are ranked quite high. Japan, Australia and South Korea are fairly obvious qualifiers.2 -
The North American thing is partly because USA/Canada/ Mexico basically always make the latter stages of the Gold Cup, Nations League and will usually qualify for a WC, all of those games carry a higher weighting. Denmark, for example, miss out on some of those points because they won’t make the QF of the Euro’s/the final of the NL as often0
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64 is a nice round numberhoof_it_up_to_benty said:
I'm assuming FIFA will keep expanding the number of teams - 48 is a ludicrous number buf will it stop there?cafctom said:
Representation of all confederations at a World Cup has been in place since 1982. Its not as if what is happening next year is any different than what we've had the past 43 years, with the exception now being that there are more teams involved.jimmymelrose said:I shouldn’t have brought up this issue as it’s detracting from my main point. That being, that the system should be devised so that we try to get the best teams into the competition. If Caracao or Jamaica were in a European qualifying group then they would be finishing below second place. If Italy were in their qualifying group then they’d be winning it with 10 men.
Next year will be the proof of the pudding. Normally I support the underdogs but I’m so pissed off with FIFA that I think it would be funny to see some of these Pot 4 teams getting stuffed 8 or 9-0 in the group stages and show it up for the circus it now sadly really is.
And another consideration to be aware of is that the reason we're getting Curacao and Haiti in contention is because the regulars from their confederation (USA, Mexico, Canada) are automatically qualified. Its highly unlikely we'll see either of them at a World Cup again any time soon after this.
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I was born in Leicester, my mum is Irish, I play as Spain on EA FC, study French, and Ive been on holiday to Cyprus a lot. Who do I qualify for?3
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Assuming you’re a horrifically below average footballer, Scotland?CAFCTrev said:I was born in Leicester, my mum is Irish, I play as Spain on EA FC, study French, and Ive been on holiday to Cyprus a lot. Who do I qualify for?19 -
I apply a 10% commission on LOLs gleaned from one of my posts btw...Stu_of_Kunming said:
Assuming you’re a horrifically below average footballer, Scotland?CAFCTrev said:I was born in Leicester, my mum is Irish, I play as Spain on EA FC, study French, and Ive been on holiday to Cyprus a lot. Who do I qualify for?5 -
The playoff qualifiers are all going into pot 4 for the draw, which by a staggering coincidence bumps Qatar and Saudi up to pot 3. I'm sure FIFA were as surprised as the rest of us when they realised this was the consequence.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvg84knn2p5o
I think this means England will want a UEFA country from pot 2 or 3, so as to be protected from the risk of getting a relatively high-ranked opponent from pot 4.4 -
Toughest possible group is something along the lines of Mexico, Uruguay, Norway, Italy
Easiest probably Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand0 -
Hardest for England probably Uruguay, Ivory Coast and Italy?0
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From BBC Sport:
"Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to play for Portugal in their opening game at next summer's World Cup finals despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland.Violent conduct normally carries a three-match ban but Ronaldo has had the second and third matches suspended for a year."10 -
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Unless every group requires a minimum of one UEFA team in which case this isn’t possible. You’d swap NZ with a UEFA minnow like Ireland. :-)Callumcafc said:Toughest possible group is something along the lines of Mexico, Uruguay, Norway, Italy
Easiest probably Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand0 -
What a ****ing joke. How much worse can things get with FIFA?Chunes said:From BBC Sport:
"Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to play for Portugal in their opening game at next summer's World Cup finals despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland.Violent conduct normally carries a three-match ban but Ronaldo has had the second and third matches suspended for a year."9 -
Ireland!CAFCTrev said:I was born in Leicester, my mum is Irish, I play as Spain on EA FC, study French, and Ive been on holiday to Cyprus a lot. Who do I qualify for?1 -
I think you mean square numberSiv_in_Norfolk said:
64 is a nice round numberhoof_it_up_to_benty said:
I'm assuming FIFA will keep expanding the number of teams - 48 is a ludicrous number buf will it stop there?cafctom said:
Representation of all confederations at a World Cup has been in place since 1982. Its not as if what is happening next year is any different than what we've had the past 43 years, with the exception now being that there are more teams involved.jimmymelrose said:I shouldn’t have brought up this issue as it’s detracting from my main point. That being, that the system should be devised so that we try to get the best teams into the competition. If Caracao or Jamaica were in a European qualifying group then they would be finishing below second place. If Italy were in their qualifying group then they’d be winning it with 10 men.
Next year will be the proof of the pudding. Normally I support the underdogs but I’m so pissed off with FIFA that I think it would be funny to see some of these Pot 4 teams getting stuffed 8 or 9-0 in the group stages and show it up for the circus it now sadly really is.
And another consideration to be aware of is that the reason we're getting Curacao and Haiti in contention is because the regulars from their confederation (USA, Mexico, Canada) are automatically qualified. Its highly unlikely we'll see either of them at a World Cup again any time soon after this.3 -
Actually is a square number.Siv_in_Norfolk said:
64 is a nice round numberhoof_it_up_to_benty said:
I'm assuming FIFA will keep expanding the number of teams - 48 is a ludicrous number buf will it stop there?cafctom said:
Representation of all confederations at a World Cup has been in place since 1982. Its not as if what is happening next year is any different than what we've had the past 43 years, with the exception now being that there are more teams involved.jimmymelrose said:I shouldn’t have brought up this issue as it’s detracting from my main point. That being, that the system should be devised so that we try to get the best teams into the competition. If Caracao or Jamaica were in a European qualifying group then they would be finishing below second place. If Italy were in their qualifying group then they’d be winning it with 10 men.
Next year will be the proof of the pudding. Normally I support the underdogs but I’m so pissed off with FIFA that I think it would be funny to see some of these Pot 4 teams getting stuffed 8 or 9-0 in the group stages and show it up for the circus it now sadly really is.
And another consideration to be aware of is that the reason we're getting Curacao and Haiti in contention is because the regulars from their confederation (USA, Mexico, Canada) are automatically qualified. Its highly unlikely we'll see either of them at a World Cup again any time soon after this.1 -
I know it’s a mental statement but I’d prefer a 64 team WC to a 48 team one, the format is neater2
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How long have you got?Killarahales said:
What a ****ing joke. How much worse can things get with FIFA?Chunes said:From BBC Sport:
"Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to play for Portugal in their opening game at next summer's World Cup finals despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland.Violent conduct normally carries a three-match ban but Ronaldo has had the second and third matches suspended for a year."8 -
Hope he snaps his cruciate falling down the stairs off the plane.Chunes said:From BBC Sport:
"Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to play for Portugal in their opening game at next summer's World Cup finals despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland.Violent conduct normally carries a three-match ban but Ronaldo has had the second and third matches suspended for a year."5 -
FIFA are going to keep the top four Nations (Spain - Argentina - France - England) separated in a tennis style system when the World Cup draw gets made next week - Means that if all four teams win their Groups, they won't be able to face each other until the Semi-Finals at the earliest.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/25/world-cup-2026-draw-tennis-seed-system-spain-argentina-france-england
Am surprised they've not replaced England (seeing we're 4th)with the United States in that top four, by having the pathway to the Semi-Finals a bit "easier" for one of the main hosts, and so keeping interest alive longer for locals1 -
Ooooh Mr President, can you please speak to FIFA for me so i can play at your World Cup....Chunes said:From BBC Sport:
"Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to play for Portugal in their opening game at next summer's World Cup finals despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland.Violent conduct normally carries a three-match ban but Ronaldo has had the second and third matches suspended for a year."
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That’s a result for us. The World Cup draw simulations I was doing kept sticking us in with France or Spain in a quarter final.ForeverAddickted said:FIFA are going to keep the top four Nations (Spain - Argentina - France - England) separated in a tennis style system when the World Cup draw gets made next week - Means that if all four teams win their Groups, they won't be able to face each other until the Semi-Finals at the earliest.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/25/world-cup-2026-draw-tennis-seed-system-spain-argentina-france-england
Am surprised they've not replaced England (seeing we're 4th)with the United States in that top four, by having the pathway to the Semi-Finals a bit "easier" for one of the main hosts, and so keeping interest alive longer for locals0 -
Each quarter of the knockout bracket will include the following Group’s winners with only one of Spain, France, England or Argentina ending up in each, as long as they each win their group:
Q1: E, F, I
Q2: D (USA), G, H
Q3: A (Mexico), C, L
Q4: B (Canada), J, K
When the draw is made it should become obvious quite quickly which groups England will and will not be drawn into e.g. if Spain are first ball out drawn into Group C, then Group L cannot be France, Argentina or England.0 -
Leroy Ambrose said:
How long have you got?Killarahales said:
What a ****ing joke. How much worse can things get with FIFA?Chunes said:From BBC Sport:
"Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to play for Portugal in their opening game at next summer's World Cup finals despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland.Violent conduct normally carries a three-match ban but Ronaldo has had the second and third matches suspended for a year."Below was posted up on Substack this morning. It’s a screenshot from the official FIFA resale site. $105 tickets being touted now for $1,200!!! From a piece I read before, I understand that FIFA take a 15% fee from the seller and another 15% from the buyer! It’s just one huge grift 🤬
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Much as I think old Thornton has had a result here, there are precedents apparently.Chunes said:From BBC Sport:
"Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to play for Portugal in their opening game at next summer's World Cup finals despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland.Violent conduct normally carries a three-match ban but Ronaldo has had the second and third matches suspended for a year."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cvgj9e1782xo0 -
Mexico - now there's an underachieving nation. Only made it to the quarter finals twice, both on home soil. Outside Mexico they have only won more than one game at a world cup on four occasions.Callumcafc said:Toughest possible group is something along the lines of Mexico, Uruguay, Norway, Italy
Easiest probably Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand0 -
Yeah and they're almost always brilliant to watch - I'd love then to get to the semis or final one year. My favourite international team along with Japan. Entertaining games.Algarveaddick said:
Mexico - now there's an underachieving nation. Only made it to the quarter finals twice, both on home soil. Outside Mexico they have only won more than one game at a world cup on four occasions.Callumcafc said:Toughest possible group is something along the lines of Mexico, Uruguay, Norway, Italy
Easiest probably Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand4 -
Why would anyone be buying those before knowing who is actually playing in that game?TelMc32 said:Leroy Ambrose said:
How long have you got?Killarahales said:
What a ****ing joke. How much worse can things get with FIFA?Chunes said:From BBC Sport:
"Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to play for Portugal in their opening game at next summer's World Cup finals despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland.Violent conduct normally carries a three-match ban but Ronaldo has had the second and third matches suspended for a year."Below was posted up on Substack this morning. It’s a screenshot from the official FIFA resale site. $105 tickets being touted now for $1,200!!! From a piece I read before, I understand that FIFA take a 15% fee from the seller and another 15% from the buyer! It’s just one huge grift 🤬
Fair do's if it's Argentina/Messi but you'd be pretty sick if you paid $2,400 and it's Uzbekistan v Haiti.1 -
So England will get to the semi final, before losing in straight sets to Carlos Alcaraz.ForeverAddickted said:FIFA are going to keep the top four Nations (Spain - Argentina - France - England) separated in a tennis style system when the World Cup draw gets made next week - Means that if all four teams win their Groups, they won't be able to face each other until the Semi-Finals at the earliest.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/25/world-cup-2026-draw-tennis-seed-system-spain-argentina-france-england
Am surprised they've not replaced England (seeing we're 4th)with the United States in that top four, by having the pathway to the Semi-Finals a bit "easier" for one of the main hosts, and so keeping interest alive longer for locals10 -
Posted by a user on Reddit who ran 1 million World Cup draw simulations.
England’s most likely Pot 2 opponent: Uruguay / Colombia / Ecuador
England’s most likely Pot 3 opponent: Paraguay / Panama
England’s most likely Pot 4 opponent: Iraq / Bolivia / Suriname2 -
How can our most likely Pot 3 opponent be Paraguay then, if our Pot 2 opponent comes from South AmericaCallumcafc said:Posted by a user on Reddit who ran 1 million World Cup draw simulations.
England’s most likely Pot 2 opponent: Uruguay / Colombia / Ecuador
England’s most likely Pot 3 opponent: Paraguay / Panama
England’s most likely Pot 4 opponent: Iraq / Bolivia / Suriname2
