Right there with you - FIFA sucks but I adore the World Cup. I'm taking my soccer obsessed son to see Netherlands vs Japan this weekend and I am SO, SO excited to get to see a game, but also feel like I need to, like, wear a t-shirt with disclaimers that I know FIFA is terrible, the ticket situation is awful, the US is bad host nation, etc.
Writing to you from Vancouver, a 2026 World Cup Host City of course. I would say so far the vibe here has been, for the most part, anti-Fifa and not excited? At least in my peer group. But I want to get excited and high five strangers from around the world and party in the streets (while giving as little money as possible to FIFA themselves), so we'll see how this goes. Thank you for writing about the World Cup, because I want to learn about it from you, and not from traditional sports media! Looking forward to your musings!
2006 was my 1st World Cup as an Albiceleste fan and I've not watched a game in English since (creo que me pondría a llorar). Living the world cup as an Argentine fan in Argentina is a unique experience because that paralysis you mentioned as personal is NATIONWIDE here, so it's always a time. The 2010 edition stands out largely because my C-section pre-op was spent watching Holand Australia w/techs moments before my epidural. Special times.
FIFA is a godless spineless organization and your lovely and eloquent summary/rant has inspired me to write about another wild World Cup with a backdrop of HR violations and repression: Buenos Aires, 1978. (After the MX/RSA game, obvi)
In the meantime, go catch the Maná set replay, something tells me you're gonna love it ;)
Hard agree with the main sentiment here, but i also don't even really like football? Still, i'm very excited for the world cup this year. Maybe because Norway qualified for the first time since 1998 🇧🇻
I’m so excited to hear your thoughts throughout the tournament! Also hate FIFA and Alexi Lalas- I was silently howling at how he clearly keeps tabs on what everyone is saying about him on Twitter. I’m for Croatia but will now be so excited to see Uruguay play!
Thank you for covering this. I’ve watched every cup since 2002 and it’s a blast. I have the same conflicted feelings about fifa and watching the tournament. I look forward to more of your posts.
As a non-football fan, Clara's is literally the only take on the World Cup I would/will read.
Same! And I appreciate what I learn about culture from her, both the shared interests and newly introduced ones.
Right there with you - FIFA sucks but I adore the World Cup. I'm taking my soccer obsessed son to see Netherlands vs Japan this weekend and I am SO, SO excited to get to see a game, but also feel like I need to, like, wear a t-shirt with disclaimers that I know FIFA is terrible, the ticket situation is awful, the US is bad host nation, etc.
Writing to you from Vancouver, a 2026 World Cup Host City of course. I would say so far the vibe here has been, for the most part, anti-Fifa and not excited? At least in my peer group. But I want to get excited and high five strangers from around the world and party in the streets (while giving as little money as possible to FIFA themselves), so we'll see how this goes. Thank you for writing about the World Cup, because I want to learn about it from you, and not from traditional sports media! Looking forward to your musings!
2006 was my 1st World Cup as an Albiceleste fan and I've not watched a game in English since (creo que me pondría a llorar). Living the world cup as an Argentine fan in Argentina is a unique experience because that paralysis you mentioned as personal is NATIONWIDE here, so it's always a time. The 2010 edition stands out largely because my C-section pre-op was spent watching Holand Australia w/techs moments before my epidural. Special times.
FIFA is a godless spineless organization and your lovely and eloquent summary/rant has inspired me to write about another wild World Cup with a backdrop of HR violations and repression: Buenos Aires, 1978. (After the MX/RSA game, obvi)
In the meantime, go catch the Maná set replay, something tells me you're gonna love it ;)
Hard agree with the main sentiment here, but i also don't even really like football? Still, i'm very excited for the world cup this year. Maybe because Norway qualified for the first time since 1998 🇧🇻
I'm cheering for Norway based solely on their team photo! Go Vikings!
I’m so excited to hear your thoughts throughout the tournament! Also hate FIFA and Alexi Lalas- I was silently howling at how he clearly keeps tabs on what everyone is saying about him on Twitter. I’m for Croatia but will now be so excited to see Uruguay play!
Most importantly (for me) Peacock - the only network-specific streaming we subscribe to - will have the Telemundo coverage in full. Feels right.
I wish they would offer it also in English tho!
Thank you for covering this. I’ve watched every cup since 2002 and it’s a blast. I have the same conflicted feelings about fifa and watching the tournament. I look forward to more of your posts.
Thank you for sharing my story haha - Love the Men’s World Cup and loathe its organization!
happy wxrld cxp to all!