2026 World Cup Qualifiers

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Watched the Socceroos beat Indonesia last night and 2 things stood out

Firstly, by some miracle, we actually scored some goals

Last time I watched the Socceroos, they were absolutely dire - couldn’t defend and their attack was based around hoofing the ball upfield to one random attacker who generally wasn’t in the same postcode as the ball

Like something out of the dark ages so at least we have improved

The second thing is how easy it is to qualify

Australia is in one of 2 groups of 5 teams

Top 2 from each group automatically qualify

3rd place finishers from each group then playoff for another spot

Loser of that match then plays off against another team for another spot

Hypothetically, 6/10 teams will make the finals

Might as well just say “fk it, you’re all in”

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Went to the All Whites vs. Fiji game this evening as a last minute choice. Seats right near the tunnel, which was great for seeing the players. But overrun with kids trying to get signatures at full time for the last 10 minutes.

 

[Molehill]

Watched the Socceroos beat Indonesia last night and 2 things stood out

Firstly, by some miracle, we actually scored some goals

Last time I watched the Socceroos, they were absolutely dire - couldn’t defend and their attack was based around hoofing the ball upfield to one random attacker who generally wasn’t in the same postcode as the ball

Like something out of the dark ages so at least we have improved

The second thing is how easy it is to qualify

Australia is in one of 2 groups of 5 teams

Top 2 from each group automatically qualify

3rd place finishers from each group then playoff for another spot

Loser of that match then plays off against another team for another spot

Hypothetically, 6/10 teams will make the finals

Might as well just say “fk it, you’re all in”

I see Yengi was an unused substitute. He's either been injured or rubbish for Portsmouth this season. But the young centre back we've recently signed (Hayden Matthews) looks a proper talent. A shame he got injured but suspect he'll be an Aussie starter in the next year or so (only 20 at the mo). We also have Jacob Farrell (left back, injured virtually all season) and Tom Waddingham (19 year old striker), but not seen enough of those 2 to have any idea if they'll be International level.

 

[andruid]

Epic 3 all draw with the Gambia for my Harambee Stars. Folk are lambasting team captain Olunga for missing 1st half sitter, but he scored the penalty that started the comeback from 2-0 down.

 

[ripper868]

48 teams is ridiculous.

Also ridiculous that some group winners will play 3rd place finishers and other others will play runner ups in the Ro32.

Ridiculous.

Look forward to it.

 

[Molehill]

48 teams is ridiculous.

Also ridiculous that some group winners will play 3rd place finishers and other others will play runner ups in the Ro32.

Ridiculous.

Look forward to it.

There's rumours that the following one will have 64 teams, as it's 100 years since the first competition. It's almost harder not to qualify. FIFA in trying to make more money than make it entertaining as usual...

 

[CartyDurham]

It’s pretty difficult to not qualify now for the iversen nations

been reading a book on the 82 England World Cup squad and how England failed to qualify after 1970 for anything until the Euros of 1980

even the 82 squad nearly made a hash of qualify but then went unbeaten in the tournament but went out on GD to west Germany

these days England stroll through qualifiers

 

[ripper868]

Just put every nation into a home/away leagues system year round - 10 nations per league, promotion/relegation for top/bottom 2 sides.
Concurrent cup competition. Chad away for England would be an amazing trip.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Just put every nation into a home/away leagues system year round - 10 nations per league, promotion/relegation for top/bottom 2 sides.
Concurrent cup competition. Chad away for England would be an amazing trip.

One suspects his ripperness is taking the Mickey Bliss, but really there's no reason why WC qualifiers couldn't be global nowadays.

Every tournie someone like the Netherlands, Italy or Chile miss out. Whilst acknowledging this is in no way not piss funny, it's pretty hard to argue they would bring more to the table than yer Panamas, yer Hondurases or yer Australias Qatars.

 

[CartyDurham]

I think the major sponsors would stop any chance of the higher ranked nations failing to qualify

you get runner ups qualifying then sometimes third place teams going into a play two legged match

you get the South America teams finishing 7th getting to play a lowly ranked team from Oceania to qualify

 

[sledger]

I misread the title of the thread as 2006 World Cup qualifiers, and then realised how that tournament was nearly 20 years ago.

 

[Molehill]

I think the major sponsors would stop any chance of the higher ranked nations failing to qualify

You mean like Italy or Netherlands?

I misread the title of the thread as 2006 World Cup qualifiers, and then realised how that tournament was nearly 20 years ago.

I was on a Stag Do in Cambridge for the QF's playing pairs pub golf. We took 2 hours off for the Portugal game, the mood sure changed after that. I got paired up with a guy who flew in from NZ the night before, had a feeling we'd struggle, but I didn't imagine having to down a packet of crisps would be the moment he cracked.

 

[CartyDurham]

You mean like Italy or Netherlands?



I was on a Stag Do in Cambridge for the QF's playing pairs pub golf. We took 2 hours off for the Portugal game, the mood sure changed after that. I got paired up with a guy who flew in from NZ the night before, had a feeling we'd struggle, but I didn't imagine having to down a packet of crisps would be the moment he cracked.

Indeed two outliers recent tournaments

could. you imagine a World Cup without Germany Brazil, Argentina, England, Spain in the near future ?

Those nations are where the major sponsors ,Nike, adidas etc really cash in with kit and all the rest

and tv companies

 

[wpdavid]

It’s pretty difficult to not qualify now for the iversen nations
been reading a book on the 82 England World Cup squad and how England failed to qualify after 1970 for anything until the Euros of 1980
even the 82 squad nearly made a hash of qualify but then went unbeaten in the tournament but went out on GD to west Germany
these days England stroll through qualifiers

Different days of course. Knocked out of the 1974 and 1978 WC qualifiers by teams who went on to finish 3rd and 4th respectively, and knocked out of the 1976 euro qualifiers by the team who went on to win it. As you say, we were dead lucky to qualify in 1982 actually, courtesy of the Swiss, who were only a little above minnow status in those days, fluking a win in Romania. Always liked the Swiss since then.

Are you sure we were knocked out on goal difference by West Germany in the second group stage? I thought they acquired one more point than us by actually beating Spain whereas we could only draw with the hosts. The problem for us in that tournament was that the goals dried up. 3 in the first match againt France, 2 in the next match against the Czechs, one against Kuwait and none in either of our two matches in the second group stage.

The Scots, however, were knocked out unbeaten on goal difference in 1974.


What's the book btw?

 

[CartyDurham]

Different days of course. Knocked out of the 1974 and 1978 WC qualifiers by teams who went on to finish 3rd and 4th respectively, and knocked out of the 1976 euro qualifiers by the team who went on to win it. As you say, we were dead lucky to qualify in 1982 actually, courtesy of the Swiss, who were only a little above minnow status in those days, fluking a win in Romania. Always liked the Swiss since then.

Are you sure we were knocked out on goal difference by West Germany in the second group stage? I thought they acquired one more point than us by actually beating Spain whereas we could only draw with the hosts. The problem for us in that tournament was that the goals dried up. 3 in the first match againt France, 2 in the next match against the Czechs, one against Kuwait and none in either of our two matches in the second group stage.

The Scots, however, were knocked out unbeaten on goal difference in 1974.


What's the book btw?

The England book?

Out of the Shadows

Out of the Shadows: The Story of the 1982 England World Cup Team is a detailed account of how the national side - World Cup winners in 1966 - went through years in the football wilderness, missing two World Cup finals through inglorious failure. The appointment of Ron Greenwood as manager...

www.worldofbooks.com

 

[CartyDurham]

Different days of course. Knocked out of the 1974 and 1978 WC qualifiers by teams who went on to finish 3rd and 4th respectively, and knocked out of the 1976 euro qualifiers by the team who went on to win it. As you say, we were dead lucky to qualify in 1982 actually, courtesy of the Swiss, who were only a little above minnow status in those days, fluking a win in Romania. Always liked the Swiss since then.

Are you sure we were knocked out on goal difference by West Germany in the second group stage? I thought they acquired one more point than us by actually beating Spain whereas we could only draw with the hosts. The problem for us in that tournament was that the goals dried up. 3 in the first match againt France, 2 in the next match against the Czechs, one against Kuwait and none in either of our two matches in the second group stage.

The Scots, however, were knocked out unbeaten on goal difference in 1974.


What's the book btw?

You are right germany won 2-1 v spain whereas England drew 0-0 v Spain and Germany

sorry for that oversight

43 year ago now

 

[social]

I think the major sponsors would stop any chance of the higher ranked nations failing to qualify

you get runner ups qualifying then sometimes third place teams going into a play two legged match

you get the South America teams finishing 7th getting to play a lowly ranked team from Oceania to qualify

Still needs work to ensure all money countries qualify

Saudi (host of 2034 World Cup) and China (potentially biggest market of all) might miss out from Australia’s group

 

[social]

I see Yengi was an unused substitute. He's either been injured or rubbish for Portsmouth this season. But the young centre back we've recently signed (Hayden Matthews) looks a proper talent. A shame he got injured but suspect he'll be an Aussie starter in the next year or so (only 20 at the mo). We also have Jacob Farrell (left back, injured virtually all season) and Tom Waddingham (19 year old striker), but not seen enough of those 2 to have any idea if they'll be International level.

Haven’t been taking much notice as Australia have been awful to watch but apparently have been hammered by injuries while the previous coach adopted an ultra conservative approach with regards to selection

Some experts are predicting (I.e. hoping) that the WC squad will look very different as our youth squads are among the world’s best & it’s long past time for a generational change

 

[Ali TT]

Seems to be quite a few Albanian fans at Wembley. Their team are reasonably competent but if Kane had buried his chance in the first half it'd probably be 4-0 now rather than still being a nervy single goal lead.

 

[CartyDurham]

kane’s goal was a quality finish

it was a bit spooky that at the same time an ex bayern striker scored for Poland lewandowski

goal alerts came up simultaneously