The latest World Cup, Starting soon on the 11th June.
World Cup 2026 - America Mexico Canada
Not sure why Mexico has it for the 3rd time and America the 2nd since England last had a go, I guess it's as Millwall are fond of saying "No one likes us" ๐
I was trying to remember anything about the 1994 tournament held in the USA, the least memorable World Cup in my lifetime.
Managed to come up with 3 things.
Diana Ross missing the goal in the overblown opening ceremony, Ray Houghton's goal for Ireland against Italy, and Maradona's manic staring at the camera before he got his drugs ban.
That's about it.
This one is not looking promising.
An overblown tournament with 48 teams meaning 104 games, with 44 of them kicking off after midnight in the UK.
Very few of the opening fixtures look that appealing.
I will probably watch the England games and maybe France, Scotland, Spain and a few others, but waiting up for Uzbekistan v Dr Congo sounds like a cure for insomnia.
Most games are made better by real fans, thinking of the colour explosions at games featuring the Netherlands, Brazil, Senegal and others.
Brazil have travel restrictions, Senegal fans are banned, and the chance of seeing the Orange army is pretty slim due to the costs involved.
Iran, Haiti, Senegal, Iraq and the Ivory Coast are not allowed any fans plus a host of others have limited travel options.
Trump's immigration restrictions mean that anyone going to the US has to go through intense screening at the airport even if you have managed to get a travel visa, with a risk of being detained for a long period.
If you get through the airport you're faced with huge price gouging on transport, hotels, food and many other things, with trains buses and car parks charging up to ten times the normal prices.
The match ticket prices are the highest of any World Cup in history.
The reported high demand for tickets appears to have mostly been driven by people looking to make quick money? with tickets then being offered on offical FIFA resale sites for huge profits (some Final tickets going for over £2 million each).
So it looks like only the rich can attend ๐
It's a shame that this World Cup is more than likely to be played in front of half empty stadiums with virtually no atmosphere?
I've seen enough of those videos of American fans trying to comprehend the atmosphere generated by European and South American fans, the chances of anyone having a good time look slim with heavily armed Police and ICE agents waiting to pounce on anyone showing a bit of passion.
Another thing after watching the Club World Cup last year is the weather, with chances of extreme temperatures in many of the games means teams possibly having to play in over 100ยบF heat. Every game is going to be interrupted by cooling breaks (even the roofed temperature controlled ones) giving American broadcasters chance to play more adverts. Plus many games were delayed for hours due to their being a thunderstorm 20 miles away, America the Brave???
Also hoping we don't have all that long winded player introductions, and Trump crashing the Trophy celebrations.
Reading reports of a Super Bowl style half time show, I can't imagine that will turned around in 15 minutes, meaning more unnecessary delays.
A lot of the big football nations won't be there, Italy (my 2nd favourite country), Nigeria, Denmark, Cameroon, Hungary, Georgia and others meaning we won't see some of the World's best players.
I think BBC and ITV are showing all the games which means having to put up with some pretty dull annoying presenters and pundits like Poogash, Rooney, Murphy, Cates, Neville and others. No Lineker this time as independent opinions are not allowed.
No doubt VAR will have a big impact again, when it was introduced in Russia 2018 it seemed like a good thing
But in the 8 years since it has gone from a useful tool to taking over the games, the excitement of a goal being scored is now being ruined by knowing everything is going to be scrutinised for reasons to disallow it.
Every VAR (referee) official seems to have their own interpretation of the rules, seemingly influenced by who is playing.
Obviously hoping England do well, but that seems dependent on Harry Kane staying fit as we seem lost without him.
Winners likely to come from France, Spain, Argentina, Netherlands, Brazil, Germany or just maybe England?
Although if by some miracle we do win, I suppose we'll look back on it being a great World Cup ๐
