The Footie Thread

[Lord Tyrion]

Agreed, but the cost of building new stadiums by hosts that really couldn’t afford it is probably the main reason for that, ie on their own neither Mexico or Canada have the stadiums.

Tournaments have managed for decades in one country. What has changed?

 

[nickjdavis]

Looking at the drawn groups I think that this coming WC will be an absolute dirge, lacking any interest, jeopardy or excitement until the "round of 16".

Normally I'd be looking at the fixtures, identifying "must see" games and the "like to see" games, figuring out who was broadcasting what games, determining if there were fixture clashes between games I anted to watch but...

...the group fixtures for the forthcoming event are so utterly diluted, with all the "big" nations separate from each other and with 8 of the 12 teams who finish third also making it through to the "round of 32" there is absolutely no risk for any team who would be expected to make it through. Of the 72 group fixtures, if you exclude the home nations, there are probably only 10 that I would make an "organised effort" to watch.

 

[PaulMdj]

Tournaments have managed for decades in one country. What has changed?

Costs go back to 1990, these are in the main football countries:

• 2026: Canada, Mexico, and the USA
• 2022: Qatar
• 2018: Russia
• 2014: Brazil
• 2010: South Africa
• 2006: Germany
• 2002: Japan and South Korea
• 1998: France
• 1994: USA
• 1990: Italy

Qatar then reduced the stadium capacity by 50% and gifted other parts of Stadiums to Countries in the Sub-Sahara continent.

12 of the last 14 hosts have stated they made a loss when hosting the WC.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

So Newcastle are the latest club to sell the stadium to themselves

 

[Lord Tyrion]

So Newcastle are the latest club to sell the stadium to themselves

This is on the PL and I don't blame Newcastle. Why should other clubs who have played the system benefit yet those who follow can not? The PL clearly did not write tight enough rules at the begining and this is the consequence.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

This is on the PL and I don't blame Newcastle. Why should other clubs who have played the system benefit yet those who follow can not? The PL clearly did not write tight enough rules at the begining and this is the consequence.

Looks like was done last year before they closed the loophole

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Looks like was done last year before they closed the loophole

Even so, other clubs are entitled to feel quite bitter about those who have done this trick already. It's a leg up they have not been allowed to take advantage of.

 

[Swango1980]

Spreading a tournament across countries is a mistake imo. One of the joys of a World Cup is fans crossing a single country, discovering that country, that country embracing a tournament. Having multiple countries host it just loses something.

Absolutely. You very much get to embrace the culture of that country, it also becomes a big part of marketing that event.

It wouldn't overly surprise me if a future World Cup looks to play every single game in a different country. Or at least have about 60 host nations, using 10 countries in each continent. Or one continent, like Europe, with at least one game in every European country (removes players getting jet lagged from game to game)

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Even so, other clubs are entitled to feel quite bitter about those who have done this trick already. It's a leg up they have not been allowed to take advantage of.

I’m sure other clubs will , and I suspect they are looking for the next loophole to find to bypass the rules

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Agreed, but the cost of building new stadiums by hosts that really couldn’t afford it is probably the main reason for that, ie on their own neither Mexico or Canada have the stadiums.

Mexico were able to host the 86 World Cup on their own ?

Any World Cup imo should go to a single nation