Whether Canada and Mexico as joint-hosts with the US for WC 2026 means there is any more or less “shadiness” than others is definitely open for discussion and debate. it’s reasonable to conclude there is no “perfect” or “ideal” WC host as every country has shameful history. Personally, I’m ok with leaning toward “sensible” hosts, namely ones that already have stadia and infrastructure to host the WC with minimal climate impact. Not having normal temps over 100F would also seem sensible. but what do I know.
As if there was any doubt left about Infantino’s ethics, morals or corruptibility… I just learned that he lives in Qatar now and is sending his kids to school there. Gee I wonder what he’s paying for all that?
Time for some of Infants quotable quotes! It gets better though... Followed shortly by Redhead lives matter, people.
There's a certain hypocrisy regarding the criticism of Qatar - far fewer people were upset about the 2018 World Cup being awarded to Russia (who started occupying parts of Ukraine in 2014), or the 2022 Winter Olympics in China (using Uyghur slave labor and putting people in concentration camps).
I think what’s maybe adding to the spectacle in this case is that those other countries turned out to be quite adept at the sports-washing part of the equation—like there wasn’t authoritarianism being imposed on sports tourists, in contrast to with the Qataris, where their imposition on their guests is really highlighting things further. So that’s adding attention
That is entirely it. If they decided that they were going to look the other way for a month and let foreigners come in and party and be themselves, and leave, they would get a fraction of the criticism, and the sports washing would actually be more effective. You can't invite a month long football carnival that attracts people from all over the world, and then tell them no clowning around. Brazil had a federal law against beer sales in stadiums. FIFA made them change it for the World Cup. The host country has to adapt to the party they agree to host. If you are not willing to accept foreign customs and traditions, don't bid for the World Cup.
Not long now til the biggest dumpster fire of a World Cup is going to kick off. I am considering watching it through an illegal stream, because on the one hand I do want to boycott it but on the other hand its really hard to drive by a car accident and not look.
Wonder who they will get to perform at the opening ceremony, im not watching that shit but I wonder considering all I have heard is who isn't performing.
Morgan Freeman among the narrators for the ceremony, including an appearance in site, and some K-pop(?) Star among the singers. Can't tell if there is a severe delay in the transmission or if this is collectively the worst lip syncing ever. Overall though, a fair show for something that has to be completely clear of the pitch in 15 minutes. I did wince at the local figures involved in the broadcast using phrases like "After so much sweat and work it's great to finally have the event kick off."
"After so many foreign cadavers we have thrown at stadiums that will never be used after this month its great to have the event kick off."
I think there’s certainly an element of racism to the criticism compared to the amount of scrutiny Russia 2018 received. (I seem to recall a lot of criticism of the Beijing Olympics, much of it after the fact, granted, and probably owing much to the general anti-China sentiment in the atmosphere of the US.) However, I think you’d also have to say that the accumulated attention having been paid to the corruption involved in many of these kinds of events in the last 20 years or so (Beijing, Sochi, these two world cups, etc.) has created a commensurate increase in awareness of the general public, directly leading to the increase of criticism. It’s not really productive to what about the earlier level of scrutiny. The alternative is basically to tell people if you didn’t complain before, you’re not allowed now.
They really need to do a better job of explaining the decisions, had to watch the whole play again after seeing the still picture they used and then you see it. Guy who makes cross for goal is offside when his teammate heads the ball while GK misses his lunch.
The world had also used up a lot of that energy putting the Sochi Olympics to the sword, to say nothing of the ongoing criticism of the Putin regime. By the time '18 came around there wasn't as much left to be said.
They are right that football brings people together. Everyone I know watching is wanting Qatar to lose. "Today, I am Ecuador."
At the time the decision was made, The ref is signaling free kick, Twellman says no goal, and the TV graphic says "VAR Decision: GOAL" This new offside technology will take some getting used to, in terms of how and when to work the explanation into the broadcast, but the on screen mix up comes down to Fox not televising soccer in years.
Off to one of more than 200 locations where alcohol is sold to cleanse their pallettes of how awful that Qatari team was. What did those 11 dudes spend the last 12 years preparing for?
both are bad choices the problem People have especially is that being gay is illegal but people forget Alan Turing was basically killed for being gay and he helped win ww2 in this country not to mention the shit in the Middle East and Ireland etc No country can really judge another, especially when we split and divided the region and they have only recently become wealthy catch 22 really, they never should’ve been given the tournament at this stage in their development
I didn’t watch, but did those locals look like locals, or like true fans? Or just like people who were given free tickets and t-shirts to show up and cheer in some way? As we saw in Beijing?