World Cup World Cup 2026

tonyw

tonyw

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Looks like FIFA have seen sense, and abandoned the ludicrous three-team group structure.

It's going to last forever (104 matches over 39 days, compared to 64 matches over 28 days in Qatar), and the groups are going to be more reminiscent of 1986-1994, but at least we're not going to be getting multiple reenactments of the Disgrace of Gijon.

So I can go back to getting psyched about the World Cup again.......
 
Groups of three would have been a disaster, so groups of four is better.

However, I'm not a fan of, best performing runners up/3rd placed teams going through.

The reason why the group stage this time was the much vaunted success that it was, was because it was always black and white, there and then, through or out - which prompted the do or die heroics in some games and saw some big names fall - rather than the ah well, we'll get through anyway nature the proposed structure will inevitably deliver.

The best change would be no change
 
mooro said:
The best change would be no change
Click to expand...

Agreed but Infantino has already bought too many votes with the sixteen additional World Cup spots to go back on that.

It will be a big advantage, under this new structure, to be in one of the later groups so you know what you have to do.

Also likely that teams who get 4 or 6 points in their first two games will likely be through before their final group game, so you will see far more teams playing their reserves for that final match (I think it was only Brazil & Portugal who were in a position to do that in Qatar)

I would actually have said - for a 48 team World Cup - that just the top two go through, but the top eight first-placed sides get a bye through the the last 16, and the four worst first-placed sides (and all the twelve group runners-up) play another knockout match to join them. Then noone would be playing their scrubs ever because there would be a big incentive to get that extra half-week's rest.
But that doesn't seem to be one of the options that they considered.
 
I think we should have a 64 country cup and every team plays each other within 31 days, finished in a month and sorts the men from the boys! No extra time, straight to toss of a coin in event of a draw, bonus point for every goal scored, throw ins replaced by kick ins, no offside, rush goalies, play with a tennis ball.
 
tonyw said:
Agreed but Infantino has already bought too many votes with the sixteen additional World Cup spots to go back on that.

It will be a big advantage, under this new structure, to be in one of the later groups so you know what you have to do.

Also likely that teams who get 4 or 6 points in their first two games will likely be through before their final group game, so you will see far more teams playing their reserves for that final match (I think it was only Brazil & Portugal who were in a position to do that in Qatar)

I would actually have said - for a 48 team World Cup - that just the top two go through, but the top eight first-placed sides get a bye through the the last 16, and the four worst first-placed sides (and all the twelve group runners-up) play another knockout match to join them. Then noone would be playing their scrubs ever because there would be a big incentive to get that extra half-week's rest.
But that doesn't seem to be one of the options that they considered.
Click to expand...

They will solve the problem eventually by going to a 64 team tournament with an extra knockout round, once you get to 48 teams playing a 104 matches over 39 days does it matter anymore? Already gone full retard.
 
Have to say, of all the things we can call FIFA out for screwing up about the World Cup......the halftime show isn't very high on my list of things to care about. This is why we have mute buttons!

(and literally the only World Cup musical performance I can ever remember is Diana Ross at USA 94.....and that was for her legendary penalty miss, not the singing!)
 
Left Wing Cross said:
I won't matter as we probably won't see much of it.

It'll be for people in the stadium and (possible) cut-aways during the first half analysis on TV. They won't be able to fit much into 15 minutes (including set-up and getting it off the pitch).

It'll be nothing like the opening ceremony
Click to expand...
You’re assuming they won’t extend it.
 
www.bbc.co.uk

World Cup tickets: 2026 USA tournament prices, visas and security explained

BBC Sport explores the issues which could make fans feel less than welcome when the World Cup takes place in the United States next year.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

Ticketing information has been "released"

- Official Right to buy tickets: not confirmed ticket sale, price not taken out of the ticket price, and non-refundable. Costing $100's. Some packages, you only get RTB if your team progresses, if not, non-refundable.

- Dynamic pricing once the tickets actually go on sale.

- Starting price for tickets can be 100s% the price as was charged in Qatar (not including right-to-buy packages).

- Lowest priced tickets in incredibly small areas of stadia, with the next category starting at around double the price.

- Official resale allows for substantially inflated prices - FIFA takes a 15% cut from both the buyer and the seller.

Absolute crooks.
 
holdsteady said:
£1,500 for the cheapest ticket for the final, bargain.
Click to expand...
tenor.gif
 
The only people that the ticketing policy might suit are those that live within an hour's drive of a couple of the venues, and who would be quite happy to go to games between the Cape Verde Islands and Jordan, or New Zealand and Uzbekistan, who can therefore buy dynamically priced tickets at the last minute for low-demand games.......

.......:cool:
 
World Cup draw tomorrow!

Used to love watching this as a way to build excitement for the tournament - however the permutations are so complex this time*, because six of the spots still haven't been decided yet, that it's going to be almost impossible to explain/follow by the time they get to drawing the 3rd and 4th seeds. Going to make it a very painful watch, so probably not going to bother live and just check the groups afterwards!

*for example - the second intercontinental playoff winner is going to be one of Bolivia, Surinam or Iraq. But because no two teams from the same confederation can be in the same group (other than Europe), that means they can't be drawn against any South American, Central/North American or Asian sides. And they can't be drawn against New Zealand either because they are also in Pot 4. So for the logistics to work, FIFA need to make sure that by the time that the drawing of Pot 3 is complete, there is at least one group that is Europe-Europe-Africa, otherwise there's nowhere for that playoff winner to go.
Therefore expect lots of 'We drew Scotland out to play in Group C, but we're actually going to put them in Group K because.......maths........
 
Genuinely a ***shrug shoulders*** event. As you say it will be convoluted draw and the way FIFA are, it has probably already been decided anyway.
 
tonyw said:
World Cup draw tomorrow!

Used to love watching this as a way to build excitement for the tournament - however the permutations are so complex this time*, because six of the spots still haven't been decided yet, that it's going to be almost impossible to explain/follow by the time they get to drawing the 3rd and 4th seeds. Going to make it a very painful watch, so probably not going to bother live and just check the groups afterwards!

*for example - the second intercontinental playoff winner is going to be one of Bolivia, Surinam or Iraq. But because no two teams from the same confederation can be in the same group (other than Europe), that means they can't be drawn against any South American, Central/North American or Asian sides. And they can't be drawn against New Zealand either because they are also in Pot 4. So for the logistics to work, FIFA need to make sure that by the time that the drawing of Pot 3 is complete, there is at least one group that is Europe-Europe-Africa, otherwise there's nowhere for that playoff winner to go.
Therefore expect lots of 'We drew Scotland out to play in Group C, but we're actually going to put them in Group K because.......maths........
Click to expand...

I could handle all that if they just got on with the draw, but it will take a ridiculous amount of time. Like that for every draw now though.

Bring back Bert Millichip and Graham Kelly, they didn’t p**s about.
 
Left Wing Cross said:
I won't matter as we probably won't see much of it.

It'll be for people in the stadium and (possible) cut-aways during the first half analysis on TV. They won't be able to fit much into 15 minutes (including set-up and getting it off the pitch).

It'll be nothing like the opening ceremony
Click to expand...

1 minute when Coldplay are playing is equal to 1,000 normal minutes.
 
Steve Gilbert said:
It will be a long drawn out event and I am sure Trump will be involved in some way.
Click to expand...
Trump is being given a 'FIFA Peace Prize' that was invented by Infantino (without bothering to consult with virtually anyone else in the organization). Vomit inducing levels of sycophancy.

I'll look at the groups afterwards, but the addition of Trump etc to an already convoluted and bloated event means it is even less likely that I will actually watch any of the draw.
 
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