World Cup 2026

[crazy canuck]

It's going to be a smoky World Cup.

Has there ever been a final cancelled due to weather?

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

It might be OK by Sunday due to a shortwave trough that's supposed to come through this weekend.

[Sheilbh]

Keeping it classy as always, Argentinian players. Political messaging is strictly banned by FIFA. I'm sure there'll be dire consequences for lil golden boy Messi's team, right? Right guys?

The Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, has waded in by noting that in 2024 Rodri and Alvaro Morata were given a one match ban for singing "Gibraltar is Spain" and calling for all Argentine players who were singing "the Malvinas are Argentine" to get a one match ban

I don't personally particularly care - but FIFA do about certain things. So at this World Cup Haiti were made to change their shirt because it was too political and FIFA rigorously enforces stadium bans on anything "political". Currently Palestinian flags, but in the previous two world cups also rainbow anything (hats, flags, armbands etc - I feel like Leon Goretzka and maybe UEFA more broadly ended up in a bit of a row with FIFA over this).

[Josquius]

The Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, has waded in by noting that in 2024 Rodri and Alvaro Morata were given a one match ban for singing "Gibraltar is Spain" and calling for all Argentine players who were singing "the Malvinas are Argentine" to get a one match ban

Hmm..... I'm torn.
On the one hand it would be nice for Spain to beat Argentina fair and square.
On the other....I do like the idea of defeated England's withered hand reaching out from below the death-ledge to claim a righteous win from beyond the veil.

[celedhring]

They will ban them, but of course the decision will come too late for the final.

Anyway, we'll see what happens on Sunday. On paper, we're a far better team than them, and we're Spanish, so even though we don't have their levels of accomplishment in this area we are no strangers to diving and gamemanship

But it's somewhat eerie how they have managed to get here despite being just an ancient Messi + 10 average players. It has that whiff of inevitability that always scares me.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Before the WC started I checked the odds and Argentina were 9-1 to win. I thought these were generous odds and nearly put a substantial bet on; but I'm not a gambler so didn't. It is therefore crucial for Spain to win the final ....viva Espana etc etc 

[Syt]

Before the WC started I checked the odds and Argentina were 9-1 to win. I thought these were generous odds and nearly put a substantial bet on; but I'm not a gambler so didn't. It is therefore crucial for Spain to win the final ....viva Espana etc etc