Just tried to use the DAZN site for the first time to watch this (Gold Cup >>> CWC). Man, it sucks. It couldn't even get me through the sign-up process. I ended up downloading the app and running it through my phone. I fear for what the FIFA+ site will turn into now that DAZN is going to take it over.
Yep, noticed that too. Got to the "pick a plan" screen on my computer with no option for free. On my phone the free option was there.
It does! If there is something FIFA knows how to do its putting on big events. The issue: How do we make it actually fit into the European schedule? Its currently in this awkward spot between offseason and preseason.
It started basically as early as it could given the June international window. One solution is to make it smaller (lol FIFA would never) so it goes quicker. Another is to cut the top flights of Europe to 18 teams (like Ligue 1 just did) so those league starts could be pushed back.
Very preliminary conclusion jumping coming up! 1) The Brazillian league is MUCH better than anyone thought 2) The Portuguese league is MUCH worse than anyone thought 3) MLS teams CAN compete with anyone (at least at home) but will rarely win 4) This tournament would have been much bigger with Club America than with LAFC playing at neutral sites 5) Seems these games being official don't bring out too many more people than unofficial friendlies - so would a whole round of La Liga or EPL bring out the fans for lesser teams?
Not talk. It was agreed and awarded to China for 2021. That one had 24 teams. Then Covid-19 happened.
The Seattle match was a "Premier Event" with a prompt to upgrade but I paged down and it was available for free.
China has lost interest in all things soccer after the real estate crisis hit.They also gave up hosting the 2023 Asian Cup (Qatar replaced them). Morocco is very interested in the 2029 CWC (with Iberia?) as is Australia.
Because we’re hosting the World Cup next year, and they couldn’t play in Qatar in June 2021 because it’s too hot.
Pretty damning evidence of MLS’s stature in this country given the crowd. There’s more fans from a club from Tunisia than LA in Nashville.
I'm willing to cut LAFC some slack given their fans didn't even realize they would be in this thing until a couple weeks ago. Though I'm not sure how big a difference it would've made..
Would you expect Seattle fans to show up if they were playing Botofogo in Atlanta? I don't think local fans are showing up for a rival MLS team vs non-UCL teams.
You would fly 2000 miles to watch your team play a Tunisian team in a competition you didn't know you were part of two weeks ago?
The first half there was a painful reminder of the flip side, that soccer at its worst really, really sucks.