World Cup 2026

[Free Agent]

If there’s a better way to ruin football, FIFA will do it

[AjaxAndy]

I haven't really enjoyed this world cup.

Kick off times are shit, although I appreciate that's just the nature of different continent football.

Too many dull games or games with shit teams.

Balogun having his red card suspended because of corruption and the involvement of a narcissistic dictator and a willingness to pander to them by an equally corrupt FIFA president.

The just general hosting of it by a war mongering nation who are currently carrying out an illegal war.

Multiple host countries meaning all teams had to win their groups to play in front of their own fans, and then. Canada ending up playing in the US because they didn't manage that.

Everything that went on before it started with visas and people not being allowed in, or only for their match and to immediately leave straight after.

Too many teams meaning it's gone on too long and we're England not in the semis I'd have completely lost interest by now.

A couple of caveats to the above would be that there's been some great moments still, and if England win it I'll claim it was the greatest world cup ever... But otherwise it's been pretty meh for me, I've felt quite disconnected from it, and the final death blow will be when Trump stands with all the players as they lift the trophy.

[cassius]

64 teams devalues the competition.

You'd have to be really shit, or Italy, to not qualify when it's that big.

[Goaljira]

I think you have to consider the alternative.

As fans of major nations we have the luxury of seeing our contries in pretty much every major tournament. Imagine how shit it must be to be one of the countries who never quite make it to the World Cup. You might occasionally qualify for the regional variant, but you never get to be a part of the big event and just watch from the sidelines every 4 years. Effectively, imagine being the Everton of International football.

[AjaxAndy]

I think you have to consider the alternative.

As fans of major nations we have the luxury of seeing our contries in pretty much every major tournament. Imagine how shit it must be to be one of the countries who never quite make it to the World Cup. You might occasionally qualify for the regional variant, but you never get to be a part of the big event and just watch from the sidelines every 4 years. Effectively, imagine being the Everton of International football.

Supposed to be the pinnacle of international football though isn't it?

If the Olympics did the equivalent you'd have Alan from the local park run competing in the 800 metres.

[cassius]

Yeah it becomes the Nations League for the world.

[bigmanbob]

I think you have to consider the alternative.

As fans of major nations we have the luxury of seeing our contries in pretty much every major tournament. Imagine how shit it must be to be one of the countries who never quite make it to the World Cup. You might occasionally qualify for the regional variant, but you never get to be a part of the big event and just watch from the sidelines every 4 years. Effectively, imagine being the Everton of International football.

Let them have a bobbins cup where all the shit countries play each other. There is no place for 12 more shit teams in the WC

[Free Agent]

Let them have a bobbins cup where all the shit countries play each other. There is no place for 12 more shit teams in the WC

They have that, its called Concaf, Asia Cup, African Cup of Nations & the Euros

[TheRam]

Shit teams have always been a part of the World Cup.

I have no issue with shit teams being a part of it.

As long as they know their role and bow out before the quarter finals.

[bigmanbob]

I have no issue with shit teams, as long as theres not 20 or so of them which totally degrades the comp. I quite enjoy watching the odd one like Cape Verde, it's always been part of it

[AjaxAndy]

I have no issue with shit teams, as long as theres not 20 or so of them which totally degrades the comp. I quite enjoy watching the odd one like Cape Verde, it's always been part of it

And I think Cape Verde would have qualified if we'd stayed as the normal format anyway, sure I read that somewhere / possibly on here.