"The plastic balls rumble around the glass bowls of destiny. Portentous music plays. There is a sense of possibility, as though the inner workings of the universe have suddenly been laid bare, a door opening to reveal the three Fates sitting by their spinning wheel, measuring rod and shears in hand. A World Cup draw is a moment of perfection, a platonic vision before reality has had time to intervene."
"Everybody is fit and in form. Every nation is playing as an ideal version of itself no injuries, no disputes over bonuses, no concerns about fatigue or the temperature or whether a player might be distracted by a possible transfer; it's the World Cup as pure potential. With Friday's draw, next summer will suddenly feel a lot closer. There will be fixtures and opponents, a schedule and planning."
"Last time the United States hosted, in 1994, they went all out for glitz, glamour and Americana. The draw was staged in Las Vegas, very much a home of determining the future through guided randomness. Pele, despite being the only footballer many Americans could name, was notably absent, having accused the then Fifa president, Joao Havelange, of corruption. Faye Dunaway, Robin Williams, Beau Bridges,"
World Cup draws create a theatrical moment where potential outcomes feel pure and unspoiled by injuries, disputes, transfers or fatigue. The draw frames teams as idealized versions of themselves and marks the start of concrete planning with fixtures, opponents and schedules. The location and staging of the draw signal the host nation's intended tone: spectacle, Americana and star power in the 1994 United States example, staged in Las Vegas with celebrities, absent Pele amid corruption accusations, and a focus on glitz to attract American interest. Draw presentation can shape expectations about organizational priorities and the tournament’s character.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]