2026 FIFA World Cup - General Chat

[verreauxi]

No, plenty of people are despite all the disgracefulness surrounding it. The football figures to be tremendous and once the matches start there still will be fantastic moments that make everyone remember why they love this tournament so much.

It’s just that the people turned off by it have this weird urge to tell everyone.

I believe this thread is called "general chat" so your characterization of a "weird urge" is just dumb.

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

No, plenty of people are despite all the disgracefulness surrounding it. The football figures to be tremendous and once the matches start there still will be fantastic moments that make everyone remember why they love this tournament so much.

It’s just that the people turned off by it have this weird urge to tell everyone.

The reality is that once the games start, we'll watch. Especially in the states b/c the times will be normal for us. And it'll be on TV. And free.

But physically going to the games - we aren't going simply because of the ridiculous cost and the fact many of these games are just physically difficult to get to.

 

[DualityNSNO]

The reality is that once the games start, we'll watch. Especially in the states b/c the times will be normal for us. And it'll be on TV. And free.

But physically going to the games - we aren't going simply because of the ridiculous cost and the fact many of these games are just physically difficult to get to.

And the fact you never know what will happen at the stadiums before it actually does. No doubt some shenanigans there too.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Everybody should acknowledge what a farce it is, Whether you watch it or not. Ignore it and you're giving them the rights to do it over and over again.

It's an utter disgrace and I'll keep on about that, everybody should. but I know I'll probably be watching it, I wont be staying up stupid hours or going out of my way, but I know it will catch me at some point.

I mean every World Cup is a disgrace now. We had disgraces in South Africa, Brazil, Russia and Qatar. It’s been two decades since we’ve had a totally ethical tournament. It’s more disappointing that a country, my country, that is supposed to have a bit of a moral code is doing it too, and I get the outrage being greater as a result, but let’s not pretend that this isn’t essentially part of this tournament. And really it always has been.

 

[summerisle]

Bargain

Now just need Tony Hibbert to meet and greet.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I believe this thread is called "general chat" so your characterization of a "weird urge" is just dumb.

Meant it more broadly, people all over talking about how uninterested they are. We get it.

 

[TheBigIguana]

The reality is that once the games start, we'll watch. Especially in the states b/c the times will be normal for us. And it'll be on TV. And free.

But physically going to the games - we aren't going simply because of the ridiculous cost and the fact many of these games are just physically difficult to get to.

The prices are a big disappointment. I may still make one or two, but 8 years ago I hoped to make a week out of it and that’s just not possible.

 

[Swartzy]

I mean every World Cup is a disgrace now. We had disgraces in South Africa, Brazil, Russia and Qatar. It’s been two decades since we’ve had a totally ethical tournament. It’s more disappointing that a country, my country, that is supposed to have a bit of a moral code is doing it too, and I get the outrage being greater as a result, but let’s not pretend that this isn’t essentially part of this tournament. And really it always has been.

The public has to stand up at some point, if you don't you lose your right to complain.

My issues have nothing to do with the American people, It's the people at the top, and realistically that has to mean the people that back them, because they wouldn't be there without the backing.

The World Cup or any major Tournament should be about the event, the participants and the fans.
once the off field events takes over the on field events, you're heading one way.

 

[MrPerfectNot]

The prices are a big disappointment. I may still make one or two, but 8 years ago I hoped to make a week out of it and that’s just not possible.

Exactly - I had faint hopes that Denver would host some matches, but that wasn't realistic due to our altitude and location.

Second thought was a week of seeing matches, but with ticket costs where they are plus travel, I chose to just subscribe to FoxOne for 3 wks and will watch that way.

 

[verreauxi]

The Ivor

The public has to stand up at some point, if you don't you lose your right to complain.

My issues have nothing to do with the American people, It's the people at the top, and realistically that has to mean the people that back them, because they wouldn't be there without the backing.

The World Cup or any major Tournament should be about the event, the participants and the fans.
once the off field events takes over the on field events, you're heading one way.

There is obviously something very wrong with an international tournament when several countries fans have been denied the possibility to watch their own team play (eg Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Haiti, Iran, etc. ).

 

[Nymzee]

Who’d have thought we’d have world cups in places like Qatar and Russia and yet this one seems by far the most controversial

 

[Connor]

I’m looking forward to it. Could be a disaster, could be amazing.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Exactly - I had faint hopes that Denver would host some matches, but that wasn't realistic due to our altitude and location.

Second thought was a week of seeing matches, but with ticket costs where they are plus travel, I chose to just subscribe to FoxOne for 3 wks and will watch that way.

Yeah I was hoping Baltimore would be picked as well, and honestly it’s a better choice than a vast number of the venues that were picked with where the stadium is and ease of getting people in and out, but we probably dodged a bullet not having it happen. I might make a single game in Philly and/or the meadowlands.

 

[Drico]

Honestly I think there’s enough quality in the world to support 48 now. The issue with this one, imo at least, is the three hosts all got bids but Concacaf got the same number anyway. Haiti, Curaçao and Panama are all in the bottom 6 or so of weakest teams.

Yes, there is enough quality for 48 - but not, as you say, in the current qualification allocations. That said, as much as I think a few more European and African qualifiers would be of a higher standard than some of the minnows from other confederations, I am not sure we're really going to miss the likes of Denmark, Ireland, Wales, Peru, and Romania. Truth be told, 48 is only a half-way house before the inevitable expansion to 64 gives China - Infantino's dream qualifier - its place.

 

[Drico]

I always enjoy the World Cup for the sheer World Cupness of it all. And despite the overweening Yank fakery and commercialism, who doesn't love World Cup football in the Azteca!

I will ignore the politics for now - in so much as it will allow me. But Vance or Trump and their evil grids will quickly show up in a box on TV and we'll all remember we are reliving Berlin 1936, so there is that.

The format will be a slow-burn battle of attrition for two weeks, but the last 32 promises unexpected drama. I think people will need to be patient with the group stage which will become something akin to what the qualifiers now are vis-a-vis what they used to be prior to the expansions.

The first two weeks are mere preliminaries. But the knockouts will provide their fair share of thrills and spills, even if it will become something of a six-week slog by the end.

For this reason, the football will be slow...which plays into the hands of the best technical sides who can keep the ball. For this reason, Spain would be my tip. They will likely deal with the climate better than, say, Netherlands or England will.