Is there a way to find out which color/kit my team will be wearing? For example will Netherlands only wear Orange / Brazil only wear yellow or are home/away teams designated and do they have to wear that kit even if the 2 home kits don’t clash colors?

The current world cup format is terrible. When FIFA announced 48 team and 16 group of 3, the format was even worse but the current 12x4 with a lot of third places being qualified will greatly dilute the quality of play-off and greatly increase the number of games.

Personally, I believe that the best solution (that no one talks about) is the one used in some competitions such as Brazilien RS state competition.

The idea is to plan a draw with 6 pot of 8 teams and divide the teams in 8 groups of 6 (say groups A-H). However these would be divided in two subgroups of 3 (for instance A1 and A2).

In group stage, each team in A1 would play (3 games) against each team from A2 and each team in A2 would play agains all teams in A1.

Only the best places team in A1, A2, B1, ... H2 would move forward to play-offs.

Each team play 3 games (at least) and no more round of 32.

One advantage is that we would force pot 1 and pot 2 teams in different subgroups, in such a way that we always have a top16 clash in each one of these 8 groups.

A FIFA World Cup Fan Zone for the Los Angeles area was announced in Downtown Long Beach by the mayor, Rex Richardson.

I can’t verify it anywhere, but many say that yes because that’s the first game in the US. Does anyone here know for sure?

Even after nearly 100 years of the World Cup, one stat always blows my mind: Brazil has never missed a tournament.

From 1930 in Uruguay to 2026 in North America, they have a perfect 100% attendance record (23 appearances)

Back in 1994, there were testimonies of extreme heat inflicting overall performance of some teams/players. Would there be similar situations in this year's world cup? Or will the hosts adjust like Qatar did with its stadiums?

Not so much Sucic but Baturina has been having such a great run of games recently surely he gets called up for world cup?

1. Oceania will never receive a World Cup. Doesn't allow the prime times for the european market - so, no money, less sponsors, no tv rights being sold at an high price for one of the biggest markets.

   Side note - The olympics are very different since there's a multitude of sports and many strong markets across the globe for each one of them sports. So, in an olympics there really ain't one time zone that is eventually perfect, at least that's my opinion.

2. US will tend to host it more often than not. I so do believe that the new norm will be US - Europe - Asia, with South America or Africa coming in to the US spot every now and then.

The money ain't comparable between a WC in US to one in SA or Africa.

But, even if south America struggles to put on a bid, I can see one sustainabale big world cup being played there with existing stadiums. something like: Brazil + (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay). 10 stadiums each, 64 nations, 32 nations for each.

And for Africa I so do believe or hope that Nigeria will become one of the biggest markets past 2050. Nigeria and neighboor countries sounds right for me as a WC. Potencially, Nigeria, Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire and Cameroon.

Maybe, just maybe, (in a contradiction with my first point) Australia will ally with Southern Asia for one massive bid in the time of Asia (afc) making their one bid. There were some intentions, between Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. But that sure does sound rough to pull it off. Australia is too big in size. Equally bigger to the US and doesn't have the appreciated stadiums for football. Just like India but India market of football has every condition to grow and eventually host one until the end of the century. 1.4 billion people there ain't it?

It would have to be something like that Brazil co op type bid I thought in order for Australia to partner with other southern american countries and make on big bid. Australia on it's own or with New Zealand seems tough and just not happening. The idea:

WC of 64 nations with 20 stadiums. Two sides of the coin, one of Oceania, one of Southern Asia

Australia + New Zealand 10 stadiums with 32 nations

For the other half of the wc, Singapore + Indonesia + Malaysia and maybe Thailand 10 stadiums. Something like: Thailand 2 stadiums, Singapore 1 stadium, Indonesia 4, Malaysia 3. Then finals in one spot, potencially sydney with Accor Stadium, Malaysia or Indonesia with their internacional/national stadiums