World Cup 2026

K K

KS55

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I thought it worth starting a World Cup thread as events surrounding it are already taking shape. Mods, if you want to move this, that’s fine.
The travel restrictions on certain countries are already causing FIFA a headache. There are exemptions from the restrictions for teams and management but not for broadcasters, journalists or fans. So if you want to go to the WC and you are from Iran, hard luck you won’t be allowed entry to USA. With some countries with visa restrictions they will find visas taking up to 325 days and so fans are already pushed to apply in time. These restrictions apply widely to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
FIFA are considering putting all the matches involving restricted nations in Mexico and Canada. That suggests a certain manipulation of the first round groups.
Of relevance here is the refusal of entry to a Brit who is due to take part in an international judo competition. He is an ex soldier with an exemplary record who fought alongside American special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has no criminal record but the US authorities will not give him a reason for refusal.
This threatens to jeopardise the World Cup but FIFA continue to fawn over Trump.
 
Last edited:
KS55 said:
I thought it worth starting a World Cup thread as events surrounding it are already taking shape. Mods, if you want to move this, that’s fine.
The travel restrictions on certain countries are already causing FIFA a headache. There are exemptions from the restrictions for teams and management but not for broadcasters, journalists or fans. So if you want to go to the WC and you are from Iran, hard luck you won’t be allowed entry to USA. With some countries with visa restrictions they will find visas taking up to 325 days and so fans are already pushed to apply in time. These restrictions apply widely to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
FIFA are considering putting all the matches involving restricted nations in Mexico and Canada. That suggests a certain manipulation of the first round groups.
Of relevance here is the refusal of entry to a Brit who is due to take part in an international judo competition. He is an ex soldier with an exemplary record who fought alongside American special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has no criminal record but the US authorities will not give him a reason for refusal. This threatens to jeopardise the World Cup but FIFA continue to fawn over Trump.
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It's FIFA that caused their own headache by having it there, should have held the tournament in Iran and spiced it up a bit.
 
KS55 said:
I thought it worth starting a World Cup thread as events surrounding it are already taking shape. Mods, if you want to move this, that’s fine.
The travel restrictions on certain countries are already causing FIFA a headache. There are exemptions from the restrictions for teams and management but not for broadcasters, journalists or fans. So if you want to go to the WC and you are from Iran, hard luck you won’t be allowed entry to USA. With some countries with visa restrictions they will find visas taking up to 325 days and so fans are already pushed to apply in time. These restrictions apply widely to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
FIFA are considering putting all the matches involving restricted nations in Mexico and Canada. That suggests a certain manipulation of the first round groups.
Of relevance here is the refusal of entry to a Brit who is due to take part in an international judo competition. He is an ex soldier with an exemplary record who fought alongside American special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has no criminal record but the US authorities will not give him a reason for refusal.
This threatens to jeopardise the World Cup but FIFA continue to fawn over Trump.
Click to expand...
Fuck me, give it a rest.
 
KS55 said:
I thought it worth starting a World Cup thread as events surrounding it are already taking shape. Mods, if you want to move this, that’s fine.
The travel restrictions on certain countries are already causing FIFA a headache. There are exemptions from the restrictions for teams and management but not for broadcasters, journalists or fans. So if you want to go to the WC and you are from Iran, hard luck you won’t be allowed entry to USA. With some countries with visa restrictions they will find visas taking up to 325 days and so fans are already pushed to apply in time. These restrictions apply widely to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
FIFA are considering putting all the matches involving restricted nations in Mexico and Canada. That suggests a certain manipulation of the first round groups.
Of relevance here is the refusal of entry to a Brit who is due to take part in an international judo competition. He is an ex soldier with an exemplary record who fought alongside American special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has no criminal record but the US authorities will not give him a reason for refusal.
This threatens to jeopardise the World Cup but FIFA continue to fawn over Trump.
Click to expand...
Put your mind to rest.

Dear Leader will make the right decisions!
In case you weren't aware - my reply is ironic - I 100% agree with KS55.

Trump is a narcissist and is uncaring about others. Above all, Trump wants admiration.

I could go on and on about Trump...
But the main takeaway of KS55's post is that the 2026 World Cup, for venues hosted by the United States, may face unexpected challenges because a narcissist is in charge of America.
 
Probably the worst thing by far for an American fan of the World Cup, is that Fox has broadcasting rights.

Fox management, in a misguided effort to attract viewership, has intentionally dumbed-down commentary - featuring announcers who don't know much about the game but - in Fox's opinion - are able to create exciting moments for the new fan.

Gus Johnson featured in this role a decade or so past, and it failed spectacularly. Gus knew fuck-all about football, and failed to do the homework to advance his knowledge - resulting in terrible commentary - shouting at the top of his lungs, "INTO THE BOX" - whenever an attacker had the ball in the opposition's box... as a for-example of numerous other gaffs that lead Fox and Johnson to discontinue plans for his role as lead announcer in that WC.

Fox, though, is still primarily interested in profit - and who knows where that will lead - possibly to very subpar announcers - possibly to very subpar announcers who aren't even live at the game, broadcasting instead in a studio location while watching the game on a video feed.

Among American networks covering football:
Fox is shit.
ESPN is shit for similar reasons as Fox.
CBS sports is far better - but FFS I can't stand Ray Hudson.
NBC is excellent.

It's too bad that NBC doesn't own broadcast rights for WC 2026.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Probably the worst thing by far for an American fan of the World Cup, is that Fox has broadcasting rights.

Fox management, in a misguided effort to attract viewership, has intentionally dumbed-down commentary - featuring announcers who don't know much about the game but - in Fox's opinion - are able to create exciting moments for the new fan.

Gus Johnson featured in this role a decade or so past, and it failed spectacularly. Gus knew fuck-all about football, and failed to do the homework to advance his knowledge - resulting in terrible commentary - shouting at the top of his lungs, "INTO THE BOX" - whenever an attacker had the ball in the opposition's box... as a for-example of numerous other gaffs that lead Fox and Johnson to discontinue plans for his role as lead announcer in that WC.

Fox, though, is still primarily interested in profit - and who knows where that will lead - possibly to very subpar announcers - possibly to very subpar announcers who aren't even live at the game, broadcasting instead in a studio location while watching the game on a video feed.
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Some of the shit pundits and commentators we have in this country are just as bad mate, at least you have ESPN with Burley, Nedum, Frank The Beef and Nichol.
 
mexico1970 said:
Some of the shit pundits and commentators we have in this country are just as bad mate, at least you have ESPN with Burley, Nedum, Frank The Beef and Nichol.
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LOL! :-)
ESPN somehow has Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens - who are both very good IMO - and in fact they have their own show. But fucking ESPN FC is full of non-analysis, opinion, based on total lack of reasoning - Nichol is a prime example of this.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
LOL! :-)
ESPN somehow has Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens - who are both very good IMO - and in fact they have their own show. But fucking ESPN FC is full of non-analysis, opinion, based on total lack of reasoning - Nichol is a prime example of this.
Click to expand...

We have Dolphins ,Carragher and Micah Richards, it doesn't get any worse than that.
 
mexico1970 said:
We have Dolphins ,Carragher and Micah Richards, it doesn't get any worse than that.
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I actually like Micah - not for his commentary - which is lousy - but for his enthusiasm for the game. And when he makes stupid claims it sparks pushback and interesting, fact-based, analysis from other pundits.

Plus - isn't Micah just a pundit in a game analysis studio setting - and not trusted with being the co-commentator of a live football broadcast? Micah would likely such as a live announcer IMO.

I've not watched any of Dolphins or Carragher - I'll take your word for it that they are lousy.

Nonetheless - would such lousy broadcasters be featured - except in some match that no one cares about - in a World Cup live broadcast in the UK?

And therein is the stark difference - you may have to put up with poor announcers in some WC broadcasts or some pundits that you don't like in post game analysis - but in the USA - with Fox having broadcast rights - it's quite possible (IMO likely) that numerous matches will have shit announcers for the live feed - even to the extent that the final will be called by shit announcers.
 
For the first time, and after seeing what America have done to the world club cup, I am just not looking fw to this. I think they are going to commercialise the fuck out of it.

Add to that that we've just sacked a manager who gets us deeper into these competitions, and replaced him with someone who doesn't, it's going to be a non event for me. Maybe as it gets closer I'll get excited.
 
Gorton_Tubster said:
For the first time, and after seeing what America have done to the world club cup, I am just not looking fw to this. I think they are going to commercialise the fuck out of it.

Add to that that we've just sacked a manager who gets us deeper into these competitions, and replaced him with someone who doesn't, it's going to be a non event for me. Maybe as it gets closer I'll get excited.
Click to expand...
It's dire as an American fan of the sport in terms of being competitive on the word stage - at least for the men's game ( our woman's national side has been, perhaps arguably, the best side in world football for decades, but is now facing challenge).

Our national men's side sucks - and always has. If we make it out of the group stage we'll be lucky.

Still.. I like the WC - my favorite tournament by far. Even if the US doesn't advance far (I don't think that they will), I'll enjoy the tournament, watching as many games as I can.
 
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