To non soccer fans, do you believe you will or are open to the possibility of becoming more interested in the sport during or after WC 26?

[SnowBeast]

So in your opinion @SnowBeast , should the World Cup only be hosted in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina? Because that is what you are essentially saying.

Maybe I was being a bit unfair to the USA in what I said, but there is absolutely no way that countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia should be considered to host a World Cup. It’s clearly all corruption behind these decisions. Without getting into their dubious human rights records etc, they are not footballing nations, never have been and never will be. Also no doubt the 2034 World Cup in Saudi will be scheduled slap bang in the middle of the most important period of the European season, it’s ridiculous.

I’m probably just old fashioned but I like my competitions in one country at a time and somewhere where the home nation are totally passionate about the game.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Maybe I was being a bit unfair to the USA in what I said, but there is absolutely no way that countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia should be considered to host a World Cup. It’s clearly all corruption behind these decisions. Without getting into their dubious human rights records etc, they are not footballing nations, never have been and never will be.

You were totally wrong on all of North America should not be hosting. Even in Canada, where soccer is just starting to flourish, they are a footballing nation as much as the USA and Mexico. Did the bids of Qatar and Saudi Arabia have alot to do with corruption? Yes, without a doubt. But they are emerging footballing nations. Period. Do I think other factors should exclude them from hosting until certain human values are accepted in their society? Possibly. But to say their love for the sport should not be recognized is nonsense. Football does not just belong to Europe. It has been played in different forms since ancient times around the globe.

Also no doubt the 2034 World Cup in Saudi will be scheduled slap bang in the middle of the most important period of the European season, it’s ridiculous.

This emphasis on how it affects the UEFA season calendar is laughable when other leagues around the world are affected by the summer tournament as well. Europe does not own the sport or the tournament. UEFA does not matter more than Concacaf. We are supposed to be valued equally. Or do you not agree with that sentiment.

I’m probably just old fashioned but I like my competitions in one country at a time and somewhere where the home nation are totally passionate about the game.

Multiple countries need to host to keep costs down in most parts of the world. Your national team should really start playing friendlies outside of EUROPE to see how passionate the entire world is about the sport. It's not 1966 anymore.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Maybe I was being a bit unfair to the USA in what I said, but there is absolutely no way that countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia should be considered to host a World Cup. It’s clearly all corruption behind these decisions. Without getting into their dubious human rights records etc, they are not footballing nations, never have been and never will be. Also no doubt the 2034 World Cup in Saudi will be scheduled slap bang in the middle of the most important period of the European season, it’s ridiculous.

I’m probably just old fashioned but I like my competitions in one country at a time and somewhere where the home nation are totally passionate about the game.

Do you watch leagues or qualifiers outside of Europe?

 

[disneydreamer1980]

My sons soccer games are the extent of my soccer interest. And that’s only because I have to be interested lol. To be fair though, I’m not a big fan of any sport.

 

[Disney Addicted]

My Dad's Italian. I grew up with soccer being watched in our household. Of course, he watches other sports games as well but soccer is the only one I got into. My son played soccer from early on until Grade 9 I believe. His preference was being a keeper.

I was really looking forward to the World Cup being held in Canada and the States. I've been saving to try and get tickets for the final, semi, or even quarter-finals. When I heard the final was being held New Jersey, I was excited since it's drive-able (8 hour drive more or less). However, plans have changed and it looks like I won't even be trying for tickets now.

I do wish the schedule was spread out a bit more. Sure, Canada (and Mexico) have some of the group stage matches, rounds of 32 and 16. But... the States has all quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final game. A couple of years back I though Canada and Mexico would get at least 1 quarter final. However, since the games are one after the other (ie, 9th, 10th, 11th and so on, I guess they wanted the game locations not-so-far apart.

Oh, and Toronto doesn't even have a round of 16 - just one of the 32.

This is probably the last chance I would have to give my Dad a World Cup trip as he will be 83 next year, so I'm disappointed. We'll be watching the games on tv however.

By the way, during the last World Cup our TV died. As the World Cup was in progress, it inspired my husband & I to purchase a much larger TV than the 55" we original planned on. What a difference watching soccer now!

 

[Buzz Rules]

My Dad's Italian. I grew up with soccer being watched in our household. Of course, he watches other sports games as well but soccer is the only one I got into. My son played soccer from early on until Grade 9 I believe. His preference was being a keeper.

I was really looking forward to the World Cup being held in Canada and the States. I've been saving to try and get tickets for the final, semi, or even quarter-finals. When I heard the final was being held New Jersey, I was excited since it's drive-able (8 hour drive more or less). However, plans have changed and it looks like I won't even be trying for tickets now.

I do wish the schedule was spread out a bit more. Sure, Canada (and Mexico) have some of the group stage matches, rounds of 32 and 16. But... the States has all quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final game. A couple of years back I though Canada and Mexico would get at least 1 quarter final. However, since the games are one after the other (ie, 9th, 10th, 11th and so on, I guess they wanted the game locations not-so-far apart.

Oh, and Toronto doesn't even have a round of 16 - just one of the 32.

This is probably the last chance I would have to give my Dad a World Cup trip as he will be 83 next year, so I'm disappointed. We'll be watching the games on tv however.

By the way, during the last World Cup our TV died. As the World Cup was in progress, it inspired my husband & I to purchase a much larger TV than the 55" we original planned on. What a difference watching soccer now!

I hope our countries can get back to being friends before 2026. Canadian and American soccer supporters enjoying matches together was something I was looking forward too.

 

[Buzz Rules]

My Dad's Italian. I grew up with soccer being watched in our household. Of course, he watches other sports games as well but soccer is the only one I got into. My son played soccer from early on until Grade 9 I believe. His preference was being a keeper.

I was really looking forward to the World Cup being held in Canada and the States. I've been saving to try and get tickets for the final, semi, or even quarter-finals. When I heard the final was being held New Jersey, I was excited since it's drive-able (8 hour drive more or less). However, plans have changed and it looks like I won't even be trying for tickets now.

I do wish the schedule was spread out a bit more. Sure, Canada (and Mexico) have some of the group stage matches, rounds of 32 and 16. But... the States has all quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final game. A couple of years back I though Canada and Mexico would get at least 1 quarter final. However, since the games are one after the other (ie, 9th, 10th, 11th and so on, I guess they wanted the game locations not-so-far apart.

Oh, and Toronto doesn't even have a round of 16 - just one of the 32.

This is probably the last chance I would have to give my Dad a World Cup trip as he will be 83 next year, so I'm disappointed. We'll be watching the games on tv however.

By the way, during the last World Cup our TV died. As the World Cup was in progress, it inspired my husband & I to purchase a much larger TV than the 55" we original planned on. What a difference watching soccer now!

Do you follow MLS or the CPL?

 

[ctonkgo]

Maybe I was being a bit unfair to the USA in what I said, but there is absolutely no way that countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia should be considered to host a World Cup. It’s clearly all corruption behind these decisions. Without getting into their dubious human rights records etc, they are not footballing nations, never have been and never will be. Also no doubt the 2034 World Cup in Saudi will be scheduled slap bang in the middle of the most important period of the European season, it’s ridiculous.

I’m probably just old fashioned but I like my competitions in one country at a time and somewhere where the home nation are totally passionate about the game.

I get wanting to spread out the tournaments to grow the game in new places or to make the tournament accessible to people outside of Europe. However, giving the World Cup to Russia, Qatar, and now Saudi Arabia was completely driven by money. They aren't even trying to hide the corruption anymore.

The USA is a deserving host though. The game is popular in the United States, but the domestic leagues could use a boost from a World Cup.

 

[Simba's Mom]

As a step in a positive direction (at least, IMHO) my granddaughter's middle school has a soccer team-and there are other middle schools to play against! Thirty years ago, when my kids were in middle school, no one we knew had a school soccer team in middle school.

 

[Buzz Rules]

As a step in a positive direction (at least, IMHO) my granddaughter's middle school has a soccer team-and there are other middle schools to play against! Thirty years ago, when my kids were in middle school, no one we knew had a school soccer team in middle school.

Funding for youth soccer is going to increase in many ways in 2026.