FIFA World Cup '26: News & Analysis

I was totally caught off guard with the whole DJ setup at the Qatar world cup. Wonder if they'll keep that or kick it up a notch...lol

 

That's a pretty cool video.

 

Another ridiculously long half time break on the cards. The players will need to warm up again before the 2nd half kicks off.

 

WC Playing surface info:
https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2026/...consistent-in-16-different-world-cup-stadiums

 

Admittedly I am one of those guys who’s reflexively against most changes in sports, but I hate the superbowlification of soccer finals. Thus I hate this, even if I do like Madonna and Shakira as artists.

 

Meh.
Think of it as a long mid point cooling break because the European media thinks it is going to be hotter than the surface of the sun for the players and staff.

 

Because they are rich. Which is what you are most likely to be flying halfway around the World for this tournament anyway.

Common sense people.

 

Alfonso Davies has suffered an injury to the back of his left thigh, which will keep him out for “several weeks”. Major blow to Canada.

 

Yeah, another idea that someone who probably never kicked a ball came up with.

That said, it will probably backfire as inevitably people (or Americans, at least) will compare to Super Bowl halftime show and it just won't stack up, realistically. So, the WC final, of all things, will be seen as a tier-2 event to those who don't follow football regularly or are new to watching the WC.

 

Terrible news. Not just Canada's most important player but arguably more important than any player to their team.

 

The Halftime Show thing is a cultural exception. I doubt they will do it again in Spain or Saudi Arabia.
Think of it like the Vuvuzelas of 2010.

 

China state broadcaster reaches World Cup deal with FIFA
https://www.reuters.com/sports/socc...adcasting-rights-local-media-says-2026-05-15/

 

Info on Japan training session being open to the public. Also , public viewings of USA matches in Nashville:
https://www.nashvillesc.com/news/japan-mens-national-team-open-training

 

Bailed out by the gubt.

And the next FIFA Peace Prize goes to Xi Jinping!

 

Concert should be BEFORE the match. Horrible idea to have an extremely long half time show. Hard on the players .

 

There's even less time before the match. Players are warming up on the field until 10 minutes before they have to come out again for the first half.

They can have it an hour before the match though. It's a made for TV and casual fans thing anyway. So, the Big gap doesn't matter

 

Looking at that roster, even with Ekitike and Ferland Mendy out injured, France should not lose to any team, at least on paper. It is hard to believe there is no room in a 26-man roster for players of the level of Camavinga and Kolo Muani.

 

And possibly the Nobel Prize for Economics too.

FIFA demanded $300M USD for 2026 WC broadcasting rights in China.

Instead, the Chinese state broadcaster paid $60M USD for a 4-in-1 broadcasting rights bundle:

FIFA has confirmed it has reached agreement with China Media Group (CMG) for the broadcast in China PR of all matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and FIFA World Cup 2030™ as well as the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027™ and the FIFA Women's World Cup 2031™. ​

https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-fifa-china-tv-rights-c516a5e27392e6220afdb433351c5f9b

Folks, this is how a desperate FIFA will write up 2030 WC revenue as 2026 WC revenue. Gotta love the smell of book cooking in the morning.