World Cup (2 Viewers)

[Gazza]

I have a hard believing there will be a WC in Qatar. Due to the heat, the WC won’t be played until later in the year. Think of the havoc this will create for the country leagues. The WC is a nice quadrennial event that captures the public’s attention but the leagues (England, Spain, Germany, Italy, etc.) drive the financial bus in the sport. The club championship in Europe (called the Champions League) is almost as big as the World Cup. In addition, FiFA is thinking of expanding the competition to 48 teams for Qatar, rather than the planned 2026 North American WC. It could be a big mess.

From BBC

"The Qatar World Cup will begin on 21 November 2022 and end seven days before Christmas, a compromise position struck between Fifa and global leagues given the intense heat in the Gulf state during the summer."

 

[jazzeum]

It has the makings of a disaster but somehow they will pull it off, I’m sure. I assume the leagues are starting to plan now or will be soon.

 

[Grognard]

I am a little late here as currently vacationing in France but watched the final with the locals. I cannot describe the celebration after the win but I am sure you guys saw it on tv...It was like the end of the 2nd world war in the streets of Tours (the town I was in on Sunday). Below is a pic of me (on the left handside) and my older son in the street that evening...Yes, we are wearing the French team jerseys (with one star for the previous win). It was wild to say the least...In the South of France now in Rocamadour...