There will be too many matches. I've always watched every match - if recording some and fast forwarding through some bits counts as watching every match .
With over 100 matches, I will be giving many matches a miss completely to the extent that I will probably watch less than usual overall.
I think that FIFA are shooting The World Cup in the foot.
There's also the time difference to consider as depending on the venues, they will be anywhere from 4-7 hours behind, so some games won't be starting until past midnight in England.
It will depend on how many games per day need to be squeezed in but 2014 in Brazil had games kicking off at 5pm, 8pm and 11pm UK time so I’d expect very similar - with probably another game kicking off at 2am as well, so 11 hours of non-stop football from 5pm to 4am.
The 1994 World Cup in the USA had kick off times that generally catered for European viewers, with the latest games starting at 4.30pm Pacific Time (12.30 in the UK).
But the problem is that now they have to fit in A LOT more matches.
I read somewhere that they were discussing possibly having up to 6 matches on some days, with games starting at 1pm Eastern Time (6pm UK time) and continuing every two hours throughout the day. If that's the case there will be some long nights ahead for European viewers as it would mean games going on until 6-7am UK time.
US TV audiences are far more important now also, so good timings for US audiences will be a priority
Ultimately, there’s probably an expectation that the European viewers will just stay up an extra couple of hours and watch as a result of their dedication to watching football.
I’ll be planning to be out there for it, but if I was home then no doubt I’d be awake for every kick.
Opening game will involve Mexico on 11th June 2026 at the Azteca. Canada and USA will both play on 12th June in Toronto and Los Angeles respectively.
The final will be held on 19th July in New Jersey (MetLife Stadium).
Semi finals will be held in Dallas and Atlanta. Quarter finals in Massachusetts, Miami, Los Angeles and Kansas City. Round of 16: Philadelphia, Houston, New Jersey, Mexico City, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta and Vancouver.
Opening game will involve Mexico on 11th June 2026 at the Azteca. Canada and USA will both play on 12th June in Toronto and Los Angeles respectively.
The final will be held on 19th July in New Jersey (MetLife Stadium).
Semi finals will be held in Dallas and Atlanta. Quarter finals in Massachusetts, Miami, Los Angeles and Kansas City. Round of 16: Philadelphia, Houston, New Jersey, Mexico City, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta and Vancouver.
Surprised at this, as from what i've read the stadiums in Dallas and LA both have the potential to expand their capacity to just over 100k.
Opening game will involve Mexico on 11th June 2026 at the Azteca. Canada and USA will both play on 12th June in Toronto and Los Angeles respectively.
The final will be held on 19th July in New Jersey (MetLife Stadium).
Semi finals will be held in Dallas and Atlanta. Quarter finals in Massachusetts, Miami, Los Angeles and Kansas City. Round of 16: Philadelphia, Houston, New Jersey, Mexico City, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta and Vancouver.
Surprised at this, as from what i've read the stadiums in Dallas and LA both have the potential to expand their capacity to just over 100k.
MetLife is like 82k, SoFi is 70k. I don't know about the capability to expand though.
I haven't been to SoFi, but grew up pretty close, and I have to imagine that traffic getting there is miserable. Probably the same for Jersey too (already seen one headline that "New York" will host the final), but while LA has more public transit than it did maybe 10 years ago, let alone when I was growing up, it's still a car centric city.
I'm kind of sad that the USMNT will be playing their games on the west coast. Seattle is the closest stadium to me currently here in Oregon, and LA is I think a 15 minute drive from my parents'. But the US playing their games there will probably make it harder to get tickets in general. I was really looking forward to dragging my girlfriend to something like Sierra Leon v. Iceland and regaling her of stories about when JBG and Daniel Kanu were knee high to a grasshopper. She's a very lucky lady.
USA’s group games will be played in Los Angeles, Seattle and back in Los Angeles. 12th, 19th and 25th.
Mexico’s group games will be at the Azteca, in Guadalajara and then the Azteca. 11th, 18th and 24th.
Canada’s group games will be in Toronto, followed by two games in Vancouver. 12th, 18th and 24th.
Are they guaranteed qualification? How's that working this time round with hosts
They've been given 3 of their continent's slots, making it much harder for other north american countries to qualify. Although its really only Canada that wouldn't have expected to qualify with or without hosting it, given how many slots there now are.
USA’s group games will be played in Los Angeles, Seattle and back in Los Angeles. 12th, 19th and 25th.
Mexico’s group games will be at the Azteca, in Guadalajara and then the Azteca. 11th, 18th and 24th.
Canada’s group games will be in Toronto, followed by two games in Vancouver. 12th, 18th and 24th.
Are they guaranteed qualification? How's that working this time round with hosts
They've been given 3 of their continent's slots, making it much harder for other north american countries to qualify. Although its really only Canada that wouldn't have expected to qualify with or without hosting it, given how many slots there now are.
It's expanded now though. As well as the 3 hosts, they have 3 other automatic qualification spots plus 2 who will go in the play offs. In Qatar they only had 4 places.
USA’s group games will be played in Los Angeles, Seattle and back in Los Angeles. 12th, 19th and 25th.
Mexico’s group games will be at the Azteca, in Guadalajara and then the Azteca. 11th, 18th and 24th.
Canada’s group games will be in Toronto, followed by two games in Vancouver. 12th, 18th and 24th.
Are they guaranteed qualification? How's that working this time round with hosts
They've been given 3 of their continent's slots, making it much harder for other north american countries to qualify. Although its really only Canada that wouldn't have expected to qualify with or without hosting it, given how many slots there now are.
Thanks. Sets an interesting precedent going forward
Opening game will involve Mexico on 11th June 2026 at the Azteca. Canada and USA will both play on 12th June in Toronto and Los Angeles respectively.
The final will be held on 19th July in New Jersey (MetLife Stadium).
Semi finals will be held in Dallas and Atlanta. Quarter finals in Massachusetts, Miami, Los Angeles and Kansas City. Round of 16: Philadelphia, Houston, New Jersey, Mexico City, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta and Vancouver.
Surprised at this, as from what i've read the stadiums in Dallas and LA both have the potential to expand their capacity to just over 100k.
Isn't the expansion (flat) standing areas that won't be in use for the world cup?
USA’s group games will be played in Los Angeles, Seattle and back in Los Angeles. 12th, 19th and 25th.
Mexico’s group games will be at the Azteca, in Guadalajara and then the Azteca. 11th, 18th and 24th.
Canada’s group games will be in Toronto, followed by two games in Vancouver. 12th, 18th and 24th.
Are they guaranteed qualification? How's that working this time round with hosts
They've been given 3 of their continent's slots, making it much harder for other north american countries to qualify. Although its really only Canada that wouldn't have expected to qualify with or without hosting it, given how many slots there now are.
To be fair, Canada topped qualifying for 2022 I believe. I mean we're looking 2-3 years into the future (for qualifying) but Mexico looked old and generally poor in qualifying and at the World Cup. And the US didn't qualify in 2018.
I by no means have my finger on the pulse aof CONCACAAF, but with the expanded field and lacking a kind of up and coming nation like Costa Rice was for a few years or Honduras before that, I think all three would qualify.
The top 6 in the current FIFA rankings for north america are currently 12 USA 15 Mexico 41 Panama 48 Canada 52 Costa Rica 55 Jamaica
Then 76 Honduras, 78 El Salvador. With 6 slots available for automatic qualification it would have been a surprise if any of the 3 had missed out, and a huge shock if USA or Mexico had. So it was fair enough to let all 3 in automatically, I think.
I assume if there are future multi-country bids from Europe they'll either need UEFA to agree to give up qualification slots or accept that some of the hosts won't necessarily qualify.
The top 6 in the current FIFA rankings for north america are currently 12 USA 15 Mexico 41 Panama 48 Canada 52 Costa Rica 55 Jamaica
Then 76 Honduras, 78 El Salvador. With 6 slots available for automatic qualification it would have been a surprise if any of the 3 had missed out, and a huge shock if USA or Mexico had. So it was fair enough to let all 3 in automatically, I think.
I assume if there are future multi-country bids from Europe they'll either need UEFA to agree to give up qualification slots or accept that some of the hosts won't necessarily qualify.
All depends on who's in the group of countries yeah.
The Spain, Portugal, Morocco co-host helps as you expect the former 2 to qualify usually, and Morocco takes an African slot and not a 3rd European slot
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I’ll be planning to be out there for it, but if I was home then no doubt I’d be awake for every kick.
Opening game will involve Mexico on 11th June 2026 at the Azteca. Canada and USA will both play on 12th June in Toronto and Los Angeles respectively.
The final will be held on 19th July in New Jersey (MetLife Stadium).
Semi finals will be held in Dallas and Atlanta. Quarter finals in Massachusetts, Miami, Los Angeles and Kansas City. Round of 16: Philadelphia, Houston, New Jersey, Mexico City, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta and Vancouver.
Though seems like they’ve compromised by given them 9 games in total - more than any other city.
Also New Jersey has a slightly more favourable time difference with the core TV audience.
Mexico’s group games will be at the Azteca, in Guadalajara and then the Azteca. 11th, 18th and 24th.
Canada’s group games will be in Toronto, followed by two games in Vancouver. 12th, 18th and 24th.
That said I agree with cafcTom regarding the Azteca.
I haven't been to SoFi, but grew up pretty close, and I have to imagine that traffic getting there is miserable. Probably the same for Jersey too (already seen one headline that "New York" will host the final), but while LA has more public transit than it did maybe 10 years ago, let alone when I was growing up, it's still a car centric city.
I'm kind of sad that the USMNT will be playing their games on the west coast. Seattle is the closest stadium to me currently here in Oregon, and LA is I think a 15 minute drive from my parents'. But the US playing their games there will probably make it harder to get tickets in general. I was really looking forward to dragging my girlfriend to something like Sierra Leon v. Iceland and regaling her of stories about when JBG and Daniel Kanu were knee high to a grasshopper. She's a very lucky lady.
You stand in this area and watch a giant telly. 🤠
I by no means have my finger on the pulse aof CONCACAAF, but with the expanded field and lacking a kind of up and coming nation like Costa Rice was for a few years or Honduras before that, I think all three would qualify.
12 USA
15 Mexico
41 Panama
48 Canada
52 Costa Rica
55 Jamaica
Then 76 Honduras, 78 El Salvador. With 6 slots available for automatic qualification it would have been a surprise if any of the 3 had missed out, and a huge shock if USA or Mexico had. So it was fair enough to let all 3 in automatically, I think.
I assume if there are future multi-country bids from Europe they'll either need UEFA to agree to give up qualification slots or accept that some of the hosts won't necessarily qualify.
The Spain, Portugal, Morocco co-host helps as you expect the former 2 to qualify usually, and Morocco takes an African slot and not a 3rd European slot