Football (World Cup 26)

[charlierc]

6 hours ago, balti-pie said:

England and Germany could both handle a 48 team world cup starting next week, if it were needed. Spain and France might need a bit of advance notice of a year or two, Italy would need lots of advance notice and a lot of money for their knackered stadiums, but other pairings of countries could manage it as well - Poland and Ukraine in due course, Turkey and Greece, pan-Scandanavia etc etc plus the spectre of the co-hosts having to get on would be very entertaining!

Tbf Italy is having to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey and even then is at risk of losing their games due to being already behind on stadium infrastructure upgrades. They do seem in something of a low right now.

 

The farce that has seen them end up with Mancini 3 years on from his walk out to take the Saudi job after being turned down by Ancelotti and Guardiola and being shamed out of appointing Pirlo also feels like a further addition to their current malaise.

[Comfy Bean]

2 hours ago, Suprefan said:

Sofi is great.  Getting there was really easy as our public transit stepped up with transport options. $1.75 each way on a bus that left you 2 blocks from the stadium. 5 billion dollars well spent. Except for the pitch dimensions. When they were even building it they mentioned hosting world cup matches. But didnt have the foresight to be compliant. Dont know how it got past them. Thats also part of the reason a couple other indoor stadiums didnt get used or they turned down fifa. Las Vegas didnt want to spend the money to modify their seating to fit the field. Arizona said no due to the financials, same as Minnesota. I wish Tampa had said yes or been considered  because it wouldve been amazing to see everyone wondering why the hell theres a pirate ship at one end of the field. They couldve shot the cannons after a goal! Do wish they had considered the Rose Bowl for an opening match just for historic purposes and to have 90,000+ in a stadium along with the setting by the mountains. Theres always 2038 I guess. Or just watch the Olympics since theyre using Sofi for the swimming events which is going to look incredible. 

Great pics further up 👍

 

We were at Foxborough, Boston and the stadium and set up with pubs and restaurants is better than I’ve ever experienced. Thought it worth pointing out that the train fares increased by over 100% on an nfl game day and they also prevented the trains stopping en route from Boston out to the stadium. There are usually a number of stops where folk can get on. There was dangerous levels of overcrowding on the trains and people queuing in the heat for hours.
After the game was a complete cluster and it took over 3 hours to get away from the stadium. This was partly due to road closures to allow a fast tracked exit for those who’d paid for hospitality with vip parking etc.

The least said about 22 dollars for a bottle of bud the better 😂

 

[kaosmark2]

2 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

I do actually think Europes dominance is bad for the game and finding ways to spread the wealth would be good, this to me doesn’t seem like that.

I have no problem with European dominance ending. I do have a problem with Fifa corruption.

[charlierc]

9 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

I do actually think Europes dominance is bad for the game and finding ways to spread the wealth would be good, this to me doesn’t seem like that.

Pretty much. I'm aware UEFA will be acting out of self interest given FIFA sees UEFA as a pipsqueak to put in it's place while the success of the Champions League and even establishment of European club sides as world leaders means UEFA now has serious power. I looked at the Deloitte Money League, which ranks clubs by annual revenue, and you have to go to number 31 or so to find the highest earning team outside Europe. 

 

But this proposition is just seemingly Infantino trying to get himself more money and power as well as siphoning profits to private equity because heaven forfend that industry miss out on another payday. It's another thing on top of the several others that would justify Infantino's sacking if this were a normal business. 

 

On the subject of business, how exactly do you square being a non-profit organisation with this idea?

[charlierc]

11 hours ago, Suprefan said:

Sofi is great.  Getting there was really easy as our public transit stepped up with transport options. $1.75 each way on a bus that left you 2 blocks from the stadium. 5 billion dollars well spent. Except for the pitch dimensions. When they were even building it they mentioned hosting world cup matches. But didnt have the foresight to be compliant. Dont know how it got past them. Thats also part of the reason a couple other indoor stadiums didnt get used or they turned down fifa. Las Vegas didnt want to spend the money to modify their seating to fit the field. Arizona said no due to the financials, same as Minnesota. I wish Tampa had said yes or been considered  because it wouldve been amazing to see everyone wondering why the hell theres a pirate ship at one end of the field. They couldve shot the cannons after a goal! Do wish they had considered the Rose Bowl for an opening match just for historic purposes and to have 90,000+ in a stadium along with the setting by the mountains. Theres always 2038 I guess. Or just watch the Olympics since theyre using Sofi for the swimming events which is going to look incredible. 

Tbf England did play a warm up game in Tampa in that NFL venue you mentioned and many did remark on the ship in the stadium. I've heard the MLS has a team with a log in the stadium and when they score a goal, a mascot hacks off a piece with a chainsaw. I thought that was funny. 

 

I'm curious how the Sofi swimming pool is meant to work tbf. Sounds like quite the logistical operation. 

[charlierc]

Uefa to boycott World Cups if Fifa plans approved - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5y67zrrdddo

 

Well... Didn't think they'd agree to that. Guess we'll see who follows. North America and Asia's equivalents of UEFA also criticised Lord Gianni's plans but a few have obviously seen the money and want in. 

[steviewevie]

At least a team from Africa would have a better chance of winning it, which would be nice.

[kaosmark2]

CAF (Africa) and CONMEBOL (South America) having internal discussions with member FAs about their stance on the proposals as well.

 

Could just be left with Asia + North America.

[pink_triangle]

50 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

CAF (Africa) and CONMEBOL (South America) having internal discussions with member FAs about their stance on the proposals as well.

 

Could just be left with Asia + North America.

Maybe USA see this as their best chance of winning the big one!

[kaosmark2]

2 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

Maybe USA see this as their best chance of winning the big one!

Well CONCACAF (North + Central America) have just voted to reject it as well.