The official FIFA world cup thread

[Draino76]

I actually quite enjoyed that. Slight bit of cringe was Ferdinand offering out the chap interviewing the audience. 

[Eric The Red]

1 hour ago, Bakovnetski said:

Rio Ferdinand is a plank

Harsh on Ferdinand, thought he was the only one who looked like they knew what they were doing there 

[Baird of the land]

5 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Fifa's big idea is to set up the best chance of blockbuster ties in the latter stages of the World Cup.

So for the first time it is giving special seeding status to the top four in the world rankings - Spain, Argentina, France and England.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c997y4l20jgo

 

Yep hate that they’ve done that. Also having 3 hosts counted as pot one teams skews the groups, though if either wales or N.I make it they will enjoy being in that Canada one.

[AlexLaw76]

That peace award was fucking weird

 

[benjii]

If anyone is looking for a change of vibe, I can recommend Fermented Offal Discharge by Necrophagist and Papyrus Containing the Spell to Preserve its Possessor Against Attacks From He Who Is In The Water by Nile. Also, anything by Nile, really.

Tremendous songs.

[obelisk]

6 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

That peace award was fucking weird

 

🤢🤮

[Willo of Whiteley]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

That peace award was fucking weird

 

Imagine giving a convicted criminal who is also alleged to be involved with Jeffrey Epstein and encouraging war crimes to be awarded the “peace award”.

[Badger]

3 hours ago, East Kent Saint said:

Wake me up when the knockout stage starts  ………..

This is it. Until that point the whole thing is a yawn fest, and I can barely give a shit. 

[macca155]

Fucking Brazil ..... again.

Give us a break

[Dark Munster]

Oi, Gemini:, was Trump worthy of the FIFA Peace Prize?

Gemini: Absolutely! The following is a brief list of actions and policies to award Donald Trump the FIFA Peace Prize after the Nobel committee shamefully overlooked him.

• Undermining U.S. Democracy (Jan 6th): His actions and rhetoric surrounding the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, viewed as an attack on the peaceful transfer of power and democratic institutions.
• Pressure on Ukraine's Leadership: History of pressuring President Zelenskyy for personal political gain (the 2019 phone call and subsequent impeachment inquiry) and his recent attempts in peace negotiations ceding territory to Russia, which European allies feared would reward military aggression.
• Rejection of Iran Nuclear Diplomacy: Withdrawing the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and reimposing sanctions, which destabilised the region and risked escalating conflict with Iran.
• Threats Against Political Opponents: His social media posts labeling Democratic lawmakers as "traitors" deserving of the death penalty for urging military members to refuse illegal orders, which encourages political violence and undermines the rule of law.
• Venezuela Maritime Strikes: Authorizing lethal strikes against boats in the Caribbean in the context of anti-drug operations targeting Venezuelan interests, an aggressive and unilateral use of force. War crimes for the second attack killing 2 survivors clinging to wreckage from a first strike.
• Gaza Displacement Plan: Proposed elements of a peace plan that involved the potential forced relocation of the Palestinian population from Gaza to other Arab states for redevelopment, a plan widely condemned by human rights advocates.
• Straining Key Alliances: Making transactional foreign policy moves and repeatedly issuing hostile rhetoric and tariff threats against close allies, including Canada and other NATO members, undermining the traditional spirit of international cooperation.
• Abandoning Multilateral Treaties: Withdrawing the U.S. from major international agreements, including the Paris Climate Accord and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
• Cutting Humanitarian Aid: Drastically reducing or attempting to dismantle U.S. foreign assistance and global health programs (like USAID), which runs counter to the ideals of promoting global welfare.

[Miltonaggro]

9 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Imagine giving a convicted criminal who is also alleged to be involved with Jeffrey Epstein and encouraging war crimes to be awarded the “peace award”.

Stephen Hawking? 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

I really hope there are some terrible attendances for some of those group games.

I assume they'll try to put the groups that have the lowest appeal (prob groups F, G and K) in Canada or Mexico to save face for the USA. No idea how the scheduling works mins.

[Convict Colony]

7 hours ago, Dark Munster said:

Oi, Gemini:, was Trump worthy of the FIFA Peace Prize?

Gemini: Absolutely! The following is a brief list of actions and policies to award Donald Trump the FIFA Peace Prize after the Nobel committee shamefully overlooked him.

• Undermining U.S. Democracy (Jan 6th): His actions and rhetoric surrounding the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, viewed as an attack on the peaceful transfer of power and democratic institutions.
• Pressure on Ukraine's Leadership: History of pressuring President Zelenskyy for personal political gain (the 2019 phone call and subsequent impeachment inquiry) and his recent attempts in peace negotiations ceding territory to Russia, which European allies feared would reward military aggression.
• Rejection of Iran Nuclear Diplomacy: Withdrawing the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and reimposing sanctions, which destabilised the region and risked escalating conflict with Iran.
• Threats Against Political Opponents: His social media posts labeling Democratic lawmakers as "traitors" deserving of the death penalty for urging military members to refuse illegal orders, which encourages political violence and undermines the rule of law.
• Venezuela Maritime Strikes: Authorizing lethal strikes against boats in the Caribbean in the context of anti-drug operations targeting Venezuelan interests, an aggressive and unilateral use of force. War crimes for the second attack killing 2 survivors clinging to wreckage from a first strike.
• Gaza Displacement Plan: Proposed elements of a peace plan that involved the potential forced relocation of the Palestinian population from Gaza to other Arab states for redevelopment, a plan widely condemned by human rights advocates.
• Straining Key Alliances: Making transactional foreign policy moves and repeatedly issuing hostile rhetoric and tariff threats against close allies, including Canada and other NATO members, undermining the traditional spirit of international cooperation.
• Abandoning Multilateral Treaties: Withdrawing the U.S. from major international agreements, including the Paris Climate Accord and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
• Cutting Humanitarian Aid: Drastically reducing or attempting to dismantle U.S. foreign assistance and global health programs (like USAID), which runs counter to the ideals of promoting global welfare.

awards are self serving to the people giving them away, be it academy awards, fifa, balloon dor, they have nothing to do with earning.

look at Obama he got novel peace prize 9months after becoming president.

didn't watch any of the bullshit yesterday but I hear it was overall horrific and drawn out pain.

[Willo of Whiteley]

2 hours ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

I really hope there are some terrible attendances for some of those group games.

I assume they'll try to put the groups that have the lowest appeal (prob groups F, G and K) in Canada or Mexico to save face for the USA. No idea how the scheduling works mins.

It’ll be like Trump’s inauguration.

”The crowds were in their millions”, absolute bollocks.

[bogwoppit]

10 hours ago, Dark Munster said:

Oi, Gemini:, was Trump worthy of the FIFA Peace Prize?

Gemini: Absolutely! The following is a brief list of actions and policies to award Donald Trump the FIFA Peace Prize after the Nobel committee shamefully overlooked him.

• Undermining U.S. Democracy (Jan 6th): His actions and rhetoric surrounding the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, viewed as an attack on the peaceful transfer of power and democratic institutions.
• Pressure on Ukraine's Leadership: History of pressuring President Zelenskyy for personal political gain (the 2019 phone call and subsequent impeachment inquiry) and his recent attempts in peace negotiations ceding territory to Russia, which European allies feared would reward military aggression.
• Rejection of Iran Nuclear Diplomacy: Withdrawing the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and reimposing sanctions, which destabilised the region and risked escalating conflict with Iran.
• Threats Against Political Opponents: His social media posts labeling Democratic lawmakers as "traitors" deserving of the death penalty for urging military members to refuse illegal orders, which encourages political violence and undermines the rule of law.
• Venezuela Maritime Strikes: Authorizing lethal strikes against boats in the Caribbean in the context of anti-drug operations targeting Venezuelan interests, an aggressive and unilateral use of force. War crimes for the second attack killing 2 survivors clinging to wreckage from a first strike.
• Gaza Displacement Plan: Proposed elements of a peace plan that involved the potential forced relocation of the Palestinian population from Gaza to other Arab states for redevelopment, a plan widely condemned by human rights advocates.
• Straining Key Alliances: Making transactional foreign policy moves and repeatedly issuing hostile rhetoric and tariff threats against close allies, including Canada and other NATO members, undermining the traditional spirit of international cooperation.
• Abandoning Multilateral Treaties: Withdrawing the U.S. from major international agreements, including the Paris Climate Accord and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
• Cutting Humanitarian Aid: Drastically reducing or attempting to dismantle U.S. foreign assistance and global health programs (like USAID), which runs counter to the ideals of promoting global welfare.

Take it, that you’re not a fan of Trump!

[skintsaint]

21 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

That peace award was fucking weird

 

Should have named it the Bellend D’or.

[inspectorfrost]

21 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

That peace award was fucking weird

 

A superb display of ego massaging and FIFA's 'political neutrality'

[Willo of Whiteley]

On 06/12/2025 at 11:42, bogwoppit said:

Take it, that you’re not a fan of Trump!

I mean, quite frankly, who is?

[bogwoppit]

13 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I mean, quite frankly, who is?

Probably quite a few in America, unless there was a lot of protest voting going on.

 

[East Kent Saint]

1 hour ago, bogwoppit said:

Probably quite a few in America, unless there was a lot of protest voting going on.

 

Trump still insecure so gerrymandering in Texas etc to make sure they do well in the mid term elections or at least better than they might have done.

As a regular visitor to USA I can report their inflation in the supermarkets is a lot higher than the UK , rents are higher and working conditions are a lot worse than UK. If you don't have top health ins with your job you get 2 weeks maternity leave ! 

[spyinthesky]

I wonder how many fans (not only from England & Scotland) but other countries too can afford the inflated flight, hotel and ticket costs that the next World Cup will cost.
Personally I hope the whole competition is a flop and it's a middle finger up to Trump and the knobs at FIFA but England win (some hope!!)

[Wade Garrett]

 Couldn’t really give a toss about the World Cup any more.  Preferred it when it alternated between Europe and S America.  

FIFA just whore it out to the highest bidder these days.  Greedy, corrupt bastards.  Infantino is even more bent than Blatter.