World Cup 2026...........'draw'....

[EalingGreen]

Monday June 15th
FIVE games on
All at different times (UK/ROI):

5pm Spain v Cape Verde
8pm Belgium v Egypt
11pm Saudi v Uruguay
2am Iran v New Zealand
5am Austria v Jordan

Ludicrous. 😱

[Eirambler]

I’m pretty sure it’s both. Scheduled to suit the local markets in the host countries and, where possible, timed to appease some of the bigger countries.

Correct.

[pineapple stu]

Monday June 15th
FIVE games on
All at different times (UK/ROI):

5pm Spain v Cape Verde
8pm Belgium v Egypt
11pm Saudi v Uruguay
2am Iran v New Zealand
5am Austria v Jordan

Ludicrous. ������

Is it ludicrous?

You have to get through the games in a 48-team tournament. I think there has to be a trade-off in maximising viewership such that the individual viewer mayn't watch more games or may even watch less. But maximising viewers has to mean different kickoff times. And Iran v New Zealand seems ideal for a 2am (our time) game

[Eirambler]

I think it's probably just it being a 48 team tournament that's ludicrous. Though I'll probably withdraw that comment if we qualify! But 32 did seem like the sweet spot - it still felt like every game mattered and was worth watching. Even if the tournament was on at European times - which it presumably will be in 2030 - you just couldn't watch it all with this format. And there are just too many teams qualifying more due to geography than ability which will impact the tournament quality as well.

[EalingGreen]

Is it ludicrous?

You have to get through the games in a 48-team tournament. I think there has to be a trade-off in maximising viewership such that the individual viewer mayn't watch more games or may even watch less. But maximising viewers has to mean different kickoff times. And Iran v New Zealand seems ideal for a 2am (our time) game

As 'Eirambler' says, this just shows the ludicrousness of a 48 team tournament, that they have to include 5 games a day, covering a 14 hour period. While also requiring some of the teams to play when the weather conditions - temperatures/humidity/storms - may not just be detrimental to good football, but positively dangerous.

But still, I'm sure it's not just me but the whole world, who must be looking forward to Iran v NZ, even if they have to get up at three or four in the morning to see it...

[pineapple stu]

But 5 games in a day isn't what makes the 48-team World Cup ludicrous. For one thing, in the vast majority of the world, Iran v New Zealand isn't on in the middle of the night - not just in Iran and New Zealand of course, but the entire of the Americas, and Asia as you go farther east. Arguably five games in a day (which I'm assuming is an exception rather than a rule) gives everyone in the world a chance to watch 2/3 games at a reasonable time - maximising money for FIFA, which is of course the only thing they care about.

What makes the 48-team competition ludicrous is games like Cabo Verde v Spain or Curacao v Germany (though I'll admit the unusual teams are the ones I'd have more interest in watching in the group stage); it's the lack of danger/interest for top teams in the qualifying campaigns (we've already seen the suggestions about changing UEFA qualifying); it's the extra game for top players in an already crowded calendar; it's the continuing under-representation of Europe in the finals (which has 16 of the 48 teams despite having 27 teams in the top 48 in the Elo rankings); it's the fact that the first 72 games end up knocking out just 12 teams.

All of that - but not five games in one day. (Which, by the way, Eirambler didn't mention)