"Another year in the books, another chance to look forward and imagine what can be. The World Cup will dominate 2026 the way only the biggest sporting event in the world can, but there are plenty of other things to hope for. These are my 30 wishes for football in the new year. And, of course, No. 30 is ever present -- at least for me."
"1. That the 2026 World Cup be safe and welcoming for all involved, from fans to players to officials. Let's not lose sight of, ultimately, why we do this. (I'd add in "enjoyable too" but, hey, if your country disappoints, it's going to suck.) 2. That we get a "clean" winner in 2026. To borrow a term from professional wrestling, I don't want a final draped in controversy, like 1954 or 1966 or 2006 or 2010."
The 2026 World Cup should be safe and welcoming for fans, players and officials. The tournament should produce a clean winner without a final draped in controversy. The World Cup should act as a catalyst for football growth across the United States, Canada and Mexico, supporting leagues such as MLS, the Canadian Premier League and Liga MX's return to promotion and relegation. VAR should be expanded to address corner kicks and second yellow cards, with a decision expected by spring. Italy qualifying is a specific hope among the broader set of 30 wishes for the year.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]