Here we are, gearing up for the start of a new EPL season, the A-League fixtures are due out and the summer tournaments are wrapping up.
Football life is soon to return to normal, Saturday nights that start at 5pm and go on until sunrise. Domestic football bliss. But then it all comes to a halt in mid-November as the FIFA World Cup breaks almost a century of tradition and slices almost every domestic football season around the world in two.
The time for uproar has long gone to be replaced by an uncomfortable disquiet. This is definitely happening.
Against all odds, the World Cup is in Qatar and all eyes will be focused on this tiny Middle Eastern nation that has almost rebuilt itself to host the world’s biggest football party.
Many, though, are dismissing this tournament, especially in Australia – after all, the World Cup was meant to be here – and there are World Cup regulars who will not be making the journey despite the Socceroos’ miraculous qualification.
An admirable silent protest, but the show will go on.
So, what are we to expect of Qatar? What is the point of difference? That’s an obvious one to answer. Every game is taking place in the same city, all fans from all countries will be landing at the same airport, most teams will be based in the capital Doha, and there will be an Olympic Games-type vibe.
All teams have a base for the whole duration of the tournament, there is no internal travel, and the conditions and temperature should be conducive to good football, with night time being refreshingly cool.
Plus, there are four games a day. Getting to two games in one day and enjoying the before and after party is more than doable. This is a World Cup for the football fanatic.
Of course, there are challenges for the hosts, as there have been since Sepp Blatter held up the winning card 12 years ago.
(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The football tourist may have a hard time finding anything touristy to do, with so many people descending on a city that is not famed for its depth of attractions. Accommodation is expensive and scarce, but there is enough to go around and something to suit all tastes and budgets.
Getting around could be difficult too, due to the sheer number of extra people to move from place to place, the traffic is notorious, but a brand new metro system will be the saviour. The conservative rules about dress and public affection are also inhibitive to the holiday-making football fan.
What’s more, the link between football and beer is being challenged at this World Cup, and fans will be limited to drinking Budweiser at fan sites and at the pre and post-match party zones for ticket-holders.
The idea of sitting outside a restaurant with a bottle of wine and then hitting a late-night bar to dance the night away, a scenario from every recent World Cup for a lot of fans, is simply not an option in Qatar. This is definitely going to be a unique World Cup experience for many.
And how are we going to consume our World Cup in Australia? There are a handful of games at the glorious 9pm AEDT timeslot and plenty of achievable 6am games, too.
At least one local council in Sydney has floated the idea of live sites, and every game is being shown on free-to-air TV back at football’s spiritual home of SBS.
With the A-League Women set to be the only domestic football on offer from mid-November to mid-December, and football’s rival codes in deep pre-season, all eyes will be on Qatar and the Socceroos.
It’s coming soon, less than four months away. Will you be watching?
Of course you will.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
They only Reason Russia is banned is because they are acting against US intrests
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
I bet you the Sceptics will start a War before 2026 and won't be stripped of the Hosting Rights Russia being baned sets the president that the United States and its Allies/Puppets can basically tell FIFA who is and who isn't allowed at the WC Don't misuse words like genocide that's not happening in the Ukraine as it isn't Russia's goal to wipe out the Ukrainian race and to imply as such is disgenuious
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
Hi FIL. 100% agree with you. I am not at all questioning their decision, more advocating that if they have the power and influence to bring about positive change and put pressure on countries that have a continued track record of human rights violations, corruption, opression...... why have they not flexed their muscles over some other world events that seem to go unnoticed, or in the case of the current world cup hosts, even rewarded or validated.
Garry
Roar Rookie
What I dont get is why these games arent all played at the weekend thereby doubling crowds at least..there's also likely to be more interest. I get games postponed could HAVE to play midweek & during the A League season maybe but now???
Garry
Roar Rookie
nope..its a farce.. still will have to watch it tho!
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
Its funny how the gay or lbdgh groups complain about 7 rugby players for refusing to wear pride shirts yet have no issues about qatars stance on gays and no rights at all for gays. In fact qatar punishes gays by law. Yet gays wear sports shirts with qatar sponsorship or even etihad lol. How insane are the gay groups? Cant pick on countries or their laws but have to pick on a group of people instead!
Aiden
Guest
I know a few people that are refusing to watch. I probably can’t help myself. Brain says no, heart also says no … some football zombie part of me means I still will.
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
Very true, people here have already spoken about the difference it will make if ‘not many’ people turn up. My point had nothing to do with profit for FIFA, and was only about what it would take for someone at home to not watch the World Cup.
AGO74
Guest
Love it FIL. I’m an a-league fan first and foremost for last 15 years but despite not watching a great deal of English or euro football these days Boro is actually my English team of choice so I’m glad they won against Fulham (sorry mate!). I actually met mark schwarzer outside riverside stadium when I saw a game there in 97. This was in the days when he wasn’t really playing regularly for Socceroos and had just joined Boro. I think he was shocked that an Aussie was in Middlesbrough (it’s not the most attractive town). Anyway we had a great chat for 15-20 minutes. Told him how I was at the sfs for the Canada shootout a few years earlier. He really enjoyed that part of our chat unsurprisingly. A proper decent humble guy. Still amazing how that Canada pen shootout was almost a mirror image of Uruguay 12 years later!
AGO74
Guest
Yeah and then having to pick themselves up mentally (as well as physically) after the highs of playing in once in a lifetime World Cup finals or semi finals to then having to play a week later against the likes of Fulham, Celia Vigo or Bologna. No disrespect to those teams and clubs of that caliber but yeah that’s a hard task to prepare yourself mentally for after playing such momentous matches only a week or so earlier. All of these factors may make for a funky euro season. Or it could just be another procession for the traditional mega clubs (still most likely outcome). Personally I’d like a funky outcome a la Leicester City!
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
as I said earlier, would not make your day if our lads caused at least one upset, it would be bloody marvellous
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
TV audiences are one thing, but the financial bottom lined takes a considerable hit without ticket sales.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I'll be cheering the Socceroos.
chris
Guest
That's a good point you make about players being relatively fresh. I hadn't thought of that. It'll make beating the likes of Brazil, France, Germany etc even tougher for the second tier nations. And then the flip side of that, you will have the big clubs like your Real Madrids, Man City, Bayern etc getting back players that have peaked at a WC.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
why does that not surprise me. pigs at the trough
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
AGO, let me tell you, the Cottage is fantastic. They have the chippy van out the front for your hot chips, everyone walks down to the ground, the whole box and dice, Old school at its best. We actually watched Fulham v Middlesborough, and one Mark Schwartzer was the keeper for the away team. I also remember the two guys behind us. Ever watrch a British comedy called Men Behaving Badly? The two guys behind us on the Terraces were just like the two comedians, my wife and I laughed for half the match. By the way Schwartzy had a blinder and Middlesborough won.
AGO74
Guest
Now that’s a ground I’d love to visit and watch a match at. Quality old school ground n the banks of the Thames.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
bang on......Bryan Robson was captaining the side Keegan was there too. It was the world cup where England went home without ever losing a game - the second round was a group of three and they played out 2 drab draws and that was that! Cue Paulo Rossi who came back after some scandal and led Italy to victory over the Germans who were embroiled in their own set of problems at that festival.
Brian
Guest
Whilst I don't disagree FIFA actually had to be dragged to its decision. The day after the invasion they wanted to cosult the Russians and have them play their qualifier in a nuetral venue. The Western European papers and TV pundits were rightly furious. The Poles and Swedes said they would refuse to play Russia. Hours later Russia was banned.
Brian
Guest
The times are the usual mess but actually getting up or going to a live site in the middle of the night should be a breeze in December compared to the usual frosty start in May, June or July