World Cup 2026

[domalino]

To be clear, my idea is to make them earn it, in a 3-team playoff. I agree they shouldn't just be "chosen" or given preferential treatment.

No, your idea is bullshit and it's obvious WUMMING.

 

[TheBeautifulGame]

No, your idea is bullshit and it's obvious WUMMING.

What do you think should happen with Iran? What do you think will happen with Iran? Who, if any, nation, should replace them at the WC if they do not compete? How should FIFA go about deciding who is the replacement?

 

[robbieh]

How do you define an "illegal" war and what in your mind makes this war illegal or justifies them to be banned like Russia was? Should America also be banned from participating in their own World Cup according to your logic lolz?

Well I won't be watching the farce. And that's because it's being held in the US which is presided over by the truly appalling Donald Trump.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

To be clear, my idea is to make them earn it, in a 3-team playoff. I agree they shouldn't just be "chosen" or given preferential treatment.

I'd expect any replacement will come from the same Federation as Iran. Israel are part of the UEFA group, so shouldn't be involved at all.

 

[TheBeautifulGame]

Well I won't be watching the farce. And that's because it's being held in the US which is presided over by the truly appalling Donald Trump.

I share your general sentiment about this WC being a "farce" and probably not paying it much attention. Though it's kind of hard to ignore.

 

[domalino]

What do you think should happen with Iran? What do you think will happen with Iran? Who, if any, nation, should replace them at the WC if they do not compete? How should FIFA go about deciding who is the replacement?

This has already been answered. The best AFC team that doesn't qualify takes their place. Iraq if they lose the inter-federation playoff, UAE if they don't.

 

[TheBeautifulGame]

I'd expect any replacement will come from the same Federation as Iran. Israel are part of the UEFA group, so shouldn't be involved at all.

But ask yourself, aren't there already too many AFC nations in the WC compared to European nations? If you matched up the Top 5 AFC squads who failed to qualify (or make the playoff) against the Top 5 European squads who failed to to qualify (or make the playoff) who do you think would win? There's already a ton of Middle Eastern nations in an expanded WC.

The argument for Israel is similar to any nation who failed to qualify through European Qualifying - which I'd imagine most of us would agree would be more deserving due to European qualifying being the most difficult area of the world to qualify. It is much, much harder to qualify though Europe than anywhere else in the world. So naturally it would make sense to look here for a replacement. You know when they expanded the WC to 48, what they did in Europe was reduce the group size from 6 to 5. But there was still the same problem for Israel as before - having two top European nations in their group with only 2 spots available. The expanded WC did not seem to help Israel or give European nations an easier path to qualify, at least not to the extent in AFC or other areas of the World.

So when looking for a replacement, I would favour any 3rd place squad from Europe. Then it becomes a comparison between Israel and the other 3rd place squads.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

But ask yourself, aren't there already too many AFC nations in the WC compared to European nations? If you matched up the Top 5 AFC squads who failed to qualify (or make the playoff) against the Top 5 European squads who failed to to qualify (or make the playoff) who do you think would win? There's already a ton of Middle Eastern nations in an expanded WC.

The argument for Israel is similar to any nation who failed to qualify through European Qualifying - which I'd imagine most of us would agree would be more deserving due to European qualifying being the most difficult area of the world to qualify. It is much, much harder to qualify though Europe than anywhere else in the world. So naturally it would make sense to look here for a replacement.

So when looking for a replacement, I would favour any 3rd place squad from Europe. Then it becomes a comparison between Israel and the other 3rd place teams.

They have a set number from each Federation so it's only reasonable that there's a like-for-like replacement.

 

[The Norfolk Blue]

I'd expect any replacement will come from the same Federation as Iran. Israel are part of the UEFA group, so shouldn't be involved at all.

The first sensible thing you’ve said in ages.

 

[TheBeautifulGame]

They have a set number from each Federation so it's only reasonable that there's a like-for-like replacement.

Yes but in a replacement scenario, FIFA's guidelines do not require them to replace them with a nation from the federation of the nation being replaced. Let me be clear about one thing - whomever they choose to replace Iran, if they do that, it will be a very difficult decision and will be hugely controversial. Which is why I don't like the idea of them "choosing" Israel for obvious reasons, or any other nation for that matter. In my view, it would be best to stage a 3-team playoff and make a replacement squad earn it on the pitch. But time to stage something like that is quickly running out. And FIFA in my view is too incompetent to pull something like that off. But that's what I propose.

 

[TheBeautifulGame]

The first sensible thing you’ve said in ages.

Sensible to award the last spot to another AFC squad instead of a European squad?

That's not sensible at all. Anyone who knows anything about football knows that it is much harder to qualify in Europe for the WC than in AFC. Any replacement should, one would think, come out of the best European squads who failed to qualify but came the closest, performed the best, played in the toughest group, etc.

Doing a fair comparison of that has to include Israel, and the difficult of what they've had to endure, both in the political realm and on the football pitch, like having to play WCQ "home" matches on a neutral site, should absolutely be considered and go into such a decision.

 

[LGWIO]

Morally, ethically, and based on on-pitch performance and having the deck literally stacked against them in ways that most other countries can't even imagine, Israel would make the most sense to anyone who isn't biased or a conspiracy nerd.

Not sure that the terms "morally and ethically" can be applied in the case of any of the countries involved.

This is of course just a "Special Military Operation" by USA, as otherwise it would require Congressional approval. Of course we would't want to see USA treated the same as Russia and being kicked out of International sport for their efforts at regime change.

 

[super_city_si]

Why the fuck is Israel involved in this conversation at all?

You talk about "earning it" on the pitch. Israel had their chance and they failed. Stop trying to shoehorn them in for literally zero fucking reason.

It will go to the best team in AFC that doesn't qualify.

Exactly. Israel arent even in the right confederation. Theyre in UEFA. Fuck all to do with the Asian confed.

 

[TheBeautifulGame]

Exactly. Israel arent even in the right confederation. Theyre in UEFA. Fuck all to do with the Asian confed.

Yeah, and guess what region they are physically in? They were originally in AFC, until they were KICKED OUT and forced to play in Europe! It was not their choice to be excluded.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

1. They were in a very difficult European Group of Italy and Norway.
2. They finished with 12 points.
3. They scored the most goals of any European squad that failed to qualify. Football fans generally like to see squads that score more goals than others. Football fans generally respect squads who play in tougher groups against more talented squads and occasionally play well against them.
4. They were forced to play their "home" matches on a neutral site in Hungary, a huge disadvantage.
5. They, um, are hugely discriminated against by most of the world, and schemed on by most of the wrold, who believe insane conspiracies about their country.
6. The World Cup is in America, the friendliest country to Israel in the world by a kilometer.
7. Israel and America are currently in a war to topple the Iranian regime, the country that schemed to kick Israel out of AFC which forced them to compete in European qualifcation for over half a century, a much more difficult endeavor.
8. Israel as a footballing nation has a higher world ranking than most of the best nations who failed to qualify for make the playoff.
9. Israel despite struggling with Norway and in the road match in Italy, produced arguably the most exciting match in WCQ against Italy, a 5-4 thriller which, at the very least, showed how exciting and effective they can be on the pitch.
10. Over the last half century, Iran has been the nation who has been trying to effectively wipe Israel off the map, failing to do so in spectacularly jarring fashion.

Morally, ethically, and based on on-pitch performance and having the deck literally stacked against them in ways that most other countries can't even imagine, Israel would make the most sense to anyone who isn't biased or a conspiracy nerd.

Gotta be trolling at this point. Norway are supposed to be a football powerhouse now, are they? A country that hasn't qualified for the world cup since 1998 and have appeared in the Euros just once. And the worst Italy team in generations.

The obvious questions are if Iran are unable to participate, why the hell would a team from UEFA replace them in the first place? It would obviously be another Asian team, but if not, why not the next best African team, South American team, or given that it's in North America, the next best North American team? But even if you were going to pick a European team, there are 16 teams currently in the play offs that are clearly more deserving on account of, you know, actually qualifying for the play offs.

 

[super_city_si]

Yeah, and guess what region they are physically in? They were originally in AFC, until they were KICKED OUT and forced to play in Europe! It was not their choice to be excluded.

Tough shit. I'd wager the next South American team that didnt qualify are better then them anyway.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

No, your idea is bullshit and it's obvious WUMMING.

Nothing else should apply apart from "Iran were the best AFC team in a group and qualified; they're replaced by the next best AFC team not to qualify".

I don't think that any confederation would accept a place being given to a different one.

However, Infantino...

 

[TheBeautifulGame]

Gotta be trolling at this point. Norway are supposed to be a football powerhouse now, are they? A country that hasn't qualified for the world cup since 1998 and have appeared in the Euros just once. And the worst Italy team in generations.

I would argue Italy this time was particularly desperate to qualify this time around, and more difficult to beat due to their previous struggles to qualify. it was also excruciating for Israel to have to play road matches in Europe in the midst of the hugely divisive Gaza war. When they played Norway for example, it felt like Norway was playing on behalf of the Palestinians. I don't think you can understate how difficult this dynamic was for Israel players and fans to have to endure this level of hardship during a WCQ campaign. Israeli football fans hve been treated horrible in Europe in my view, their club fans were banned from attending away games in England and in Netherlands. They were not allowed to host home WCQ games, put in a brutal group of Italy and Norway, and still performed well giving Italy a very tough game. Don't shoot the messenger, I'm just spelling this out for you because you're clearly not getting it.

The obvious questions are if Iran are unable to participate, why the hell would a team from UEFA replace them in the first place?

Because it is fully understood that European football is played at a higher level, by and large, than other qualifcation regions. And therefore, due to the high level of talent and difficulty qualifying here, it would make sense for any replacement to be from the most competitive, most talented region (Europe).

Further, this expanded WC field has been very good at giving more AFC, Americas, and Oceanic squads (who don't typically qualify for the WC) a better chance to make the WC. This greater opportunity to qualify for middle of the road nations hasn't been seen in Europe to the extent it has been realized elsewhere, providing even greater justification for a replacement team being from UEFA.

It would obviously be another Asian team, but if not, why not the next best African team, South American team, or given that it's in North America, the next best North American team?

Because, as you well know, European football is considered the best football in the world, with the higher ranked national teams. Is it the hardest place to qualify in the world, and I doubt you would disagree with this.

But even if you were going to pick a European team, there are 16 teams currently in the play offs that are clearly more deserving on account of, you know, actually qualifying for the play offs.

But each of those squads has an opportunity to qualify through the normal playoff. Why would you give a squad that loses a playoff yet another chance to qualify? It would make more sense to give the next best team who didn't get an opportunity to be in a playoff, but who may have been in a more difficult group, an opportunity. In the Rugby WC for example, historically not only the Top 2 teams from each Group qualify to the knockout stages, but also the best 3rd place team. Similar logic could apply here in a replacement scenario.

i don't like the idea of giving a playoff loser a "3rd" chance to qualify any more than I like a nation being randomly "chosen" by a corrupt FIFA or Trump with a pro-Israel agenda. I propose a 3-team playoff for the last spot, perhaps 1 UEFA squad, and 2 others. But I believe that UEFA Nations have been massively underrepresented in this new idiotic 48 team field in which we have way too many non-European teams and not enough European teams. Israel is a special case as a regional/traditional AFC nation who competes in Europe.

The argument for Israel here is that they went through a much more difficult WCQ campaign than arguably anyone else. It's not to play the world's smallest violin for them though, it's to do an unbiased reasoned comparison between the best nations who failed to qualify and to make sound arguments as to who would be most deserving, given all facts.

 

[Pedestrian]

1. They were in a very difficult European Group of Italy and Norway.
2. They finished with 12 points.
3. They scored the most goals of any European squad that failed to qualify. Football fans generally like to see squads that score more goals than others. Football fans generally respect squads who play in tougher groups against more talented squads and occasionally play well against them.
4. They were forced to play their "home" matches on a neutral site in Hungary, a huge disadvantage.
5. They, um, are hugely discriminated against by most of the world, and schemed on by most of the wrold, who believe insane conspiracies about their country.
6. The World Cup is in America, the friendliest country to Israel in the world by a kilometer.
7. Israel and America are currently in a war to topple the Iranian regime, the country that schemed to kick Israel out of AFC which forced them to compete in European qualifcation for over half a century, a much more difficult endeavor.
8. Israel as a footballing nation has a higher world ranking than most of the best nations who failed to qualify for make the playoff.
9. Israel despite struggling with Norway and in the road match in Italy, produced arguably the most exciting match in WCQ against Italy, a 5-4 thriller which, at the very least, showed how exciting and effective they can be on the pitch.
10. Over the last half century, Iran has been the nation who has been trying to effectively wipe Israel off the map, failing to do so in spectacularly jarring fashion.

Morally, ethically, and based on on-pitch performance and having the deck literally stacked against them in ways that most other countries can't even imagine, Israel would make the most sense to anyone who isn't biased or a conspiracy nerd.

No thanks.

 

[Pedestrian]

Another day. Another idiot pops up with absolute bollocks.