2026 FIFA World Cup - General Chat

[summerisle]

 

[Alan Whittle]

Don't forget, anyone travelling there for the World Cup will have to make their social media visible to the US authorities (and anyone else who wants to look/harvest their data).

Has someone told Chico?

 

[mmmmsnouts]

I went to an American football game last year and there was no atmosphere at all. The sport kinda doesn't allow it as you have a few seconds of sport and then a minute or two of nothing that's usually filled by an MC trying to engage the fans, and the fans can't get anything organic going, such as a chant or song, as the MC drowns them out.

The timeouts for television absolutely ruin the experience in person. Even the TV broadcasts are getting annoying with how poor the commercials are. On the other hand, NFL Red Zone bouncing from game to game for 7 hours with almost no ads is brilliant.

However, footy at Portland Timbers was absolutely belting - proper fans, proper game, taunting, griping, booing, swearing, we felt right at home

One thing Evertonians and Timbers fans have in common, they all hate Phil Neville

 

[Tony Hibbert's Wife]

yep, went to SF Giants vs Padres last year and we did have a good time but largely as a result of the stadium and talking to some of the fans. No real energy or passion to any of it, the nearest was a few slightly drunk Padres fans teasing the San Fransciscans, who just smiled along.

Is this because baseball teams play long stretches of games against one another night after night?

I went to a Giants game in 2005 (i think) and the place was a library - mostly people sat around talking. I sat next to this old dear - she must've been 70 odd - who ate the entirety of an absolutely massive bag of unshelled peanuts while nattering away genially about baseball to me. Barry Bonds was 1 home run away from the record and she was pretty excited about seeing him break the record. Told me she was going to "stand up and applaud" when it happened.

 

[Toffeeslam]

Should be banned from hosting the tournament again

And banned from participating in the WC for another 20 years

If you are going to bid to host international tournaments then you have to welcome the world.

Feel sorry for Canada and Mexico the US is ruining this World Cup for them

 

[Billy Dean]

Is this because baseball teams play long stretches of games against one another night after night?

I went to a Giants game in 2005 (i think) and the place was a library - mostly people sat around talking. I sat next to this old dear - she must've been 70 odd - who ate the entirety of an absolutely massive bag of unshelled peanuts while nattering away genially about baseball to me. Barry Bonds was 1 home run away from the record and she was pretty excited about seeing him break the record. Told me she was going to "stand up and applaud" when it happened.

Similar to cricket I guess. Apart from very special occasions you don't really get bouncing atmospheres at the cricket

 

[Efcjake]

Should be banned from hosting the tournament again

And banned from participating in the WC for another 20 years

If you are going to bid to host international tournaments then you have to welcome the world.

Feel sorry for Canada and Mexico the US is ruining this World Cup for them

The second this three way world cup was announced the other two countries knew immediately we were a consolation.

 

[ste d' indica]

Is this because baseball teams play long stretches of games against one another night after night?

I went to a Giants game in 2005 (i think) and the place was a library - mostly people sat around talking. I sat next to this old dear - she must've been 70 odd - who ate the entirety of an absolutely massive bag of unshelled peanuts while nattering away genially about baseball to me. Barry Bonds was 1 home run away from the record and she was pretty excited about seeing him break the record. Told me she was going to "stand up and applaud" when it happened.

Possibly, but test cricket is pretty rambunctious innit? I think its just cultural difference mainly, Brits are generally are more reserved/circumspect than Americans, aside from sports it seems.
On the grub point, I couldn't help but think Oracle Park was a gigantic food court with a baseball ground attached!

 

[Rook]

I went to an American football game last year and there was no atmosphere at all. The sport kinda doesn't allow it as you have a few seconds of sport and then a minute or two of nothing that's usually filled by an MC trying to engage the fans, and the fans can't get anything organic going, such as a chant or song, as the MC drowns them out.

Spectator sports in america just have been commericaled out.

There have always been stoppages in american sports. Its just the length/number of stoppages of today. NBA used to brag that they are the sport of the future because games were a little over 2hrs long. Today especially in the playoffs they top 3hrs. Plus the stadiums are nice but they are just so corporate and lifeless.

 

[Cake]

The 'Great' American dollar is King in the land of greed opportunity!

God Help America.

 

[verreauxi]

This fiasco just goes from bad to worse, but I doubt Americans are behind this, more like Turdfantino.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Should be banned from hosting the tournament again

And banned from participating in the WC for another 20 years

If you are going to bid to host international tournaments then you have to welcome the world.

Feel sorry for Canada and Mexico the US is ruining this World Cup for them

When is the last time a World Cup was truly welcoming for ALL people? Brazil maybe? And that’s not changing in the next few editions really.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Spectator sports in america just have been commericaled out.

There have always been stoppages in american sports. Its just the length/number of stoppages of today. NBA used to brag that they are the sport of the future because games were a little over 2hrs long. Today especially in the playoffs they top 3hrs. Plus the stadiums are nice but they are just so corporate and lifeless.

Yep I mean American football has stoppages. If you limited commercials to just injuries and before kickoffs you’re honestly not lengthening the game all that much. They don’t really do that though.

This is probably the only good thing about the Clippers but it’s great that they built a stadium to be a stadium to watch the sport and that’s it.

 

[Drico]

Fifa has announced a 50% increase in the prize money it will award to participating teams at next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

I'm sure we are all highly delighted about this.

Infantino's voters will be.

I'd like to say this is what happens when every country has an equal vote (whether they are Curacao or Guinea, Brazil or Germany) and that we are paying the price for third world kleptocracies deciding who leads FIFA, but then the Europeans have been just as craven and corrupt when it served their needs. In reality, the bulk of the FAs that compose FIFA are essentially corrupt. Infantino is assured of re-election.

 

[Rook]

This fiasco just goes from bad to worse, but I doubt Americans are behind this, more like Turdfantino.

Fanzone will have $10 water bottles and $20 for a the $#@tiest bottle of beer you'll ever drink.

sold by unpaid "volunteers".