The Official BHW 2026 Men's World Cup 2026 Lucky Dip - The Draw!

DAY 25 ROUND-UP

Well, yesterday was a day of two halves.

The first half was a thrilling 3-2 win for Argentina (@sms_chief_of_messaging) over Egypt (@onebink) in which even Lionel Messi could afford to miss a penalty. Again. But it's another struggling performance for the world champions and one wonders how they'll cope against stronger opposition.

The second half was Colombia (@Lifeisnotgood) losing on penalties to Switzerland (@Angelina.sk) in a game so tedious that I almost didn't watch it all. And it takes some crap game for me to stop watching. Even the penalty shoot-out was boring.

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Here's the draw for the quarter-finals:-

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In today's games.... oh shit. NO GAMES TODAY. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY LIFE. It's too hot for an existential crisis.
 
I made it pretty far with Columbia! ^^ I am happy.
For the remainder of the time, I’m rooting for my neighbor country, Norway. Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi!
 
Switzerland (@Angelina.sk) vs. Argentina (@sms_chief_of_messaging)
WHAT A MATCH IT WAS! After seeing Argentina win over Egypt in the round of 16.

I don't know what to expect now between Switzerland vs Argentina in the quarter-finals.

What's your view on Switzerland vs Argentina @SettingSun77 ?
 
DAY 26 ROUND-UP

So, no matches yesterday. I don't know about anyone else but I felt lost. I ended up doing actual housework to make up for it. But fortunately, the matches return today!

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It's France (@Cheyande) vs. Morocco (@Venusaur) today. Morocco continue to live up to their billing as the best African team in history and will be France's toughest test yet. However, France have been so good that it would be a huge shock if they lost here. So I'm expecting a 3-1 France win here.
 
DAY 27 ROUND-UP

France (@Cheyande) strolled through to the semi-finals with a comfortable win over Morocco (@Venusaur). They've barely looked like they've broken sweat the last couple of games so how well will they play when they actually have to make an effort? Spain or Belgium will find out soon enough.

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And tonight it is Spain (@Fransh) vs. Belgium (@Steptoe). Although I'd expect a Spain win (3-1), Belgium notably improved the last couple of matches and could give Spain an issue or two. But if Spain are anywhere near their best, they should go through.

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I feel like I could be friends with this guy.

 
And tonight it is Spain (@Fransh) vs. Belgium (@Steptoe). Although I'd expect a Spain win (3-1), Belgium notably improved the last couple of matches and could give Spain an issue or two. But if Spain are anywhere near their best, they should go through.
Well I'm backing my team at 9/2 on PaddyPower. GL @Fransh!
 
DAY 28 ROUND-UP

Well, Spain (@Fransh) struggled to break down the Belgians (@Steptoe) but eventually did so thanks to a goalkeeping error from substitute keeper Senne Lammens.

What did Courtois think about it?


Oh dear.

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*sigh* So I guess tonight we have to get England (@WinningLife) out of the way as they take on Norway (@thelightgame). I think this will be tight even despite the attacking talent on show. England will be too scared to lose, Norway are tight defensively. Going for a 1-1 draw and, unfortunately, England to win on penalties.

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An important public service announcement from the Dublin Fire Brigade.

 
DAY 29 ROUND-UP

Somehow I overlooked the fact that Switzerland (@Angelina.sk) were playing Argentina (@sms_chief_of_messaging) last night, probably because I was so distracted by the England match. Anyway, the Swiss aren't happy and Argentina didn't play great - and yet they're through to the semis.

Where, yes, they will play England (@WinningLife). They were very lucky and didn't deserve to win at all, so who knows what we'll get in that semi. Norway (@thelightgame) will only get better and could be a bigger force next time.

The other semi-final is, of course, France (@Cheyande) vs. Spain (@Fransh). No football tonight though. Or tomorrow! What am I supposed to do with my 'life'?
 
I don't know if it's Day 30 - do we count the days where there weren't any games? I don't know, I'm lost now.

Anyway:-

DAY 30 (?) ROUND-UP

It's the big one, today. France (@Cheyande) vs. Spain (@Fransh). The two best teams in the tournament clash one game before they should be and I would say whoever wins this will almost certainly win the whole thing.

France have been so good that at times they've barely got out of neutral - Spain have been brilliant in sections, but very good defensively. A really tough one to call but I have to side with France (even though I predicted Spain before the tournament), maybe to win it 2-0.
 
DAY 31 ROUND-UP

Congratulations to France (@Cheyande) on producing a performance so bad against Spain (@Fransh) yesterday that I was left wondering if their performances in the rest of the tournament were a mirage. Spain, however, saved their best for almost last.

And they will take on Argentina (@sms_chief_of_messaging) or England (@WinningLife) in the final. This semi-final has been accompanied by the usual English moaning about the Hand of God so here's hoping Messi punches one over Jordan Pickford tonight. Unfortunately I don't think it will be enough and I'm predicting a 3-1 England win.
 
We aint going to have a conspiracy on blackhatworld where a user called @WinningLife wins the sweepstake after all then? :)
BlackHat World would like to clarify for legal reasons that this is NOT a sweepstake but a lucky dip. Altogether now - it's a lucky dip!
 
DAY 32 ROUND-UP

Ahh, apologies for the late round-up. I was watching the highlights of yesterday's game. Again. And again.

Apologies to @WinningLife as well, but you're still in with a chance of winning something cool if England win the third place playoff! Argentina (@sms_chief_of_messaging) showed all the street smarts needed to win a big match - again. The final could be really, really good.
 
FINAL DAY!

Congratulations to @WinningLife! England's 6-4 (?!) win over France yesterday just earned them $100 of BHW merch or BHW store credit. Not bad at all!

Yeah, undoubtedly the maddest match of the World Cup so far between one team that took it far too seriously and another team that didn't give a shit until the second half. Football could be like this all the time!

And today, it's the big one. Spain (@Fransh) will be looking to wrest the cup from Argentina (@sms_chief_of_messaging). This is a real clash of styles and I've no idea if the game will be good. I think Spain will take it though, I'm going 3-1 to them.

Best of luck to the two finalists!
 
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