Mexico, US and Canada to host the 2026 World Cup

[John Arne]

Meh.

FIFA to decide at a later stage as to which countries will qualify automatically.

[John]

Excellent. Now get the wall built for maximum lols when the whole thing is a huge disaster.

[phonics]

Morocco seemed a much more sensible bid but this was probably the best way to avoid getting raided by the FBI again.

[Pepe]

:cool:

[Pepe]

Why would it be a disaster? The US already hosted one cup successfully and Mexico two. Doubtful that the Canadians would screw anything up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Blanco to make his comeback :drool:

[Pepe]

Player manager. :drool:

[Spikey M]

Surely either all 3 or none of them get to qualify automatically? What a load of bollocks. Just give the World Cups to 1 (preferably not dodgy) country.

In Europe.

In a Timezone that doesn’t fuck me up.

[Disco]

Nobody wants it.

[Pepe]

They should let Canada in automatically. Mexico and the US can win their spots. Would be lol if the US bottles it again though.

[Spikey M]

Why would it be a disaster? The US already hosted one cup successfully and Mexico two. Doubtful that the Canadians would screw anything up.

Because TRUMPS WALL would see anyone wanting to watch a game in the US after a game in Mexico crawling around Texas avoiding boarder patrol.

[Pepe]

He'll be gone by the time. Replaced by some open border enthusiast or something.

[Lewis]

Congratulations Pepe.

[Pepe]

Tronald to take credit for it. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Any one of these three hosting it would be fine, but all 3 is pathetic.

[niko_cee]

Tronald to take credit for it. :drool:

Whilst also declaring that he (and by extension all Americans) doesn't even like football.

[SincereTheRebel]

Let all three qualify automatically. Give out extra world cup slots of necessary.

[-james-]

I can't believe they're actually doing the 3 teams per group thing. It's going to be collusion galore.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't believe they're actually doing the 3 teams per group thing. It's going to be collusion galore.

They will do literally anything, including ruining the tournament, to increase the TV rights value in key markets.

[CJay]

I can't believe they're actually doing the 3 teams per group thing. It's going to be collusion galore.

What's this? What's the new format going to be? 16 groups of 3 into a round of 16? :sick:

[wullie]

Two out of the three teams in each group go into a 32-team knockout stage.

[bruhnaldo]

The only good thing about this is presumably I won't have to watch these games at work and they'll be on at reasonable hours.

Who am I kidding they'll still be on at 2pm because TV $ in Europe.

[-james-]

Why not do a double group stage? They're always fun.

- 12 groups of 4, top 2 qualify
- 8 groups of 3, best first round teams plays first, top team qualifies
- 8 team round robin

9 games to the final, mo money mo football. Everybody wins

[-james-]

What's this? What's the new format going to be? 16 groups of 3 into a round of 16? :sick:


No, 16 groups of 3 into a round of 32. It's almost on that there will be a group where the last game features two teams who only need a draw to guarantee progress.

[-james-]

Just expand to a 128 round robin, like snooker. England vs Uganda round 1 tie, played in Burlington, Vermont.

[ItalAussie]

The 32 team World Cup was the perfect size and balance. Half the teams go home at each phase. Top two of four teams go through. So simple.

Needless to say, they've messed it up.

[wullie]

I think the groups of four with two advancing is the best way to do it so I'd just bite the bullet and bump it to 64 teams rather than this 48 format. They're going to do it eventually anyway.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The 32 team World Cup was the perfect size and balance. Half the teams go home at each phase. Top two of four teams go through. So simple.

Needless to say, they've messed it up.
A mathematician's wet dream.

[bruhnaldo]

It's crazy how just about everything is ruined by greed.

[randomlegend]

Guinea are claiming they didn't vote for the US but the voting system says they did.

Lol.

[bruhnaldo]

So the vote was rigged for the bid that offered 500million$ more for FIFA to line their pockets with (or whatever the figure was I read earlier).

No..surely not. I just can't believe such a thing would happen in FIFA.

[Spikey M]

I can. What an idiot.

[ItalAussie]

A mathematician's wet dream.

I mean, it's not like they make Wimbledon the top 200 and put through the 70 best losers into the second round. Powers of two just make sense.

That said, we shouldn't give them ideas.

[John Arne]

More importantly... Is there a decent portmanteau on?

Mexamerada
Canamerico
Amerimexinada
Usamexada

I'm out.

[John Arne]

Ammexcan.

[Spikey M]

AMERICA and friends and an acquaintance.

[bruhnaldo]

Oh no we really have no friends now that we've gone after Trudeau.

[Danny]

#CUM2026

I will, 100%, be going to atleast one of the games.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I mean, it's not like they make Wimbledon the top 200 and put through the 70 best losers into the second round. Powers of two just make sense.

That said, we shouldn't give them ideas.

I'm with you.

They've completely fucked it up for some more money.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

More importantly... Is there a decent portmanteau on?

Mexamerada
Canamerico
Amerimexinada
Usamexada

I'm out.

USA et al.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'North America'

[Bob Sacamano]

So this potentially leaves the door open for some absolute shit to get through the CONCACAF qualifying region? More shit than usual, anyway.

[Spikey M]

If it gives more opportunities for England to stumble clumsily through games then why wouldn’t we be all for it?

[Jimmy Floyd]

So this potentially leaves the door open for some absolute shit to get through the CONCACAF qualifying region? More shit than usual, anyway.

It would be a pointless exercise without the TV money from US/Mexico games, so what they will do is include US/Mexico/Canada in the process and have the next 2/3 qualify with them.

Either that or they will have combined American qualifiers by then.

[Foe]

Looking forward to going to this. :youpi:

Shame I'll be 37.

[ItalAussie]

Either that or they will have combined American qualifiers by then.
That will never, ever happen. I'm half-expecting FIFA to expand the number of CONCACAF places after 2026 to ensure that there's not a repeat of this year.

They'll also expand the AFC to try and parachute China and the oil states in more easily, despite Africa deserving most of the extra places based on merit. Truth be told, the World Cup doesn't need extra Asian teams, but they'll be there.

EDIT: I hadn't seen that the qualification expansion had been announced. Eight Asian teams is laughable, and I say that as someone who supports an Asian team that is probably in the 3-5 region most of the time.