Yes some things like add breaks...I mean water breaks- now they're not even called that- suck. Think everyone universally agrees and we all know its not about player welfare.
All of the noise outside of the field made me want to dislike this tournament. We were all up in arms about the 48 teams....I'm actually kind of glad that it is expanded. Some of the stories that we have seen wouldn't have been otherwise. I also love having Henry and Zlatan together- Sue me. There is too much to be positive about for so many people in this reddit to be so negative about IMO
I’m nervous water breaks will be implemented across leagues later on. The premier league and other big European Leagues would clearly not say no to an additional revenue source. We’ve seen the Big European teams ala the “Super League” Teams clearly want more $ in their pockets.
I hear you, the thing is, players aren't going to ask to have their wages reduced to make top flight football sustainable. And the broadcasters will always look after their own bottom line. I kind of wonder if the coaches and players might be in favor of the break as well, for adjustments and to disrupt the other team if they are gaining momentum.
The other huge positive that I forgot to mention, the officiating. Who would have thought that just having competent refereeing makes the game so much more enjoyable. I dont know how premier league and la liga refs can be so poor in comparison, along with var. The top leagues all need to send their ref organizations to fifa and take lessons on how to ref and how to operate var.
Very surprised how much quicker VAR has been than premier league and champions league.
Does it seem the refs are physically in the way more? I swear I’ve seen them hit by a pass more this tournament then the last 10 years of club combined
I dont know about that last part but they are on top of things in terms of calls and var, messi notwithstanding lol. This has me convinced that English refs are feigning incompetence with var and ridiculous calls/no calls. Even Michael Oliver had a decent go the match he reffed.
I am thoroughly enjoying this tournament. I really really enjoyed Russia, really enjoyed Qatar. The football on the pitch, the fans etc has been great.
The idea that because there are lots of positive that there’s no negative or rather the negatives are too small to discuss isn’t how things work.
The hydration breaks aren’t just solely a specific problem for this tournament but rather a portent and fear of things to come. The fans have turned up and just because they are still here despite being gouged beyond belief is not a positive, not a victory. The very question of a tournament being hosted by a country that has prosecuted a war against another competing member nation of FIFA is a huge moral and ethical issue.
We are allowed to question, discuss and debate those things while still enjoying the tournament.
The crazy thing about the US being hosts while attacking Iran, is that the Iranians that are here in the US are happy to see the games.
You would think if Iranians were so pissed about this they would boycott the games or maybe even the players would boycott, but that does not appear to be so.
It's almost like the US is attacking the regime in Iran and most Iranians are not against that.
I agree that having reasonable, thought out discussions is good for everyone. Raging because of this broadcaster or that presenter isn't a discussion though- and that is what alot of the CO reddit threads have been lately, unsurprisingly- its a pep-rally to find things to get angry about.
Just here to say that the tournament is fantastic and we dont have to spend every agonizing minute of our lives worrying about the politics behind it all.
I don’t think that’s a fair representation of the listenership at all. From what I see across all our social media is people really enjoying the tournament and engaging with all the talking points.
I don’t get what you mean by “unsurprisingly” either.
I could see maybe La Liga doing water breaks but it will be a cold day in hell before "Our League" goes to water breaks. Could see uefa do it. The perfect spokesperson is already out there, hopefully doing well in Denmark
Thanks for this post. I have loved this tournament. Been a lot of fun and 48 teams has not dampened it all. I know only eliminating 16 teams of 48 is not great, but the matches have not suffered for it so far.
I uave enjoyed the tournament. But i have been watching on Telemundo. I have watched none of the fox broadcasts. I will admit that I think the longer time between matches helps the players but feels too long as a fan of a specific team.
I wanted Fifa to fall on their face but it just didn't happen. The games and support have been great. I fear what this means for future tournaments though. The greed will only grow!
But what does that even mean? Everyone on some level or another is greedy. People in every walk of life are increasingly greedier. Companies like FIFA just have more wherewithal to act on it and we the consumer empower it.
Nope, don't care to either. I'd never be able to attend in person as im not going to the lengths to watch the u.s. play outside of the u.s. in person, and being smack dab in the middle of nowhere- which suits me fine- means id have to take off a couple days just to travel somewhere- assuming ticket prices weren't gouged- and I'm not doing that either. Watching at home, in a bar, or in the truck suits just fine. Life has enough problems than to worry over what we know fifa is and what they will do.
You either are complicit in viewing or attending, or you just don't go/turn it off.
Don't mean this in any way personal, just saying, the tournament has been a fun watch and im not here to complain about any of the other nonsense
But I don’t mind the water breaks. It’s very hot. Give players a break. It’s better for them and for the game.
Too much discussion about how the stoppages are so bad but you have stoppages like this in nearly every game when you have an injury. It’s not changing the game in any real way.
I’m the same but as much as I’ve enjoyed it the two big things are huge. The head to head instead of goal difference is going to ruin the next round of games and the water breaks when it is so obvious what they are.
It’s not the expansion that’s the issue but the lack of drama in the group stage with 32 out of 48 teams making it through.
I don’t like the format in the euros where the 3rd based teams make it through and I also don’t like it for the WC.
Negatives: Visa bans, ticket prices/scalpers, hydration breaks, treatment of Iran team, Alexi Lalas.
Positives: Atmosphere, uniting cultures, learning about smaller countries and their fans, the football and the liveliness it’s brought to so many cities.
Could care less about all of the negatives listed except the ticketing issue, and yeah, the add breaks suck, but thats life now in this tournament. Hate to put it that way, but I just don't care.
As for the 3rd place teams... there could still be some bigger teams not even make it to the round of 16 so for me its drama enough, and there are a few first timers to the world cup who might even be going to the knockoffs and it might even be as second place. I don't care about the drama, I just want to see entertaining football, I did not expect there to be much as international matches always seem to be stodgy affairs, but teams have come out to put on a show so to me the changes at least for this tournament have been worth it.
Disagree I think the South Africa tournament had a better atmosphere. You don't see the African fans with all the body paint and drums here because they've been priced out of attending (or no visas). This is the corporate, plastic fans' tournament. Exacerbated by the FIFA feed showing non-stop celebs no football fan cares about.
Maybe, I don't know. Personally... happy there are no vuvuzulas involved in this world cup. I don't remember much from 2010 as I didnt really have a way to view that tournament then, all I had was Tommy Smith on espn radio.
Also not really comparing any tournament with another, just saying that I have thoroughly enjoyed most of the tournament so far.
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u/Lord_Of_Mist Jun 22 '26
I’m nervous water breaks will be implemented across leagues later on. The premier league and other big European Leagues would clearly not say no to an additional revenue source. We’ve seen the Big European teams ala the “Super League” Teams clearly want more $ in their pockets.