World Cup 2026 Hype - or lack of it

Not purely betting related but as a punter I am not feeling the hype 

Interested to hear what others feel 

I guess kick off times for us in SA are an issue but to me it is more the format 

How can you jump from 32 to 48 teams and there is not even 1 group of death? 

Next years RWC will be similar 

I feel the same, Brent.

I've lost interest in the World Cup when I saw the jump to 48 teams (I could hardly bear the fact that it increased from 24 to 32), so now qualifying to the World Cup is no longer a feat that one should celebrate. Now it's a quarter of the world qualifying, so no big deal anymore, no reason to celebrate after a great effort. You only have to play a decent enough football and qualify. It is no longer only for the best teams. I don't see it worthy to celebrate like when you achieved a major milestone. Almost everyone qualifies. It is so easy to qualify, and proof is the fact that so many countries that you look at and ask yourself "what are they doing here?" are there now. 

And then this guy Infantino.
And then the outrageous cost of the tickets.

I lost interest in this World Cup from the moment it was announced that 48 teams qualify. 
Qualifying to the World Cup used to be a pinnacle in international football. 

Going to the World Cup... The best teams in the world... Gone are those times.

Spot on Quill, I was looking to do a big Superbru comp (buy in like for RWC) but I just couldn't give a damn for most of these group games 

May do something for last 32 

The Vann also made a comment in the WC Betting thread about having the time needed to get through the outright markets and I couldnt agree more 

There are thousands of markets but because of this it is hard to narrow down your selections or for that matter find them - is anyone really going to punt on Qatar's top goal scorer? And if so is that the sort of punter bookies want, he must know something the odds setters don't 

Too many markets is overkill and almost intimidating 

Brent couldn't agree more, I used to live for this tournament, always some how ended up supporting Germany, but think that is due to my childhood hero Lothar Matthues. But these days couldn't be bothered.

Actually have more interest in the Women's Cricket WC. Decent times, more competition and hopefully see Aussies humbled as they missing a few stars. 

But you right, for me its ever since all the scandals started after 2010, even though they were there before, it just lost its shine to me, maybe the kid who used to dream has grown up eventually and lost the hope. LOL.

If you punting it good luck and enjoy.

Not too sound like a grouch but have to agree with the sentiments here. Like KT said, the corruption and scandals were always there but maybe as we have gotten older we are now realizing just how blatant all these scandals are.

From cheating, crazy prices, new referring laws just for this event, to creating a peace award for certain individuals, to the crazy pre-match, half-time shows for almost every game, this world cup feels like its about pandering to the rich folks who are trying to rule the world and show that the US is better than anyone else. 

Maybe once the football starts things will feel differently, well we can all hope so 

100% with pretty much all the sentiments posted here. Worst of the lot for me is the expanded tournament leading to these these best 3rd place finisher places for the knockout rounds. Whilst its possible one of the big name footballing nations might misfire and get ousted early essentially you go through an awful lot of matches just to eliminate sides who probably shouldn't be there in the first place.