How the World Cup could be made more exciting for neutral viewers
A brief opinion piece arguing that while football (soccer) is a beautiful game, it can often be boring, especially for neutral viewers. The author uses the upcoming 2026 World Cup (hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico) as a case study, noting that the tournament's 104 matches over 6.5 weeks with 48 teams will feature high-stakes, risk-averse play that makes for dull viewing. The piece suggests the World Cup could be improved to be more exciting.
Key quotes
Football is the beautiful game. But it's often also the boring game.
The World Cup... is being hosted by America, Canada and Mexico, the international equivalent of going to a dinner party and hearing the hosts rowing in the kitchen.
The stakes at a World Cup are too high for players to take big risks, and hanging on for a draw often pays.
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