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. í ½í¸±
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. í ½í¸±
Correct.Originally Posted by SkStu
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
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.
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...
Last edited by EalingGreen; 07/12/2025 at 10:39 PM.
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)
Times and venues are all preliminary, no? If he moves venues, games could conceivably kick off at the same time (as with the recent 48 team U17 WC). Anyways, long way to go for us to worry about this and who knows, Europeans could be banned from entering the 4th Reich come next June. Absolutely bonkers draw btw.
It was provisional on the day of the draw, but https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_F...Match_schedule.
Just realising Algeria get to correct the wrongs of 1982 committed on them by the Austrians.
That will be a match to watch out for.
If I question Liam Scales ability to play intl football, refer me to this signature & his peformance at home at lb vs Port on Nov 13 2025.
Signed
Kingdom.
Do we have any idea where our potential games will be played yet? Mexico surely, but the other ones? I seem to remember that in 2002 we were the only country that had to up sticks after the first round and catch a flight for the next round so we could be dicked around again. Anyone better informed about this?
Whoever wins Group A stays in the Azteca until the quarter-finals, then it's on to Miami, then Atlanta.
Runner-up goes to So-Fi (LA), then Houston, then New England, then Dallas.
Lets call a spade a spade here, it's a ****ing ****-show of a tournament in no way in favour of attending fans.
If I question Liam Scales ability to play intl football, refer me to this signature & his peformance at home at lb vs Port on Nov 13 2025.
Signed
Kingdom.
If Prague then Dublin
If Dublin then Guadalajara, Atlanta, Mexico City
If Guadalajara, Atlanta, Mexico City, then Kingdom^^
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
If Skstu ^^^, rib removals abound...
If I question Liam Scales ability to play intl football, refer me to this signature & his peformance at home at lb vs Port on Nov 13 2025.
Signed
Kingdom.
Are they keeping groups in the same time zones? I know in 1994 we had to got to Florida but at least there was no jetlag/time difference just flying straight south from NJ to Florida
Folding my way into the big money!!!
Nope
For example, were NI to qualify (I know, I know), the first game would be vs Canada in Toronto (12 June); then to the West Coast to Los Angeles to face Switz (18 June); then North to Seattle to play Qatar (24 June).
The truly bonkers thing is that the other venue in Canada is Vancouver i.e. a (relatively) short hop down the West Coast to Seattle, and a bit further down the coast to LA, with all in the same time zone.
Stadium Guide here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/extra/i4...-stadium-guide
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