Topic: FIFA World Cup 2026 :Canada/Mexico/United States: Discussion Thread - page 252. (Read 62727 times)

The next world cup will be having a record 104 matches, compared to 64 during Qatar 2022. BTW, FIFA is expecting a revenue of $11 billion from the tournament, which will be an all time record if realized.

BTW, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the FIFA Club World Cup will be expanded to 32 teams, and will be played every 4 years. Currently it is being played in a knockout format, and only 7 teams (one from each confederation + winner of previous edition) takes part. Out of the 32 teams, 12 will be from UEFA. CONCACAF, AFC and CAF has been allotted 4 slots each. CONMEBOL and OFC are left with 6 and 1 slots respectively. Similar to the FIFA World Cup, this tournament can also become a major revenue generator for FIFA.

Here is a hypothetical scenario for FIFA Club World Cup:

And I imagined that Buffon had already retired a short time ago, but I found that he is still active lol, and even so, he has a relevant performance on the field.
Comparing Cristiano Ronaldo and Buffon, I don't know if this is plausible, we can analyze some specific points between them as players and that's all.

Cristiano Ronaldo still has an excellent shape for his age, but if he doesn't take care of himself, stop practicing sports / physical activities or things similar like  that, possibly his performance will have a drastic drop in the future.

I just don't see Ronaldo playing in the next world cup.

By signing up with his new team I think he basically decided to retire but still collect some nice checks for a couple of years.

There's no way he can be at the top level at that age and after playing years in a non-competitive league like the one he chose to join.
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Ronaldo will not play in the next World Cup, while Messi is in doubt. Thus day by day we will say goodbye to living legends, and we will not see the magic of such players on the stage of the best football like the World Cup.

Hypothetical assumptions may not be true all the times. You are assuming that he will get tired quickly, because he will be over 40 years by the time the next world cup begins. But I would say that even if he faces some disadvantage with the age, he will make that up with his skills and athleticism. Ronaldo is someone who always maintain a very good fitness level. Anyway, in the end if the coach feels that he is the right choice in the team, then he will be having a place in the starting XI. Else he will be replaced with some of the younger players.
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I just don't see Ronaldo playing in the next world cup.

By signing up with his new team I think he basically decided to retire but still collect some nice checks for a couple of years.

There's no way he can be at the top level at that age and after playing years in a non-competitive league like the one he chose to join.

Hypothetical assumptions may not be true all the times. You are assuming that he will get tired quickly, because he will be over 40 years by the time the next world cup begins. But I would say that even if he faces some disadvantage with the age, he will make that up with his skills and athleticism. Ronaldo is someone who always maintain a very good fitness level. Anyway, in the end if the coach feels that he is the right choice in the team, then he will be having a place in the starting XI. Else he will be replaced with some of the younger players.

yes I agree, he's an active player as an attacker and always runs and moves everywhere, he will get tired quickly and can not make a Portugal didn't effective yet if still let him play on 40 old years. Maybe will be different if let him play as a goalkeeper like Buffon, who in 45 years old and still exists an active player until now, because that position does not require a lot of movement on the field, only the Penalty zone area.

For the most part I completely agree with you, although to be honest I'm a fan of Messi. however, the era of Messi and Ronaldo has ended in the world cup and it is time to be replaced by a younger generation. speaking at the 2026 world cup later, these two stars will get older. that is, their prowess, skill, speed, agility will decline with age. it's time, in the upcoming world cup, these two stars let other young people take over their roles in their respective national teams and give them the opportunity to showcase their skills.

Talking about Messi's failure in the Champions League, we can't see it from one point of view. because, in football there are eleven players. as a team, PSG failed to advance to the next round. after all, PSG's defeat in the Champions league was caused by many factors as well. Messi has worked as best he could, unfortunately, he failed to bring his team to the next stage.

I guess you are wrong on this one. Messi is actually not too old for the World Cup 2026 as he is going to turn 39 during that World Cup. It is old, but it wouldn't be totally wild. Ronaldo would be 41, but his fitness is outstanding and it is very possible that he goes to the World Cup with Portugal but by then accepts to be sitting on the bench and get his moments whenever his coach needs him. It depends on the current coach and if his relationship works well with that coach until then, I think Ronaldo will be there. He wants all those records no matter how important or unimportant they are.

Ibrahimovic played for Sweden once more, which is interesting after such a long period of being injured that he was nominated. But he is also a beast when it comes to physical fitness.

I think attitude is one of the things that differentiate this two players, when it comes to humility, I see Messi as a player who understands and respects the value in other players, and for this, he is favored, Not saying that Ronaldo is arrogant and disrespectful, but I think he wasn't benched without a good reason..

Well, for me, I am of the opinion that if Messi will be playing during the 2026 world cup, then , there is the high probability that Ronaldo would play too, just that I think he would play like he was forced to, that is, he would play without total commitment or zeal, aftercall, that could be the last time both Messi and him(Ronaldo) will be playing FiFA world cup.

Well, talking about Euro 2024, i have no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to compete in this competition...
He is still active and is also currently playing football. I believe that approximately 1 year is not a significant period and I believe its performance cannot drop drastically.

But in the 2026 world cup, that is indeed something relevant, approximately 3 years will have passed, if he is not active (like today) and also out of shape, his chances of going to the 2026 world cup 2026 is almost 0.

ps:In my opinion, I also agree, this will not happen.

Both Messi and Ronaldo are at completely different places when it comes to their national teams, as we know Ronaldo is not happy with what happened during the world cup in which he was benched and they lost the best chance they had to get to the semifinals of the tournament, Messi on the other hand is on a honeymoon period with his national team and his fans since he was able to finally win the cup, and if I were to make a prediction I will say I am sure Messi will play with Argentina during the 2026 world cup, but when it comes to Ronaldo I do not think this will be the case.

I don't think how blind fanatic about both player fans between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo still comparison each other about their achievement not only with their team but also at national team level. No doubt with Lionel Messi last achievement with FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy but right now both player era have been ended.

Look at with Lionel Messi contribution for PSG actually in Champion League, he has failed give PSG champion league trophy and I don't think he need to discuss more exactly for FIFA World Cup 2026. Although both player have chance on the next World Cup I don't sure they have consistent and top performance again.

For years, people have compared Ronaldo and Messi's performances in professional leagues as well as their performances in national teams during the time when both were playing for professional teams. Also, now they are still comparable for many people when they get old Ronaldo joined the Asian teams while Messi is still playing in Europe and Messi got a better situation on his national team I think with the situation we see, Messi got more chances to be in 2026 if we are going to see one of these players playing in the world cup.

I think nobody is comparing the two players, what we are trying to say here is that we might've saw both players last appearance in World Cup because even if we say that both are still capable and so enthusiastic in the sport, there will be always a time that both of them need to give their farewell to the sport because even if they will still like to play, their body just cannot handle it especially in the intense games. As of now, they sure can still play impressively, but when they start to step on their 40s, I really doubt if that is still the case.

That's a good point I haven't been thinking about yet. But of course now as you say it, it makes so much sense that if you are used to having this one option in the front line who constantly scores or is waiting for assists, it is hard to change your game out of a sudden for a few games per year. It's like driving a car and having someone with you who navigates 50 times per year, and 5 times per year you need to do it on your own. You'll never become perfect at both things.

The only player I think has the great talent to switch into whatever role is needed during a game is Musiala. That guy is the perfect all-rounder. He knows how to defend, how to be creative and play the perfect pass, how to go into 1vs1 and how to speed up and dribble or slow down for strategic reasons, and he is still young and can further develop. What surprises me so often when I see him play is that nobody would expect his physical strength. I mean seriously, who would think that he isn't falling down when a hercules defender is crashing into him? He has such an amazing balance on his feet, it's hard to tear him down or to stop him. It reminds me a little bit of Messi. You can't take him down, it just doesn't work. That's nice to watch and I like that style. Not the actor style like Neymar who is a brilliant player but a cry baby.

Comparing Qatar and America or Canada is not right. We know Qatar is a small country and we know they have fewer citizens but they also have a much better financial situation in their country that's why building new stadiums with the last technologies was not hard for them, But regarding America, Canada, and Mexico they have even more stadiums and they won't need to spend money like Qatar for the world cup.

Qatar is a small nation of 300,000 citizens and they had one or two quality stadiums before winning the world cup hosting rights. Once they won the rights, they spent close to $300 billion in building stadiums and the associated infrastructure. On the other hand, USA has a population that is 1,000x of that of Qatar and they do have some very good stadiums existing in many of the major cities. Given the economic boost that the world cup can bring to the hosting nations, it should not be a tough task to renovate the existing stadiums.

It depends from his performance and how far his national team could go in 2024 EURO tournament. The fact that he is playing in a lower league and getting far from European competitions will have an impact for sure in my opinion but CR7 is the kind of fighters that will stay whenever he feels there is a chance and who will quit whenever he feels things aren't going well.

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I see a lot of talks about stadiums. Qatar didn't have any and they built wonderful ones. USA have already many and it should not be a big deal to improve them.

They have been young players that have been captained in the past the likes Fabrigas at Arsenal, Torres at Atletico Odegard at Norway and also Neymar at Brazil. Some of these players went on to great players individually but did they win any trophies with their respective club and countries? I doubt. Leadership should be giving according to succession to allow orderliness in the squad. Also been a team leader is not about just wearing the armband but controlling the dressing room and this is gotten from not just any player.

Surely Ronaldo cannot play in the 2026 world cup, but he would play in the 2024 Euro tournament. Ronaldo has not distanced himself from the Portuguese national team, he was called up by their new manager Roberto Martinez, and he also started in their Euro qualifiers game tonight against Liechtenstein, and he has scored 2 goals in this game, and the match is yet to end, so i feel Ronaldo would be fit for the Euro tournament next year, and after that i expect him to retire, he can't play in 2026 world cup.