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World Cup Finals 2026 To Be Played In Quarters (with Poll)

Discussion in 'General Football' started by Stafford Bantam, Dec 9, 2025.

?

Are you actually going to the 2026 World Cup

  1. Yes (I am selling my house, kids, partner)

  2. No (I am totally sane and will not pay a penny)

Results are only viewable after voting.
  1. Stafford Bantam

    Stafford Bantam
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    A three minute break will take place after 22 minutes of each 'half' to allow lots of money to be made from adverts. FIFA will disguise this by referring to these as hydration breaks.
     
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    #1 Stafford Bantam, Dec 9, 2025
  2. bailiff bridge bantam

    bailiff bridge bantam Impact Sub

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    “This hydration break is brought to you by Burger King”
     
    #2 bailiff bridge bantam, Dec 9, 2025
    CRASS, SelbyFan and Hulmebantam like this.
  3. Interested Bystander

    Interested Bystander
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    Including the "Pride Match"?
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce8q01d56v7o
     
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    #3 Interested Bystander, Dec 9, 2025
  4. Dennis

    Dennis
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    It's only a matter of time.

    The NFL changed their rules decades ago to accommodate TV advertising breaks and earn more money for their clubs. They changed the game fron 2 x 30 minute halves to 4 x 15 minute quarters adding two more advertising breaks. They then extended the use of time outs to allow for even more advertising breaks. It's no wonder that 60 mins of 'football' now lasts well over 2 hours. FIFA (and the PL and other major European leagues) have a long way to go to catch up with Americans. But who knows what will happen given the proliferation of US owners in the PL and the global US media companies getting more involved in the streaming of the PL, CL etc
     
    #4 Dennis, Dec 9, 2025
  5. Birky Bantam

    Birky Bantam
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    Something like this was always likely to happen at some point, it's not just pressure from the broadcasters but also managers will like this as it will give them a legal timeout without the need of getting the goalkeeper to fake an injury
     
    #5 Birky Bantam, Dec 9, 2025
  6. SimonW

    SimonW
    Staff Member Admin Moderator ⚽ P.L.25/26 Entrant

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    TBH it's a good idea. As the Club World Cup showed they were going to need hydration breaks in some games and if that's going to to be the case it may as well be standardised especially when you get to matches kicking off at the same time
     
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    #6 SimonW, Dec 9, 2025
  7. SimonW

    SimonW
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    I don't know if anyone watches the MLS but you get that all the time. The most jarring is they won't even talk about who's on the sub bench until the second half starts when you get 'The Benches brought to you by Home Depot'. You also get instant replays, starting 11's, the kick off and the likes all 'Brought to by x'
     
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    #7 SimonW, Dec 9, 2025
  8. Rogered Tart

    Rogered Tart
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    I watch the NFL coverage from the states, its literally one big advert. Insurance and fast food seem to be the order of the day, the funniest are the adverts for pharmaceuticals, take this to cure this then a disclaimer list as long as your arm telling you what you could catch in return if you take said medicine.
     
    #8 Rogered Tart, Dec 10, 2025
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  9. Offcomedun

    Offcomedun
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    Fast food adverts to make you sick. Drugs to make you feel better. Madness.
     
    #9 Offcomedun, Dec 10, 2025
  10. Rogered Tart

    Rogered Tart
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    And insurance companies to pay those huge medical bills. It's almost like it's planned....
     
    #10 Rogered Tart, Dec 10, 2025
    Offcomedun likes this.
  11. Offcomedun

    Offcomedun
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    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/dec/11/trump-plan-for-world-cup-tourists-to-reveal-social-media-activity-described-as-chilling?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/tourists-social-media-trump?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

    Big Brother is watching you. This is horrendous totalitarian nonsense but sadly predictable in Trump’s USA, where all forms of dissent or criticism of the Great Orange Buffoon are now being ruthlessly suppressed by a wide variety of methods.
    I will certainly never go back there while he is in power.
     
    #11 Offcomedun, Dec 11, 2025
    Allotment Bantam likes this.
  12. ahar964

    ahar964
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    WOW!!!!
    cheapest ticket for the World Cup Final is £3119!!! Yup three thousand, one hundred and nineteen pounds!
     
    #12 ahar964, Dec 11, 2025
  13. Zonnebloem

    Zonnebloem Fringe Player

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    Does the fact that Bantam Talk has deleted all political posts, including my substantial contributions, mean that I might now pass the Trumpian social media vetting process?

    Academic question only. I would never contribute 1 penny or 1 tourist statistic to this FIFA/Trumpian dystopian rip-off. I think I'll only check out telly coverage to gloat at empty seats.

    Maybe Canada and Mexico are regretting this mis-marriage.
     
    #13 Zonnebloem, Dec 12, 2025
    Hugh Jarse and Dennis like this.
  14. Dennis

    Dennis
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    Somebody has to reimburse FIFA for their 'golden' replica World Cup facsimile trophy and their own Peace Prize gold trophy. They'll hardly come cheap!
     
    #14 Dennis, Dec 12, 2025
    ahar964 and Bigrod like this.
  15. Interested Bystander

    Interested Bystander
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    A thought, I wonder what the IOC are thinking
     
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    #15 Interested Bystander, Dec 12, 2025
  16. Sergio Pinto III

    Sergio Pinto III
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    TBF no different to the 1994 World Cup. Over 30 years ago and they had hydration breaks then aswell.

    No doubt TDS mob will be looking to bash Trump on this. Somehow.
     
    #16 Sergio Pinto III, Mar 27, 2026
  17. NorthernMonkey

    NorthernMonkey Squad Player

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    Sounds a bit like Bantam Talk these days.
     
    #17 NorthernMonkey, Mar 27, 2026
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