General World Cup 2026 News and Views

[ladbroke]

Doesn't matter if its in addition.
Its not needed.
Its not the super bowl.
They've already made the games into quarters.
They're apparently also playing the American national anthem too before the final.
Its too American.

Forgot to add the extended half time show...
Its literally the super bowl but with proper football.

 

[WarDamnBees]

And the Americanisation of this tournament nearly comes to an end but lets quickly add in one more....

Rings.

Yes thats right...

Rings.

Similar to Super Bowl.

World Cup 2026: World Cup rings for winners as Donald Trump to attend final

Donald Trump will present the trophy to the World Cup final winners on Sunday, and rings will be presented to the victorious side.

www.bbc.co.uk

As an American, championship rings are incredibly cool, and quite frankly I will not be backing down on that. I do agree that it’s lame that a few replicas will be sold, but I think it’s fitting that the host country gets to add some of their culture into the world cup. We saw the same thing in Qatar 4 years ago, this isn’t necessarily unique to America.

 

[Garybaldbee]

As an American, championship rings are incredibly cool, and quite frankly I will not be backing down on that. I do agree that it’s lame that a few replicas will be sold, but I think it’s fitting that the host country gets to add some of their culture into the world cup. We saw the same thing in Qatar 4 years ago, this isn’t necessarily unique to America.

So what Canadian and Mexican traditions will be added then?

 

[WarDamnBees]

So what Canadian and Mexican traditions will be added then?

I can’t speak to that as much because they haven’t been brought up and complained about, but I’m certain that at the Azteca it didn’t exactly seem like an American game.

 

[Banana]

We saw the same thing in Qatar 4 years ago

What did we see in Qatar?

 

[WarDamnBees]

What did we see in Qatar?

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37634323/world-cup-fans-qatar-embrace-local-dress-flag-themed-thobes

 

[Garybaldbee]

I can’t speak to that as much because they haven’t been brought up and complained about, but I’m certain that at the Azteca it didn’t exactly seem like an American game.

Maybe they haven't been complained about because they haven't actively sought to do anything to fundamentally change the nature of the event?

 

[WarDamnBees]

They also had a huge musical/cultural set and display on the field pregame as opposed to at halftime (which I agree the American one should be pregame)

 

[WarDamnBees]

Maybe they haven't been complained about because they haven't actively sought to do anything to fundamentally change the nature of the event?

How does giving the players cool rings change the nature of the event

You wont think about this at all after Sunday. Come on now

 

[Ghost]

So what Canadian and Mexican traditions will be added then?

Bieber doing his back catalogue with a Mariachi band?

"Bebé, Bebé, Bebé,"

 

[Garybaldbee]

How does giving the players cool rings change the nature of the event

You wont think about this at all after Sunday. Come on now

It doesn't. I'm not bothered about that. But a ludicrous show which doubles the length of half time and splitting games up into quarters are outrageous US impositions which fundamentally alter the nature of the sport. It clearly demonstrates that football is not safe in American hands. Nor FIFAs for that matter.

 

[Banana]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37634323/world-cup-fans-qatar-embrace-local-dress-flag-themed-thobes

I don't follow. Can you be explicit rather than send me to read a bunch of articles?

 

[WarDamnBees]

It doesn't. I'm not bothered about that. But a ludicrous show which doubles the length of half time and splitting games up into quarters are outrageous US impositions which fundamentally alter the nature of the sport. It clearly demonstrates that football is not safe in American hands. Nor FIFAs for that matter.

Well I said I agree it should be pregame. The splitting the games into quarters was ENTIRELY not Americas idea though… almost every American is vehemently against the hydration breaks. If this was a strictly American event, we would not have hydration breaks. The casual American that is in for the world cup but doesnt follow socccer thinks that the reason we have them is because “sissy europeans cant handle the heat”

 

[WarDamnBees]

I don't follow. Can you be explicit rather than send me to read a bunch of articles?

I sent one article

It was highlighting how fans were asked to wear thobes and traditional Qatari wear to games and around Qatar

 

[Banana]

I sent one article

It was highlighting how fans were asked to wear thobes and traditional Qatari wear to games and around Qatar

So nothing to do with the game then. Got it.

 

[Garybaldbee]

Well I said I agree it should be pregame. The splitting the games into quarters was ENTIRELY not Americas idea though… almost every American is vehemently against the hydration breaks. If this was a strictly American event, we would not have hydration breaks. The casual American that is in for the world cup but doesnt follow socccer thinks that the reason we have them is because “sissy europeans cant handle the heat”

You are telling me that American Football doesn't have endless breaks built into it to allow for TV commercials? And that basketball and Ice Hockey run for simple 45 minutes (or whatever the official duration of the match) each way with no artificial opportunities for advertising? Breaking up sports events into short segments for TV isn't an American thing at all?

 

[WarDamnBees]

So nothing to do with the game then. Got it.

Neither does a ring

 

[WarDamnBees]

You are telling me that American Football doesn't have endless breaks built into it to allow for TV commercials? And that basketball and Ice Hockey run for simple 45 minutes (or whatever the official duration of the match) each way with no artificial opportunities for advertising? Breaking up sports events into short segments for TV isn't an American thing at all?

Thats entirely different, as that was the nature of the sport long before tv came along.

Media timeouts in basketball existed before tv to ensure the media could keep up with stat keeping

That’s like asking why to we have halftime in soccer to begin with

 

[bexleybee]

TNT reporting FIFA’s intention to give the winners Championship rings like the Super Bowl.

Utter yank nonsense

 

[Garybaldbee]

Thats entirely different, as that was the nature of the sport long before tv came along.

Media timeouts in basketball existed before tv to ensure the media could keep up with stat keeping

That’s like asking why to we have halftime in soccer to begin with

So what you are saying is that there is a natural state of sports in the US. And the World Cup goes partly to the US and immediately adopts the same format. And that's got nothing to do with the expectations of US TV broadcasters and sports fans?

Tell you what. Let's stage the Baseball World Series over here. At Lords. We'll take the pitchers mound and move it into the middle of the field. The batting side will have two batters out in the middle defending stumps 22 yards apart. The game will last 5 days. Is that ok with you?

 

[WarDamnBees]

So what you are saying is that there is a natural state of sports in the US. And the World Cup goes partly to the US and immediately adopts the same format. And that's got nothing to do with the expectations of US TV broadcasters and sports fans?

Tell you what. Let's stage the Baseball World Series over here. At Lords. We'll take the pitchers mound and move it into the middle of the field. The batting side will have two batters out in the middle defending stumps 22 yards apart. The game will last 5 days. Is that ok with you?

Correct. That is not due to the expectations of the US fans. I can pull up tons of text screenshots between me and my friends proving this if I must. Americans HATE the hydration breaks. I cant believe that isnt known. We are no different from you in that we hate the ads and commercials and incessant slop thrown in our face on the screen.

I cannot speak for the greedy heads that run Fox, but that is such a small minority of people that it would be foolish to suggest that a few people in the top 1% of American income represent the entire population.

I also have said, in multiple replies, to you that I am against the halftime show thing. So not sure why you keep acting like Im all for it.

 

[Garybaldbee]

Correct. That is not due to the expectations of the US fans. I can pull up tons of text screenshots between me and my friends proving this if I must. Americans HATE the hydration breaks. I cant believe that isnt known. We are no different from you in that we hate the ads and commercials and incessant slop thrown in our face on the screen.

I cannot speak for the greedy heads that run Fox, but that is such a small minority of people that it would be foolish to suggest that a few people in the top 1% of American income represent the entire population.

I also have said, in multiple replies, to you that I am against the halftime show thing. So not sure why you keep acting like Im all for it.

You've tried to normalise the Americanisation of the World Cup by suggesting that every host country moulds it to fit their culture. They don't.

And my complaint isn't about individual American sports fans. I know you are all sick of much of the nonsense that goes on. Its about overbearing US commercial interests that will rip the heart and soul out of the game if they are given half an opportunity to do so.

 

[Banana]

That’s like asking why to we have halftime in soccer to begin with

Yeah it was for live TV coverage since 1889

 

[Les Beeavinu]

How will they know everyone's ring sizes?

 

[Gawain]

Are these rings are in addition to medals, rather than instead of them? If it is the former, then it is total nonsense, while if it's the latter, it is a total disgrace.

Whichever it is, it is very unfair to pin this on Americans, whether football fans or not, since this is a FIFA decision, and no-one elses.

Meanwhile, in years to come when two former players or managers start arguing amongst themselves, will one challenge the other with: "Show us your medals"?

Or will it be "Show us your ring"?

 

[Banana]

Neither does a ring

Yes it is.

You get a trophy and a medal for football. That's been the case for 100 years or so. All throughout the world.

I'm not blaming you, or the USA, for this. It's all on FIFA's door for trying to Americanise soccerball to attract more money from the US. It's cultural misappropriation at its worst.

 

[WarDamnBees]

Yes it is.

You get a trophy and a medal for football. That's been the case for 100 years or so. All throughout the world.

I'm not blaming you, or the USA, for this. It's all on FIFA's door for trying to Americanise soccerball to attract more money from the US. It's cultural misappropriation at its worst.

Phrasing it as fifas fault is much more friendly to me. I can get behind that.

 

[Alex]

So nothing to do with the game then. Got it.

I thought he meant this nonsense with the robe

 

[Andrelux]

Correct. That is not due to the expectations of the US fans. I can pull up tons of text screenshots between me and my friends proving this if I must. Americans HATE the hydration breaks. I cant believe that isnt known. We are no different from you in that we hate the ads and commercials and incessant slop thrown in our face on the screen.

I cannot speak for the greedy heads that run Fox, but that is such a small minority of people that it would be foolish to suggest that a few people in the top 1% of American income represent the entire population.

I also have said, in multiple replies, to you that I am against the halftime show thing. So not sure why you keep acting like Im all for it.

Why are they playing the American national anthem before a game involving Spain and Argentina?
Either they don't (the obvious answer), or they play the anthems of all three host countries.
No other finals have the anthem of a non-competing country.
More Yank rubbish.

 

[longtimeagobee]

Bet @WarDamnBees is glad he joined

 

[Gawain]

Why are they playing the American national anthem before a game involving Spain and Argentina?
Either they don't (the obvious answer), or they play the anthems of all three host countries.
No other finals have the anthem of a non-competing country.
More Yank rubbish.

Not defending it, but it is the tradition to play the US Anthem before all sorts of sports events out there eg when WBA were playing some meaningless friendly out there against a local team about a decade ago, they played both the Star Spangled Banner and GSTQ before it.

Each to their own, of course, but it shouldn't apply to the World Cup Final.

 

[WarDamnBees]

Bet @WarDamnBees is glad he joined

I’m all for some discourse. I also imagine we will have more similar opinions when we are all rooting for the same team! Or at the very least, I’m sure other people will think similarly to me at times and I won’t be a one man army.

Also, I love this club. Regardless of europe, relegation, whatever, I’m in for the long haul, and this board helps me feel more connected to the fanbase. I just have to stick up for my country sometimes! Seems I’ve picked the wrong battle this morning.

 

[Shamrock_Bee]

I’m all for some discourse. I also imagine we will have more similar opinions when we are all rooting for the same team! Or at the very least, I’m sure other people will think similarly to me at times and I won’t be a one man army.

Also, I love this club. Regardless of europe, relegation, whatever, I’m in for the long haul, and this board helps me feel more connected to the fanbase. I just have to stick up for my country sometimes! Seems I’ve picked the wrong battle this morning.

I agree with some of your posts. Despite 'traditions' football should always be about the players and ideas can evolve as long as it doesn't change the actual game.

I doubt any of the newly crowned World Champions on Sunday, will be shouting about the sport becoming 'Americanised' when presented with a reported $150000 luxury gold ring to go alongside their winners medal.

I think it's nice idea, and when you win a World Cup there should be no end to the gifts. As mentioned in an earlier post I don't agree with the public sale and I also don't agree with extending the half time interval but the ring idea is class for the players and coaches.

 

[aslan]

Phrasing it as fifas fault is much more friendly to me. I can get behind that.

You defended initially as not happening, now you're behind it because it is happening but it's not America's fault. How very, um, American

 

[WarDamnBees]

You defended initially as not happening, now you're behind it because it is happening but it's not America's fault. How very, um, American

No, I said that I thought the rings were cool, and that it was normal and not unique to this WC.

 

[Andrelux]

Not defending it, but it is the tradition to play the US Anthem before all sorts of sports events out there eg when WBA were playing some meaningless friendly out there against a local team about a decade ago, they played both the Star Spangled Banner and GSTQ before it.

Each to their own, of course, but it shouldn't apply to the World Cup Final.

They're welcome to play their anthem before their domestic games of rounders or tall men running around if they like, but this game has f*** all to do with them.

 

[Jezybee]

They're welcome to play their anthem before their domestic games of rounders or tall men running around if they like, but this game has f*** all to do with them.

They are hosting it
NFL international games play both the Star Spangled Banner and the host country’s National Anthem before the game.

The USA playing their anthem is by far the least egregious change vs previous football and World Cup Final precedent / tradition. Plus it’s a decent anthem. No Marseillaise nor Fratelli d’Italia but in the next tier down.

 

[Andrelux]

They are hosting it
NFL international games play both the Star Spangled Banner and the host country’s National Anthem before the game.

The USA playing their anthem is by far the least egregious change vs previous football and World Cup Final precedent / tradition. Plus it’s a decent anthem. No Marseillaise nor Fratelli d’Italia but in the next tier down.

So what!!!! It really has nothing to do with them and has had nothing to do with them since the Belgium game.

They're not playing in it. It's just not a thing!!! No Qatari anthem in 2022, Russian in 2018, and so on.

 

[hairman]

Not defending it, but it is the tradition to play the US Anthem before all sorts of sports events out there eg when WBA were playing some meaningless friendly out there against a local team about a decade ago, they played both the Star Spangled Banner and GSTQ before it.

Each to their own, of course, but it shouldn't apply to the World Cup Final.

TBQH I wouldn't be too pissed off if I heard Jimi Hendrix & the Sex Pistols pre-match.

 

[Banana]

They're not playing in it. It's just not a thing!!! No Qatari anthem in 2022, Russian in 2018, and so on.

It's another Americanisation of the sport. Playing the National Anthem before every game of sport. Can you f***ing imagine an Union Jack covering the field whilst we sing the national anthem before every game. And then a flyover of course.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

It's another Americanisation of the sport. Playing the National Anthem before every game of sport. Can you f***ing imagine an Union Jack covering the field whilst we sing the national anthem before every game. And then a flyover of course.

We're quite close to the flyover at the Gtech I guess

 

[Banana]

We're quite close to the flyover at the Gtech I guess

It's an "elevated section"

 

[Les Beeavinu]

It's an "elevated section"

Not kn my house it isn't

 

[JANORAK]

It's an "elevated section"

It was always the Chiswick Flyover (and Hammersmith Flyover) in our house. The ‘elevated section’ came later, and keeps trying to fall down ever since.

 

[Banana]

It was always the Chiswick Flyover (and Hammersmith Flyover) in our house. The ‘elevated section’ came later, and keeps trying to fall down ever since.

Yes the flyover become the elevated section when the flyover became the elevated section

 

[savvy 2210]

Thats entirely different, as that was the nature of the sport long before tv came along.

Media timeouts in basketball existed before tv to ensure the media could keep up with stat keeping

That’s like asking why to we have halftime in soccer to begin with

Your argument falls down when it comes to hockey. So tell us about it !

 

[WarDamnBees]

Your argument falls down when it comes to hockey. So tell us about it !

Hockey is canadian. The American south mostly doesnt care about hockey tbh

 

[ladbroke]

If seems that online harmful/hate/comments had increased substantially this summer compared to previous.
More than 7m posts have been detected compared to less than 0.5m at Qatar.
Wonder who they were aimed at.

World Cup 2026: 14 times more harmful social media posts than in 2022

There have been 14 times more harmful social media posts and comments during this World Cup than in 2022, Fifa finds.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JANORAK]

If seems that online harmful/hate/comments had increased substantially this summer compared to previous.
More than 7m posts have been detected compared to less than 0.5m at Qatar.
Wonder who they were aimed at.

World Cup 2026: 14 times more harmful social media posts than in 2022

There have been 14 times more harmful social media posts and comments during this World Cup than in 2022, Fifa finds.

www.bbc.co.uk

Is it really any surprise? More people online than ever before. Most major football nations knocked out, and more people expressing their frustrations as a result.

 

[Banana]

Gents, let's leave the politics and any jingoism out of it please. Thanks.