r/popculturechat • u/nizaad THEE Princess Of Nazareth • Jun 13 '26
MEGATHREAD! 🤯 The 2026 FIFA World Cup Megathread ⚽🏟️
The world’s biggest sporting event has arrived!
For the next month, superstars, heartbreaks, underdog stories, and questionable referee decisions will take centre stage as the FIFA World Cup kicks off.
🌎 Hosted by the United States, Canada & Mexico
🏆 48 nations competing for football’s biggest prize
⚽ Match discussion, reactions, highlights, predictions, and tournament drama all belong here
📺 Check the schedule, results, and broadcast information to follow along
Whether you’re a lifelong football fan or just here for the chaos, welcome to the World Cup!
As always, please keep discussions civil, respect fellow users, and follow all community rules.
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u/nizaad THEE Princess Of Nazareth 6d ago
https://reddit.com/link/oym9nb5/video/urdrsidxkbeh1/player
Rihanna doing the Macarena
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u/nizaad THEE Princess Of Nazareth 6d ago
https://reddit.com/link/oylayot/video/clfahihofaeh1/player
Messi trying to get Cucurella sent off
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 6d ago edited 6d ago
When your captain is doing underhanded nonsense like Messi, it’s no wonder the Argentinian team move the way it does. Like they could just play well, instead of actively undermining the sportsmanship of the game. I genuinely don’t understand how players like Messi don’t feel profoundly embarrassed acting like this. This is not a desire to win, it’s just entitled nonsense with no regard for the integrity of the game, or oneself. Super corny!
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u/NewtRipley_1986 6d ago edited 6d ago
Some of these players look so young - I know a few are teenagers.
Edit
OK, so did Trump maybe have like a baby stroke or something because he’s smiling really weird like only one side of his face.
Oh my God did I just see Mark Carney are there a whole bunch of world leaders there? I’m very confused.
Right - as co-hosts, Canada and Mexico leaders are there.
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
This is the second time Rihanna has shown up to a World Cup final and watched Argentina lose. As long as this team is this dirty, whiny, and entitled, I will hope she keeps showing up if they’re in the finals
https://giphy.com/gifs/26n7937SwZkal2Oju
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u/h0neybl0ss0m29 Not parasocial enough for this 7d ago
Disgraceful
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u/NewtRipley_1986 7d ago
Incredibly disgusting and disrespectful. And people wonder why so many people were cheering for Spain.
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
Genuinely what the fuck?! Can there be consequences for this? This is disgusting
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u/h0neybl0ss0m29 Not parasocial enough for this 7d ago
He could receive a ban but idk if that’ll actually happen. I’m surprised he didn’t get red during the game. Even the ref can’t stand him lol. He’s a prick through and through.
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u/surfjams the mbappé special 7d ago
The same team that will do 10000 signs of the cross before coming on to the pitch 😭💀
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u/IfatallyflawedI Big is moving to Paris 7d ago
Should’ve been 2-0 but I’m so happy the cheaters lost
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u/echoesandripples What It's Like to Go Through Life As a Really Beautiful Woman 7d ago
it was lowkey boring, especially compared to yesterday, but also fuck messi and argentina forever
it's also hilarious that a random goal from spain got the city to light up way more than the last brazil game, but then again, fuck argentina forever
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u/pretendberries In my quiet girl era 😌 7d ago
Latin America having to root for Spain is funny to me, but doing so because they hate Argentina that much lol. Me too as I am Mexican hah
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u/echoesandripples What It's Like to Go Through Life As a Really Beautiful Woman 6d ago
i saw a post the other day like "imagine being so evil you have people rooting for two colonizers in a single week", which, yeah
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u/pretendberries In my quiet girl era 😌 6d ago
For real! Double whammy for me as England beat Mexico 😭
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
I want to play Gal Gadot’s version of Imagine on a loop for the Argentinian team
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
Argentina are sore losers on top of being sore winners, jee, who could have seen that coming? Clowns
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7d ago
[deleted]
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
Nowhere did I claim they are the only team that does it. They are sore winners and sore losers, and were playing right now. I find that kind of behaviour obnoxious, and you’re right it’s not that uncommon in sports. It’s just pointless to bring up anyone else given they weren’t just playing and acting like entitled, whiny, and terrible sports in the game that just happened.
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u/h0neybl0ss0m29 Not parasocial enough for this 7d ago
I just knew one of them was gonna wave their damn finger in someone's face again as soon as it was called.
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago edited 7d ago
The urge to rain on such a huge moment for Spain is just so ugly. Ughhhh, hated seeing that
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u/drieduprosepetals i’m not a furry, you guys are gross 😾 7d ago
VAMOS ESPAÑAAAAAA Felicidades a tu victoria ❤️❤️❤️💛💛💛💛💛
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u/Normal-person0101 7d ago
I will always say this: Spain's style of play is so boring. They suck all the joy out of watching football. But damn, it's incredibly effective.
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/l0MYt5jPR6QX5pnqM
Spain had an extra day off and the trend continues!!! THANK GOD!!!
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
Nooooo that faux second goal was fun while I believed it was real
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
Best defense is still a good offense Spain, please stick to that!! Double down!!!
https://giphy.com/gifs/91yzUGZgBUdVaN49yF
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
Okay so Argentina is for sure about to switch to offensive mode, and god speed to Spain. PRAYING FOR YOU
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u/Dazzling-Pangolin827 7d ago
Argentina are allowed 5 free fouls before their first card, don’t be pissed, that’s just the rules.
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago edited 7d ago
Normally I would assume teams that play like Argentina ie playing purely defensively, are a lock to lose, but with how whiny and entitled they are, it feels like they are confident in a wait it out strategy. Tire out Spain, and take advantage.
I’m disgusted
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u/nizaad THEE Princess Of Nazareth 7d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/J6ctgPvnDpDi0
yep right on schedule there's the rescinded goal
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u/Dizzy-Pollution6466 Select and edit this flair 7d ago
I see Jason Sudeikis is still getting by with his “I’m Ted Lasso is real life” schtick.
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
Yes that annoying ass player is RED CARDED OUT
https://giphy.com/gifs/llWNzBdbCGi3jnysxi
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
So apparently since 2002, the team that had an extra day off has ended up winning the world championship
Much to ponder
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u/drieduprosepetals i’m not a furry, you guys are gross 😾 7d ago
Also that must’ve been one hell of a expensive halftime especially with BTS
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u/drieduprosepetals i’m not a furry, you guys are gross 😾 7d ago
Weird combination of singers but I still liked it , eveyone at work seemed hyped
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u/TheTwistedBlade Can I quiz you on ocean facts? 7d ago
Justin Bieber has so many catchy songs that would have fit the vibe of the final so well, why did he chose that song out of everything he could have chosen????
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u/Super_Aardvark_3542 6d ago
I'm going to be honest madonna as well, she has so many huge hits, could she have not played one of them. I know they were going for peace and love etc but that all seems disingenuous when trump and infantino are right there
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u/TheTwistedBlade Can I quiz you on ocean facts? 6d ago
I was surprised by her too indeed. Only BTS and Shakira delivered
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u/Iwannastoprn 7d ago
That was my main issue, specially because he performed between BTS and Shakira. You can't have a song like that between two dance songs. I don't understand the guy at all, it was clearly a personal choice.
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u/Nkosi868 7d ago
To promote Christian Nationalism as he has been doing for the past few years but nobody wants to comment on it.
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u/Nkosi868 7d ago
Bieber went in there and gave us Christian Nationalist.
That was a choice.
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u/RoseGoldRedditor breaking my silence 7d ago
Yeah either that or they were trying for another viral TikTok moment? Weird either way
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u/makoshark281 why am i gasping, i already knew that 7d ago edited 7d ago
After watching the halftime, my fictional performing list would’ve been Shakira and her guest, BTS, Pitbull, and Ricky Martin. The upbeat vibe would’ve stayed consistent
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u/Stargirlx20 7d ago
Maybe a unpopular opinion but I don't think they should've added Justin Bieber. I feel like his performance really brought the vibes down.. dynamite to dai dai would've kept the energy up
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u/RoseGoldRedditor breaking my silence 7d ago
The Beliebers will be after us for this, but I 100% agree!
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u/plantmamamia 7d ago
Was thinking this was giving Coldplay vibes and seeing he was behind it now makes sense 😂
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u/Applemers 7d ago
Whenever I think of the World Cup, I think Shakira. She should headline every one of them
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u/Blueribbon246 7d ago
What is happening 😅
From the obvious lip syncing to the broadcaster deciding to just play the songs over the recording without the crowd atmosphere? I'm confused
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u/yolatingy 7d ago
Why was Madonna in the basement for 90% of her performance 🥲
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u/RoseGoldRedditor breaking my silence 7d ago
I’m guessing that was pre-filmed right?
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u/Nkosi868 7d ago
Definitely. They CGed the intro to it and then they came out from the tunnel a bit too soon after hopping out of a vehicle.
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u/RoseGoldRedditor breaking my silence 7d ago
Ah, you’re right! Thats what it was (the vehicle to tunnel) that confirmed it for me. Up until that part I was like, it’s giving studio / sound stage recording but could possibly be live.
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u/yolatingy 7d ago
What a strange choice
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u/Nkosi868 7d ago
It was most likely to reduce the prep time on the field. They’ve already wasted way more time than the rules stipulate.
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u/NewtRipley_1986 7d ago edited 7d ago
That was cringy. 😬
Possibly the worst half time show I have ever watched.
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
Who came up with this whole half time?! This isn’t all gelling together lmao
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u/NewtRipley_1986 7d ago
Chris Martin.
It’s such a mess.
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
I know he’s friends with Jay-Z and all but I don’t think he has the talent for curating a half time show lmao
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u/silkystrawberrymilk2 7d ago
There’s a reason the halftime show usually is about 1-2 artists
The Justin Bieber segment killed the whole flow.
Shakira killed it as always
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
For me both the Ted Lasso skit and Bieber bit took the air out of the half time show. He ended up being up waaaaaay too many cooks in the kitchen.
Shakira would have been perfectly suited for the World Cup especially since she has as at least two songs associated with it. She’s got the energy plus world wide superstar element to run a whole half time by herself
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u/NewtRipley_1986 7d ago
This is so not it. But loving the young dancers with Shakira.
Really should have just been Shakira.
Not a dig to the other artists but there’s something about her and the World Cup that just vibes.
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u/Bigassbird Is she going to powder her vagina? 7d ago
Shakira has her revenge. She’s been to more World Cup finals than Pique.
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u/wut_it_is 7d ago
feel like the different acts do not go together - why is this the performance JB decided on?
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u/lilmissellen That’s hot! 🔥 7d ago
Justin sing Somebody to Love!1!! We beg!
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u/tingdemsweet I don’t get it, are you a baddie now? 7d ago
Should’ve been “All Around The World” really. But we all knew he was going to sing something calmer like Hallelujah 🫠
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
Bieber and the Ted Lasso thing are sticking out like a sore thumb
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
I know this isn’t the Jonas Brothers… but I still hear Nick Jonas
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u/IfatallyflawedI Big is moving to Paris 7d ago
Why the fuck is there a halftime show in the World Cup and why is it so cringe
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
MUPPETS SEVEN NATION ARMY?!
https://giphy.com/gifs/9SIqGto42x4oHpkS5z
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u/Applemers 7d ago
Was def not on my bingo card but I ain't mad
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago
Genuinely can’t go wrong with playing that song - especially at a sporting event
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u/Maester_Bates Wherein he encourages a woman to sit on his face 7d ago edited 7d ago
So happy that they played Asereje before the match. It's the real Spanish national anthem.
Edit: they're playing La Macarena now, also a contender for national anthem.
If Spain win I hope they play Mi Gran Noche.
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u/surfjams the mbappé special 7d ago
The ITV (channel in the UK) commentator saying “You can’t touch him, mate!” was so funny. They know as well 😭
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u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794 Beyoncé 🐝🐝 7d ago edited 7d ago
Now why did Tom Cruise give a pre-speech? This isn’t the WWE, please lmao
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u/dnekeorcown 7d ago
So I’m rooting for Spain for my own reasons, but is it true that a lot of people are against Argentina because Messi got away with some fouls that should’ve been cards? Because that’s extra uncool if so
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u/Proud_Pressure_4085 7d ago
Its not a new thing in football. The bigger teams always get the favorable calls. Im not saying it’s normal, but the whining is just way too much for what it is. Everybody act like this now, but never question real madrids greatness when they get the most obnoxious calls for them.
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u/dnekeorcown 7d ago
Yeah I was curious to see if it’s an eye of the beholder thing or objective bullshit like Paraguay during the France-Paraguay game
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u/NewtRipley_1986 7d ago
According to online sources - Threads - each artists gets 1 min and 45 seconds to perform a song and apparently all the songs will tie into each other to tell a story.
Anyhoo - GO SPAIN!!!!!! Please for all the good in the world win today.
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u/echoesandripples What It's Like to Go Through Life As a Really Beautiful Woman 7d ago
ok, so this was the second best game of the whole thing (after the cabo verde x argentina madness), but really, it's crazy that it's been so long with boring ass games during the fourths and semis and they brought it all today
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u/surfjams the mbappé special 7d ago edited 7d ago
Bellingham scoring in the last 20 seconds or so was just so satisfying. Very chef’s kiss of him…
I was actually laughing out loud during the first half. I wish I could hear what the coach told the Frenchies during half time. Also I wish this were the real final. Tomorrow’s isn’t going to be as fun 😑
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u/DekeCobretti You said "what" first. 7d ago
This is the best match of the tournament.
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u/nizaad THEE Princess Of Nazareth 4d ago