OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread

[Mike the Brit]

The NFL got very popular in the UK in the 1980s through a deal with Channel 4 (the second commercial channel in the UK then, with a mandate to explore "alternatives"). They hit on a formula of showing highlights and a "game of the week" on a Monday night, which was one of the Sunday games, compressed to, if I recall, about an hour or an hour and a half -- so all of the plays but none of the endless time-outs. It was a great formula and there wasn't extensive press or TV coverage so people didn't already know the results. A lot of now-older people got hooked then.

Then the NFL sold rights to Mr Murdoch's pay-for-sports channel and he live-streamed US broadcasts, so the fan base didn't grow. Anyway, the UK already has a violent winter sport (rugby) which Germany doesn't.

 

[jimnance]

Hard to write about this WC without politics, that's for sure!

But even leaving all of the shenanigans and corruption aside, my heart sinks at the prospect: games played in an unsuitable climate at an unsuitable time of year at unsuitable times of day in stadia that haven't been properly prepared for football. The 1994 U.S. World Cup was possibly the worst ever and, with the inclusion of a ton of teams that should never have been allowed to take part, I anticipate that the games will be even lower in quality.

I might get involved once it's going, especially since I think I'm going to be in Germany for a lot of it, and they get pretty excited during World Cups (outdoor viewing at the Fanmeile and so on). And perhaps some outside team will win my heart -- maybe Morocco or Japan or Sweden. Till then, I will just hope that the cheats, simulators and divers all lose. (No chance!)

Wait, WHAAT?!
Your'e not rooting for England?
-scratches head-