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2026 FIFA World Cup - General Chat

Drico said:
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.
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Does that actually move the needle? I know there are the billions of people at play but do the Chinese care enough? I guess it doesn’t matter, growth is growth.
 
TheBigIguana said:
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.
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We're plumbing new levels now, though. Stopping referees coming in and accusing them of consorting with terrorists is disgraceful. Up to now, it was mainly the poor serfs building the stadiums who were victims. Now, even the refs or players can't be sure of getting in - and if they do they will be subjected to a frisking on an airport tarmac. Even Putin allowed visa-free entry to Russia.

But yeah, FIFA have always enjoyed a dictatorship, as Argentina '78 showed. America is showing a very ugly face to the world - including to those of us who, complacently, assumed it was a force, overall and on balance, for some form of good. Good hosts don't frisk you before you cross their threshold. Petty stuff like this - and it is petty compared to the usual bombing of civilians that goes on - will harden lots of hearts against the US. But it's Infantino and his cronies who are really to blame. They had a choice and chose Trump.
 
Drico said:
We're plumbing new levels now, though. Stopping referees coming in and accusing them of consorting with terrorists is disgraceful. Up to now, it was mainly the poor serfs building the stadiums who were victims. Now, even the refs or players can't be sure of getting in - and if they do they will be subjected to a frisking on an airport tarmac. Even Putin allowed visa-free entry to Russia.

But yeah, FIFA have always enjoyed a dictatorship, as Argentina '78 showed. America is showing a very ugly face to the world - including to those of us who, complacently, assumed it was a force, overall and on balance, for some form of good. Good hosts don't frisk you before you cross their threshold. Petty stuff like this - and it is petty compared to the usual bombing of civilians that goes on - will harden lots of hearts against the US. But it's Infantino and his cronies who are really to blame. They had a choice and chose Trump.
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Are we hitting new levels? Because Qatar had thousands of deaths and essentially slavery tied to their stadium construction. It’s been really really bad for a long time.
 
Drico said:
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.
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The dutch aren't serious. England have to many lacking areas of quality, one injury to kane and it's all over. Difficult to look past France, Spain and possibly argentina. Don't think it's Germany or Brazils year. Are Mexico or Uruguay contenders? Watching the Afcon told me it's unlikely a first WC will got back to Africa.
 
The fact the games will be mid morning early hours is a blow plus usually England get knocked out the first decent side they meet in the knockout stages probably only watch the highlights unless England get to the final ....
 
Swartzy said:
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.
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You can't absolve the American people, they put Trump into the White House.
 
Drico said:
We're plumbing new levels now, though. Stopping referees coming in and accusing them of consorting with terrorists is disgraceful. Up to now, it was mainly the poor serfs building the stadiums who were victims. Now, even the refs or players can't be sure of getting in - and if they do they will be subjected to a frisking on an airport tarmac. Even Putin allowed visa-free entry to Russia.

But yeah, FIFA have always enjoyed a dictatorship, as Argentina '78 showed. America is showing a very ugly face to the world - including to those of us who, complacently, assumed it was a force, overall and on balance, for some form of good. Good hosts don't frisk you before you cross their threshold. Petty stuff like this - and it is petty compared to the usual bombing of civilians that goes on - will harden lots of hearts against the US. But it's Infantino and his cronies who are really to blame. They had a choice and chose Trump.
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good article in the Guardian about how Fifa got russia to waive all visas as an example of the host needing the WC more to legitimise them, but Trump does not fit that bill.
 
So what can we expect from the opening ceremony?

Diana Ross to rise from the grave and redeem herself by woolly slotting a penalty?

Another assassination attempt on Felon in Chief
 

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