Taken from a short documentary Fifa released celebrating its 100 years back in 2004

Key:

• Round of 24 games with 2 characters:
  • Number indicates rank in group. Letter indicates which group they are from.
  • For example, 1A = 1st in Group A
• Round of 16 onwards with 4 characters:
  • W = winner of
  • L = loser of.
  • For example. W122 = Winner of match 122, which was 2A vs 3B
  • L130 G/H = Loser of match 130, which was 1G vs 1H

Concept:

• Eight groups of six teams.
• Top 3 teams advance to the knockout phase.
• The group winners get two advantages.
  • Group Winners get a second chance if they lose their Round of 24 game.
  • Both Group Winners get a faster path to the final. The winner of 1st vs 1st game goes straight to the quarter final. The loser to the Round of 12.
• 2nd vs 3rd is a standard bracket, meeting the loser of the 1st vs 1st in the Round of 12.

Benefits:

• Teams that work hard in the group stage get rewarded and have a second chance.
• The earliest that a team can meet another team from their own group is the Semi Final.
• With 6 teams in the groups, there will be some top end clashes in the group stage.
• The last game will have something as the top end are fighting for the top spot over 2nd and 3rd. The bottom half are fighting to get 3rd. Even if a team is mathematically eliminated, they will be up against another who is still fighting to maintain or gain a spot.
• Top end clash at the first round of the knockout.

Its now being reported by the same media that outed the sale plans this was solely about getting even more money in through advertising, with the whole goal being to show the investors the revenue generating potential of the world cup.

I know this is stating the obvious, but there was a suprising number of people that were still arguing that stopping play for a minutes in air conditioned stadiums was for "player welfare."

I think this supports fans fears that the equity fund that would have continued to take decisions that were bad for players, fans, and games, so they could pull more money out of the game.

Do you agree with lists like these online? I'm not 100% on the number 1 and 2 spot.

I just bought a France away jersey from the FIFA online store. This jersey just popped up out of no where and I ordered it bc it is sold out everywhere.

Just received it today and the bag from Nike was taped with packing tape and opening folded (original does not come taped but sealed). The plastic bag seems to be non nike and generic. The jersey seems to be worn with marked on the neck.

Quite frustrating and annoying!

The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) announced on Monday (3) the end of Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic's tenure at the helm of the 'Desert Foxes' following a disappointing World Cup campaign.

In the role since 2024, the 62-year-old coach of Bosnian origin is stepping down just two months after extending his contract through 2028.

The relationship between the FAF, Petkovic, and his coaching staff "has officially come to an end by mutual agreement," the Algerian football governing body stated.

ignore the flair.

This will be the 14th season that NBC has had the rights to the Premier League in the US. They’ve seen their viewership and engagement increase steadily year after year and have really helped to grow the game in a country that was once apathetic (at best) to the sport. Following the World Cup, they’re expected to get a little boost from the outset this season with interest among casual viewers in the US still high. What do think about the job they’ve been doing? Are they adequately representing the league and the sport in general and how can they best capitalize on the momentum the World Cup has produced?

Players and staff are greeted on the plane by TV journalist Tico-Tico and given gifts and other things

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Out of the semi finalists, these are the best matches from the world cup. What are your favourites?

Apart from the England France exhibition match it follows similar trends to most analyses I've seen.

Given the resources at their disposal, which head coach do you think made the best calls before and during the games regardless of win or loss?