World Cup '26 qualifiers discussion

[MagIX]

The same was said about PSG without Mbappé….

 

[Messi983]

Cape Verde have become the second-smallest nation to reach the World Cup after the islanders beat Eswatini 3-0 at home.

Victory meant the Blue Sharks secured top spot in their qualifying group and a place at the 2026 finals ahead of continental heavyweights Cameroon.

An archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, with a population of just under 525,000 according to the latest figures from the World Bank, Cape Verde gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and first attempted to reach the 2002 World Cup hosted in Japan and South Korea.

Congrats!

 

[Gnidrologist]

How many teams will be in this next WC? 128?

 

[TheStig]

Soon they'll have to make up new countries so the WC can keep extending.

 

[Temptation]

"Cristiano Ronaldo has ancestral roots in Cape Verde through his paternal great-grandmother, Isabel da Piedade."

Fun fact: CR7 is around 6% black.

@Fati_Future_BallonDor

 

[Rebels Blaugranes]

Cape Verde have become the second-smallest nation to reach the World Cup after the islanders beat Eswatini 3-0 at home.

Victory meant the Blue Sharks secured top spot in their qualifying group and a place at the 2026 finals ahead of continental heavyweights Cameroon.

An archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, with a population of just under 525,000 according to the latest figures from the World Bank, Cape Verde gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and first attempted to reach the 2002 World Cup hosted in Japan and South Korea.

Congrats!

Who is the smallest nation to get to world cup?

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

"Cristiano Ronaldo has ancestral roots in Cape Verde through his paternal great-grandmother, Isabel da Piedade."

Fun fact: CR7 is around 6% black.

@Fati_Future_BallonDor

that would explain why he was so fast in his prime

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Nations League is the modern WC these days

 

[Porque]

Who is the smallest nation to get to world cup?

Chile.

 

[Messi983]

Who is the smallest nation to get to world cup?

Iceland

 

[Rebels Blaugranes]

Nations League is the modern WC these days

That explains why you think Ronaldo is most complete player ever.

Its the wrong thread , but you cant say that and expect no one gonna pick you up on it.

Especially people like me , who live here.

 

[Messi983]

Iceland

Based on population ofc. By area Iceland is 25 times larger than Cape Verde.

Ranking the countries by population is the right thing to do here though imo. It's people who play football not square kilometres.

 

[Rebels Blaugranes]

Based on population ofc. By area Iceland is 25 times larger than Cape Verde.

Ranking the countries by population is the right thing to do here though imo. It's people who play football not square kilometres.

I get what you are putting across.

350k Iceland vs 525 for Verde.

 

[soul24rage]

But why should they be in any kind of playoffs? Playoffs are usually for teams that qualify for them in the preliminary stage.
How does NL enter into this? They're probably down bottom there too.

I'm not exactly sure of the ins and outs, but seems like they are in a position to qualify in the play offs based on their NL placement. I guess we'll see how this all plays out

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Messi983]

It's just UEFA trying to make NL looking a relevant competition.