I guess we will forget the problems once the games begin. But problems so far include:
Ticket pricing is a mess with probably at least 75000 tickets unsold, true fans are being priced out; transport costs are ridiculously high (most teams have to travel hundreds of km.- free in Qatar), as is accomodation and stadium refreshments – no cheap pie and a cup of tea here!
Visa restrictions are preventing many fans from travelling at all. This is also affecting teams which are restricted about the numbers of team members approved, a team doctor was detained for several hours; Teams like Iran who have all their games in the USA are not allowed to stay in the country – they have to travel from Mexico for each game! Likelyhood of inclement weather – not just heat but thunderstorms may have an impact on several matches:
All this before we have teams outside the top 50 playing, Haiti, Curacao, South Africa, Qatar, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Ghana. It is not the fucking FA Cup with its traditions and upsets – it should be for the best teams in the world (nations that is, countries will never meet the excellence of club sides like Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSV, Bayern Munich and the variable teams that represent Italy and England. Mexico and Canada must be regretting being persuaded that a joint World Cup would be a good thing!
The I.O.C. must be getting worried about the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. What stunt will Trump pull after the ridiculous D-Day post? He is insane and still we have 2 1/2 years to endure, without god forbid, Vance taking over when Trump finally loses the plot and is medically certified!
Back home – chilly at 6am, and then wet but rain has stopped and sun will be out soon! Long’ish term weather forecast is basically a dull cloudy June with little rain. Maybe July will see a summer? I am not bothered, my tomato plants are now a meter high and have flowers.
Oh and world news – Israel continues to kill people, the papers find old right wing military persona to condemn the government for not shutting down benefits and spending on weapons – when basically the latest situation is a war between drones and anti-drone systems.