Following from my post in the Trump thread, this is an interesting read. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cdjzknpxlv2o I know before World Cups and Olympics that there's often some negative stories and statements, but right now I genuinely think that this World Cup could be a complete disaster. Trumps policies and the way he's behaving are stirring up trouble in the US, FIFAs greed in expanding the tournament and the resulting possibilities of unattractive kick off times for key audiences and maximising ticket prices with "dynamic pricing" risk creating a bloated, disorganised mess of a tournament where visiting fans are priced out and made to feel unwelcome and unsafe and fans in other countries aren't able to watch because of matches kicking off in the early hours of the morning. Could the World Cup be about to eat itself?
The World Cup to me is now a poor competition. FIFA somehow managed to replace a fraud like Blatter with one who is even worse. It is played usually where it shouldn't be played, often with teams who are nowhere near good enough to play in it, has appalling refereeing standards and after the Qatar abomination, we can say that the winner can be........let's say, predictable. This next one will be played mostly in searing heat and scorching sun. I'll watch it if I'm in, but I'll lose no sleep if I miss games, and I won't lose any sleep to catch one.. They have killed the greatest football tournament in the world. Not a patch on the EUROS for me.
There are a lot of rumours that because of the heat the kick off times will be circa 1:00am GMT - I'm not sure I'll be bothering to stay up that late for many games at all if that's the case. Also the $500+ potential pricing will likely take away a good chunk of the colour and spectacle as large sold out sections of fans will be missing - this could end up simply being a corporate event and not a very good one at that.
Cheapest tickets for the final start at just over $2000. It's been said that an England fan getting a ticket for just the final will spend more on that than they would have attending every game up to getting to the final at the last tournament. England are regarded as one of the more popular teams, along with Spain, Brazil, Argentina etc. because of the number of fans they'll bring and their popularity in the USA, so there's very little chance of any of our games having discounted tickets. A game between, let's say Oman and New Zealand, they'll likely be discounted tickets there, but how many New Zealanders will go and how many from Oman would be let in? It's likely that only the very wealthiest fans will try and attend with the rest of the tickets hoovered up by corporates or celebrities going because it's an event, not for the sport. Then theres the prospect of ICE raids on games in the US involving central and south American fans or African fans being blocked from getting in to the country. Plus Trumps support for Israel means you hope to God they don't qualify as they'll be enough backlash to begin with, but imagine Iran qualifying with Trump's anti Iran rhetoric but him gushing over Israel? Any issues the Iranian team or fans have would blow up into a diplomatic row in no time, but if Israel wound up having to play Iran???
Absolutely ridiculous. Vancouver to Boston, 6,161 miles Mexico to Boston, 2,777 miles. Some perspective London to Rome 1,776 miles passing through 7 countries (England, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy
some of the states in Murica are open carry states, which will be interesting, millions of football fans V Angry redneck maga supporting gun wiedling yocals
We all have to carry a little suspension of disbelief with our clubs these days but it’s definitely becoming more difficult. As supporters we're capable of pushing ourselves to believe each new foreign player ’gets the club’ and is here for the love, not the money, etc. In our hearts we know the players might move, they're not just here for the love of the NE and the dressing room isn’t chocka with happy go lucky team mates who all get along and socialise together after work. We used to choose to believe the World Cup was the whole ‘football family’ coming together to celebrate the beautiful game. Personally I can’t pull it off any longer, they’ve pushed the bounds of credibility too far. It’s like when you get to that point in a film or drama where you just think, ‘Sorry but that’s bollocks’ and switch off. The World Cup now reminds me of that beautiful and vibrant actress you adored who's now had so many boob jobs, facelifts and procedures that you can no longer see the beauty ... ... I can’t pretend any more, it’s all just too fake.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cjr5ed1n1djo So, infantino says we should be open minded about when World Cups can be staged. Cue more tournaments being staged at inconvenient times for other countries/confederations to benefit them being staged in unsuitable countries. Is this a test for people like him to see how far he can push things before they break?
We have these stories before every world cup in recent times tbh. It is a bit tired now. It proves time and again to be the biggest footballing spectacle and I have no doubt the US will put on a show. If I had a pound for everyone who said they wouldnt watch in Qatar, who then jumped on it because it was outstanding footballing entertainment I would be rich. I thought I would be one of 2 or 3 last WC on here watching... Ignore all the pre tournament media doom mongering is my advice. If you dont like international footy, and many dont, enjoy the cricket. If you do, it will be the ultimate festival of football, as usual.
Shared or not, this Americas 2nd World Cup in 32 years. 2 since England last hosted and their first was 28 after England hosted. I remember a time where the world cup meant something.
FIFA is considering moving some kick-off times for next summer's World Cup to the early hours of the morning UK time in an attempt to avoid the extreme heat in North America that affected the recent Club World Cup. The World Cup will be held across the USA, Canada and Mexico with kick-off times expected to be 5pm, 8pm, 11pm and 2am (all BST) in a similar pattern to what was seen at the Club World Cup earlier this year.
It's completely fake now but that won't stop football supporters watching it and believing in the romance.
