World Cup - 2026

[zorkan]

48 nations, 3 host countries, plenty of controversy already.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13482283/world-cup-2026-tickets-fifa-urged-to-halt-ticket-sales-over-betrayal-of-fans-pricing-plan

England fans shouldn't worry about reaching the final because they haven't got there since 1966, when they were the hosts and only 16 nations competed.
USA and Canada are not footballing nations because they don't understand the game.
It's purely business for them.

Going to the finals are Curacao and Cape Verde.
Among those not going are proper football playing nations like Nigeria, Chile, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Greece, Hungary  and Serbia.

[Icarus]

Football fans must be completely out of their minds.  I am seeing news that says ticket prices for the finals will be in the eight thousand dollar range. Can that be true?

[Recusant]

Given a zealous border control agent, visiting this site could be cited as a cause for hopeful futbol fans to be denied entry to the US. The Trumpist government has announced a plan: All visitors to the US must surrender their electronic devices for scrutiny and disclose their social media activity over the past five years for vetting. Among the disqualifications are such un-American activities as criticizing Christianity or opposing religion in general. I think Happy Atheist could be considered as "social media."

[zorkan]

My advice is do not enter the USA with any electronic device with social media and wear a crucifix.
Having paid for a ticket does not mean you have a visa.
Any banner will need John 3:16.

"Take Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world. The average wage in the Caribbean nation is around $147 a month.
The cheapest tickets for Haiti's first game at the World Cup in 52 years, against Scotland, cost $180."

And no voodoo or Campbell kilts.
Any Macleod tartan should see you through immigration.
Trump's mother was one.

[zorkan]

Latest news: Ticket prices slashed.
But not many will be able to buy one for $60.
A ploy by the organisers to deflect criticism.

Q: Who were the first World Cup winners?
A: It wasn't Uruguay. It was West Auckland from Durham in England.

https://www.westaucklandtownafc.co.uk/history/
So I suppose you could argue that England have won it 3 times.

[zorkan]

If Trump invades Greenland then should all countries having qualified boycott the tournament?

There is a precedent here.
"After being hosts for the 2018 edition, Russia were banned from both the 2022 and 2026 World Cup tournaments because of the Ukraine invasion."

[billy rubin]

everybody should boycott it now.

[zorkan]

Not looking forward to VAR ruining the tournament, but then I read:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c1dk4gv7eeqo

In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar some games were extended to 100 minutes to enable the VAR officials to make up their minds.
One match was even extended to 117 minutes.

Just one Var decision 2 days ago took 6 minutes to resolve.
The crowd got restless.
Viewers switched off.
Let's hope there will not too many "subjective offsides".

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15461179/Outrage-VAR-causes-SEVEN-MINUTE-delay-Man-Citys-Carabao-Cup-clash-Newcastle-Antoine-Semenyos-second-goal-finally-ruled-subjective-offside.html