39 days long. 6 days longer than the previous longest tournament (France '98 ) and 11 days longer than Qatar 2022.

The first 2 days have 2 group matches each with all 3 hosts playing. The following 11 days have 4 groups matches each. The final round of group games take place over 4 days (3 groups per day). So that's 72 group matches over 17 day group stage.

It's gonna be a long, long tournament.

Good, the World Cup is bloody great

Hopefully England avoid the central region so heat isn't an excuse

I hope you like South American teams. 6 out of 10 CONMEBOL teams are now guaranteed a finals tournament place with the possibility of a 7th if the 7th placed team can get through the Inter-Continental play-offs. 70% of a continent's countries at the World Cup doesn't sound particularly fair to me!

Europe has gone up from 13 to 16 guaranteed places (out of 55). I'd have been happier to see more African and Asian entrants. They've got a few more after the Finals expansion to 48 teams, but it doesn't seem fair that so many South American countries are guaranteed a spot.

For some context, after 6 games in the qualifiers, the 6th placed team (which is Brazil!) has amassed 7 points and Paraguay in 7th place have just 5.

It's going to be a loooong tournament...

I was just looking at some of the stadiums.  

SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is bloody amazing.

Glad to see USA will be playing in Seattle - super passionate fans.

WRT to the length of the tournament - just because they can have more games, doesn't mean they should.  What is has done is ensure the worldcup will always be a multi-country offering in the future - a bit like the clustrfk of the 2030 Worldcup.

I think quite a bit of South American money has found its way into FIFA's pockets. 6 out of 10 CONMEBOL countries are guaranteed final places and a 7th has a further chance to qualify through the play-offs. 70% of a continent's teams in the Finals is preposterous. 6th placed team after 6 games in the South American qualifiers (which is Brazil!) has 7 points. Paraguay in 7th place have 5 points. Can you imagine how shite they could be yet still reach the Finals?

Europe up to 16 places from 13 and I think it would have been fair if Africa and Asia got a lot more places.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Bloody Hell!!! World Cup 2026 Really fellahs i can't think that far ahead only till the end of the season and end of the year 2024 ....2026  Crikey i will be 60 years old hopefully  with all my marbles and supporting   "Town".
UTM

Quoted from Maringer

I think quite a bit of South American money has found its way into FIFA's pockets. 6 out of 10 CONMEBOL countries are guaranteed final places and a 7th has a further chance to qualify through the play-offs. 70% of a continent's teams in the Finals is preposterous. 6th placed team after 6 games in the South American qualifiers (which is Brazil!) has 7 points. Paraguay in 7th place have 5 points. Can you imagine how shite they could be yet still reach the Finals?

Europe up to 16 places from 13 and I think it would have been fair if Africa and Asia got a lot more places.

I don’t think the greater issue here relates to CONMEBOL, but rather the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams in the first place. We all know why FIFA thought that was a great idea, but once you’re committed to it, cynical as it is, you have to award the bulk of those extra places to confederations that can serve up decent teams.

There are 6 automatic places awarded to CONMEBOL and 8 to Asia’s AFC. The average ranking of South America’s top 6 is 15, whereas the AFC’s top 8 averages out at 44. Whilst there’s loads more teams beyond that in Asia, you then get very quickly into teams with three-figure rankings.

Remember, FIFA are doing this not out of the goodness of their hearts to give some lesser footballing nations a leg up to football’s greatest stage, but for money. The reality is, not many people want to watch Uzbekistan v the Solomon Islands.

Yeah, you'd have to be a proper saddo to watch that. What time's kick off?

Afraid it’s all about the money, more teams means more people watching on the telly back home, wherever in the world that is, so more people seeing the adverts that are on the perimeter advertising, also the chap that runs FIFA now, cannot remember his name, has promised more places at the World Cup for the votes he requires to win the next leadership ballot. But hey, lots of football on the telly during the summer months so just make sure your well stocked up with the amber nectar.

Was looking at going, but managed to get tickets for Euro 24 so won't be able to now with the amount that lot's cost .

Quoted from Mappers

Was looking at going, but managed to get tickets for Euro 24 so won't be able to now with the amount that lot's cost .

Likewise, I’ve had this earmarked since the North American bid won. After the debacle of the last couple of tainted, albeit entertaining, World Cups, this one like it has all the ingredients to be really tasty, but it’s going to be eye-wateringky expensive to attend.

How much I decide to put my marriage on the line may depend where in the draw England end up. Games in LA, San Fran, and Seattle; or New York, Boston and Miami then that’s very sexy indeed. Monterrey, Guardalajara and Kansas City and, yeah, I’d be a lot more inclined to leave it.

Quoted from Poojah

Likewise, I’ve had this earmarked since the North American bid won. After the debacle of the last couple of tainted, albeit entertaining, World Cups, this one like it has all the ingredients to be really tasty, but it’s going to be eye-wateringky expensive to attend.

How much I decide to put my marriage on the line may depend where in the draw England end up. Games in LA, San Fran, and Seattle; or New York, Boston and Miami then that’s very sexy indeed. Monterrey, Guardalajara and Kansas City and, yeah, I’d be a lot more inclined to leave it.

Indeed not my cuppa tea quite happy  to watch it on the telly with our England Flag hanging  out the top window ...AND if we go to penalties Me & "The Wife" will be hiding  behind the Sofa looking  through our fingers!!

Quoted from The Caterham Mariner

Bloody Hell!!! World Cup 2026 Really fellahs i can't think that far ahead only till the end of the season and end of the year 2024 ....2026  Crikey i will be 60 years old hopefully  with all my marbles and supporting   "Town".
UTM

If you've got 'em now, you can take part in the next British and World Marbles Championship which is due held on Bank Holiday Good Friday March 29th, 2024.

Quoted from Mayaman

If you've got 'em now, you can take part in the next British and World Marbles Championship which is due held on Bank Holiday Good Friday March 29th, 2024.

Where?

Quoted from The Caterham Mariner

Where?

Marble Arch!  ;D

Quoted from Les Brechin

Marble Arch!  ;D

Really!! Better polish me marbles and put me suit on

Quoted from Poojah

The reality is, not many people want to watch Uzbekistan v the Solomon Islands.

True, but they will probably bet on it.

World Marbles Championships?

During covid I watched country (team) and individual jigsaw championships on TV.   Euro’s or world’s. Can’t remember as I fell asleep.  I do remember though they they were very quick.  How do people get identified and selected to represent their country?

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

World Marbles Championships?

During covid I watched country (team) and individual jigsaw championships on TV.  How do people get identified and selected to represent their country?

It’s a puzzle.

I think you just wait and hope the pieces fall into place