Football and politics

[malumbu]

I thought of going to the States for the World Cup.  But I just can't - Trump, the nonsense of entering the States and what FIFA has done to the sport including enlarging the competition and selling out to Gulf/Middle East States has put me off.

I found an article on the likely move of some European football overseas which prompted me to start the thread

https://thefsa.org.uk/news/uefa-gives-go-ahead-for-overseas-competitive-fixtures/

Edited 3 hours ago by malumbu
FIFA not UEFA in first reference

[David Peckham]

Fifa are discussing expanding it to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament South America, which would mean 128 games. That's mad. They're aren't enough hours in the day to watch that much football and I'd have to move house to find a place with enough space for my 'Super Sun World Cup Wall Chart'.

There are games in Mexico and Canada in 2026, so that's an option. Mexico will be unbearably hot, Toronto will be unbearably dull - Leonard Cohen once described it as 'New York run by the Swiss' and he was spot on  -  so I'd say Vancouver. Possibly the most beautiful setting for a city outside Sydney and a great food scene. Nick over the border and there are matches in Seattle as well. The Amtrak train down from Seattle to San Francisco, another WC venue, through Oregon is staggering - and they have an observation car with a bar! Portland and Eugene are worth a couple of nights as well.

That part of northern California and the Pacific Northwest is the most un-Trumpy part of the US, so I wouldn't worry too much and Vancouver is surprisingly interesting, for Canada at least.

You've actually made me think about making the trip again.

 

[malumbu]

The Toronto is boring amused me.  I was thinking of Philadelphia but when I reconsidered, Toronto seemed the obvious place.  But my research came to your conclusion that it is in deed dull.

I've been to Vancouver twice but found that surprisingly sterile too.  I'll raise your Sydney with my San Fran and Wellington, both bay cities like Vancouver but I found far more cultural.  Although that is obvious with San Fran.

I've probably got myself banned from the US with this thread and my views on Trump posted elsewhere.

In your suggested tour what about the towns and cities where the National Guard has been called.  That would be fun.

Kansas is apparently a great place but will be frighteningly hot I expect

Edited 3 hours ago by malumbu