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Megathread for news/updates/discussion about the 2022 World Cup
Since there is probably going to be a lot of news and things to discuss over the next month.
Since there is probably going to be a lot of news and things to discuss over the next month.
How Qatar bought the world cup: https://tild.es/13eh
What Qatar doesn't want the world to see (Johnny Harris, same youtube channel as the link above, just published 7 hours ago): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt_Q03HNbTk
Some Infantino related articles:
FIFA head says fans ‘will survive’ without beer at World Cup (AP)
‘I feel gay, disabled … like a woman too!’: Infantino makes bizarre attack on critics (Guardian)
ಠ_ಠ
For all the Duolingo fans among the World Cuppers here, Duolingo has a tool for learning cheers and insults in various languages: https://fowllanguage.duolingo.com/
It's fine, says the Brazilian. It's just a game, he adds. Life goes on, and looks at the ground.
I think I need a hug.
Qatar won't allow any cooked Kosher food and public Jewish prayer (JPost)
Iran soccer team refuses to sing national anthem before World Cup opener (Newsweek)
Now that’s courage. I can’t imagine what repercussions they will face upon return.
The many, many controversies surrounding the 2022 World Cup, explained (Vox)
Excellent summary of some of the major issues surrounding the World Cup. The article is way too long, information dense, and citation riddled to quote effectively. But here are the main subjects covered:
Brazil: The Country of Football - Episode 1. A good 10-minute documentary about the Brazillian football style, the ginga, where it comes from, and how adversity is at the root of how we play.
Brazil: The Country of Football - Episode 2. A good 10-minute documentary about Brazil's football culture.
Brazil: The Country of Football - Episode 3. This one looks at the relationship between football and samba music, with a bit about the effect of capitalism on Brazilian football.
Qatar imported fans to create more noise at their games
What baffles me is that none of that was even remotely necessary. Wanna fill stadiums with loud fans? Make the tickets super cheap, or give them free. Maybe pay for part of the air faire or accomodations. Subsidize everything. They got the money.
Football is the most popular sport in the world. People wanna be there already. Tap into that.
...
It sounds like they actually don't have enough people who want to be there.
This part of the article is about attendance to local games. World Cups are not about local teams. 1994 Word Cup also happened in a country with no football culture, and it was a great success. There are many reasons for that, including the fact that the US is more of a destination and has a lot of immigrants.
A tiny country in the desert has a problem on their hands for sure. But if they got enough people from abroad, their games would fill. It's not a long Cup and given the chance fans will go to all games, including the Qatar national team. Some might organically cheer for them, specially if Qatar helped finance the trip.
But I guess monarchies don't really do "organic" :P
I would assume that the WC would attract more interest as well, and ~poof~ ~magic~ if it were up to me, I would have had a pretty active program to promote local interest and funnel that into the stands. But I'm not arguing with you anyway; I was just saying that it sounds like they did base their decision on some kind of analysis. At the same time, I know nothing about Qatari culture and their monarchy:people relations, so that's a big caveat.
US journalist Grant Wahl says he was detained in Qatar for rainbow shirt (Guardian)
Related:
Fifa and Qatar in urgent talks after Wales rainbow hats confiscated (Guardian)
Also related, but 🤦 worthy:
Brazilian journalist has phone seized by Qatar police after regional flag mistaken for LGBTQ banner (Sky)
Also related-ish:
England fans dressed as Crusaders detained by police in Qatar (TikTok video)
Totally understandably why they were booted out, since that's undoubtedly pretty offensive, but still kinda funny. The balls on them!
Related to the above:
Qatar World Cup bans English soccer fans from dressing as medieval Crusaders (NBC)
The irony: anyone that's ever been to Pernambuco (or any Northeast state, really) knows that it's not exactly an LGBT paradise...
Brazil 2 x 0 Serbia
November 24, 2022 (Thursday)
This is the first Brazil game that I watch since the tragical match in 2014. There were people crying in the stadium, in their houses, and in the streets. It was like Germany was playing a different game, or adults playing children. It is hard to express the effect that had on me, but 8 years without watching the national team can give you an idea.
Because of that, I didn't know almost anything about this team. Neymar is the only player I recognize.
The team was initially nervous and timid, afraid to kick towards the goal, trying to "carry it in". Richarlison scored at 62" in what seemed like a happy accident, and also at 73" in what I say with some certainty will probably be the most beautiful goal in the entire competition, and one of the most beautiful goals in its entire history.
I am, of course, elated and hopeful. I know our team is considered by many the favorite. I can't say I'm in total agreement with that, but now I understand what they are talking about. Especially knowing that Argentina and Germany had bad starts. The dream of the Hexa seems more possible than ever.
And oh, Neymar was limping after the match. Doesn't seem serious, and he's got 4 rest days ahead of him. Hopefully, he'll make a full recovery.
Video of the 2nd goal, for those curious:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFzMe7CZr8c#t=4s
Alas
Hopefully one of those will work for you (with timecode):
https://youtu.be/OZq8xqgIDhw?t=11
https://youtu.be/_VCSlZ2n42o?t=390
Richarlison praised as ‘idol Brazilians deserve’ after Bolsonaro era.
Brazil 1 x 0 Switzerland
November 28, 2022 (Monday)
Casemiro stunner ends Switzerland resistance to fire Brazil into last 16.
With that result, Brazil is qualified for the playoffs and will play against Cameroon next Friday with no obligation to win.
Videos (multiple options to avoid geoblocking):
Argentina Wins the World Cup, Defeating France
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/18/football/argentina-france-world-cup-final-qatar-2022-spt-intl/index.html
That's probably worthy of posting on its own.
Germany cover mouths and wear rainbows on kit in World Cup protest (Guardian)
No truth to rumours Danish FA is planning to leave FIFA, says DBU
The rumour was being reported on by various tabloids, sports blogs, and less-than-reputable news organizations (like RT), and it was then spreading like wildfire on social media (esp reddit and twitter), but this seems to put all that firmly to bed.
Although in related news:
Danes won't support Infantino re-election after armband spat, says FA
Football explained for Americans.
FIFA charges Ecuador over fan chants at World Cup opener (AP)