So, now we’ve decided we’re heading over to North America this summer. What are we expecting?
As a veteran of 3 previous World Cups, I’m intrigued to explore how I think this one will compare to those and give them a score out of 100 which will also answer the question I received many times over the years of ‘What’s the best World Cup you’ve ever been to?’ and to see if I think the 2026 edition will take that title.
Football Quality
A fair measure of entertainment can be gauged from the Goals per Game ratio. The three previous tournaments were all around 2.65 showing very little differentiation. A big difference was the six 0-0’s in Brazil, down to just the one in Russia. I have the proud record of somehow ending up at four of them in Brazil….I only went to 7 matches.
The Seleção made up for it – or Germany did should I say – in the 7-1 Semi-Final that will forever haunt the hosts. Amongst the other high scoring encounters was the 5-1 crushing of Spain in their opener vs the Netherlands which completely changed the narrative of the tournament. The day I stopped predicting football results.
Costa Rica’s run to the Quarter Final was one of the big stories. Sadly, I saw all too much of that as my ticket to follow England ended up being a ticket to follow Costa Rica after we failed miserably.
2018 had classics like Argentina 3-4 France, and Croatia surprising everyone to take it all the way to the showpiece finale and give France a scare in a 4-2 classic.
In Qatar, Saudi caused one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history by beating Argentina early doors but that didn’t stop the Albiceleste – merely galvanised them. Morocco stole the hearts of the world with their passion on and off the pitch to become the first African nation to reach the last four. Eventually succumbing to Runners-Up France who fell just short in one of the most captivating sporting events of all time.
That final pitted two of the world’s greatest against each other, and it was THE greatest of all who prevailed. Gonzalo Montiel converted the deciding penalty to leave us all with the lasting image of Messi hoisting the trophy aloft wearing the local garb.
So what for 2026? Injury permitting we’ll have Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé and finally Haaland reaching the biggest stage of all and depending on Ancelotti’s sentimentality, maybe one last hurrah for the enigmatic Neymar. Plenty of stardust to create iconic moments that will last a lifetime.
Add to that the plethora of newbies making their debuts at this stage – the script is written for upsets and narratives galore. Of course, the increase in teams will also give more drab encounters but overall, the football has the potential to be the best ever.
Brazil – 8
Russia – 8
Qatar – 8.5
North America – 9
Atmosphere
Even if you’ve never had the pleasure of a trip to South America, or its largest nation in particular, you may still be aware that they are not a quiet bunch at the best of times. However, ‘A Copa do Mundo’ has extra meaning to these guys, so when you throw that in the mix, let’s just say the energy about the place is something special. The 5-time winners will tell you that Football was born in England, but it lives in Brazil – and it’s hard to argue with that.
Brahma and Caipirinhas flowing constantly. TVs in every shop, daily street parties and a Fanzone on Copa Cabana. 5 of their closest neighbours crossed the borders to join the party, add to that hundreds of thousands across from Europe creating a beautiful vibe.
A host team reaching the Semi-Final is great for the overall sentiment, parties on Match Day, immediate plans for the next party which carried the momentum through to the Semi, and then let’s just say, the atmosphere kind of died that day. This was one for the ages, a trip never to be forgotten.
Though entertaining in their own way, the parties in Brazil were hard to live up to and outside of Moscow the World Cup kind of got a little lost in the population of 150 odd million, of which many simply just weren’t that bothered about football. A far cry from Brazil where even if football wasn’t your thing, the World Cup was, even if only for the afterparties.
England fan numbers were greatly reduced due to the fear of the local ultras after events in Marseille two years previous, understandable but concerns that thankfully never came to fruition.
As for Qatar, lots of friendly, nice, polite volunteers etc but in terms of atmosphere, just as the culture, it was a world apart. Everything manufactured to create a feeling of something they just don’t normally do. The corruption and human rights issues meant many from Europe opted out of this one.
Barely a fan from the likes of Germany and Denmark were spotted across the event. Credit to the Mexicans and Argentineans who weren’t perturbed by these issues and made epic journeys over. They took the place by storm and I genuinely feel their support was a big factor that carried Argentina through to glory.
The palaver of finding a beer – either in an overpriced hotel or a paid Fanzone – just killed the spontaneity of a good away day. Too organised, forced, limited, expensive and banning alcohol around the ground the day before the showpiece began was no doubt an orchestrated move giving minimal time for appeal. Qatar has its qualities but creating an environment for football, well, that’s not one.
I’m pretty sure Mexico will have the same energy as Brazil, you won’t be short of fiestas and you’ll leave with a long list of newfound amigos. Being sports mad countries, US and Canada will no doubt also go all out to create a great Match Day buzz and I’m rather looking forward to a bit of tailgating in the Car Park.
Huge expat communities will ensure that every match has a strong support for both teams, but the biggest factor will be the home side’s success on the field. If USA can advance past the group stage and cause a few upsets along the way, then this summer’s party will quickly gain traction across the country if it hasn’t already. However, don’t be surprised in a country of such scale to find people who don’t even know it’s going on.
Brazil – 10
Russia – 7
Qatar – 2
North America – 8
Stadiums
It’s typical of World Cups to produce new unnecessary stadia for the big event that are left as white elephants once the fans return home. Brazil suffered hugely with this in Manaus and four other cities where the venues can’t sustain a local team and have been utilised as car parks, wedding venues and even a place of refuge for the homeless amongst other things.
Russia had a bit more renovation than new build but are still left with oversized stadiums for their current use. Ten of the twelve 2018 World Cup arenas had capacities beyond 40,000, while the average attendance in the league’s top division was only around 14,000. Five of the twelve grounds were built in cities without a first-division club at all.
Qatar went all out with new stadiums but with more intent to learn from previous failings and with specific post tournament plans. In one case, dismantling the whole thing but more commonly, capacity reduction. Progress in these amendments has been slow but heading in the right direction
For the first time since Germany in 2006, the greatest show on earth will already be complete with world class stadia, all of which are benefitting from an upgrade for the summer. As much as we all love a new stadium, many prefer one with character and history. Full houses at the Azteca will be high on any visitor’s bucket list, a host of 2 previous World Cup Finals back in 1970 and 1986. Above all, the handling of large events is nothing new to these cities so smooth operation can be guaranteed.
Brazil – 7
Russia – 7
Qatar – 8
North America – 10
Beer/Food at stadium
The local tipple of Brahma kept us suitably well-oiled in 2014 alongside the perennial FIFA sponsor of Budweiser and at favourable prices as well. Qatar however, weren’t quite as accommodating. Banning alcohol around the ground just 2 days before events began leaving us with zero % Bud on the concourse. The real stuff tastes bad enough, so this was a truly miserable experience.
At $8 a beer, with the added insult that you could only pay with VISA, it was a real mood killer. When we played Wales and I didn’t have a VISA card, I was literally turned away. Crazy situation. And it’s no secret that the crowd energy suffers for the lack of beer. There was no trouble in the competition’s previous iterations showing its presence doesn’t automatically cause issues and I’m certain North America will be the same as the World Cup positivity usually wins out.
The spread of prices across this year’s edition has potential to be extreme. Typical venue pricing shows the £2 a beer in Mexico City being 7 times cheaper than what you might pay in Toronto. Chuck in the World Cup premium and there could be some eye watering transactions if fancying a few beers during the game, but most will just be happy to have the option once more, even if it is VISA only.
Brazil – 9
Russia – 8
Qatar – 1.5
North America – 6
Accessibility
South America was an effort to reach and there were some serious air miles added with no train network and a country the size of a continent. This is never ideal when the destinations of the latter stages of competitions are unknown until the groups are complete. At least the travel in between wasn’t insanely priced.
Another country the size of a continent but FIFA for once…..wait for it….helped the fans. I know, shocking. But before and after every fixture there were free trains from that city to and from Moscow. A brilliant way to get around and a cool way to meet people. A unique and enjoyable addition to the hosting, normally, other than the time I wasn’t allowed on and left stranded in the Moscow night.
No such requirements in Doha with the efficient free metro one of the real successes. Just 35 miles between the most distant venues meant the whole thing was played within an area the same as Manchester to Liverpool. The only downside, post-match having literally 90% of the supporters trying to jump on the Metro meant it genuinely took hours to arrive back home after some matches.
Oof, and as for 2026. This is one of the biggest pain points of anyone planning the trip. Getting there isn’t cheap, it’s one of the world’s most expensive regions and huuuge distances between host cities. It’s not going to be pleasant on the bank balance.
Brazil – 4
Russia – 6
Qatar – 9
North America – 1
Tourism/variety
Due to timing in life, I was blessed to spend the whole tournament in Brazil. With us kicking off our campaign in Manaus, it would have been remiss of me not to explore the Amazon Jungle. Add to that the world-famous Rio de Janeiro, beautiful beaches up and down the country and just about the most diverse place you could ever imagine. Indigenous, Black, White, Latino, Hispanic, Portuguese, Italian, German and the biggest Japanese community outside of its homeland. Brazil has a little bit of everything, the phrase ‘Um Brasileiro não tem cara’ emphasizes the fact that you can’t spot a native by their face alone. A beautiful nation.
Russia was a pleasant experience, the differences between cities were less far marked and there certainly seemed more regularity across the country. I didn’t find a whole host of opportunities for tourism, but the big cities entertained and the depth of nature is beyond mind-blowing given the scale of the country.
Variety in Qatar? Well there was only one city, so every day was the same, nothing interesting on that front but a few bits and bobs to see. Trips out to the desert to ride amongst the dunes, and well, if you’re a fan of malls and other man-made things then you’re sorted.
The culture and variety of things to do in Mexico is as good as anywhere in the world. Likewise in the US and Canada. If the ‘Soccer’ ends up being too expensive then this is the perfect opportunity to go and see something incredible, the options are endless.
Brazil – 9
Russia – 6
Qatar – 2
North America – 10
People
Amazing, up there with the most upbeat, open, outgoing people you will ever find. Friendly, welcoming and with a huge sense of fun. Brazilians love to party more than anyone on earth, just look at Carnaval. The amount of people that greeted us or showed kindness in our time there was countless and a few I would still consider friends 12 years on.
The Russians weren’t half bad either, significantly more reserved in their typical straight-faced style. But when it came to it, the random gifts, hospitality, love and respect they showed us, was the complete opposite of what I had feared before heading out there. A genuine surprise which made the trip all the more enjoyable.
Qataris?? You’d see them now and again in their traditional Thobe but they make up just 10% of the population of Qatar with the majority of the front facing jobs being left for immigrants. Really hard to make any kind of assessment on them as they just simply weren’t around a lot.
Now, Americans take their fair share of grief across the world, more than anyone else I’d suggest. But in general, they’re a good bunch, no doubt unique in their style and attitude but plenty of wonderful people in there. Canadians are notoriously as polite as they come and the Mexicans will again bring that Latin vibe of welcoming energy and you will absolutely have a cracking time with them if you are lucky enough to visit.
Brazil – 9
Russia – 8
Qatar – 5
North America – 8
Safety
Despite the infinite warnings about safety in the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio, I generally felt pretty safe and enjoyed my stay there. However, let’s be honest, there are several places you are warned not to bring valuables out and not wear anything flash as the risk of opportunist robbery is high. I personally experienced a few sketchy moments and the need to be aware of your surroundings is important at all times.
No problems of any sort in Eastern Europe, I actually did a TV documentary there and when speaking with Ultras it was a case of ‘If you want trouble, you will find it’ and they won’t hold back in response. But if not then you won’t be bothered. In general, there was a very tranquil feeling and nothing but pleasant encounters for me.
As for Qatar, a number of the measures that restrict certain freedoms, also end up nearly eradicating crime and thus making its capital Doha one of the 3 safest cities in the world. Can’t argue with that. But with that feeling of safety was an overwhelming feeling of boredom and lack of jeopardy, not saying it’s a bad thing, just the reality.
I’m expecting good things from North America, Mexico no doubt has the worst reputation but having spent a couple of months there previously, I’m confident it will be an enjoyable adventure. I feel across all host cities there will be a more general feel of sticking to the right areas and you’ll be fine, especially with high levels of security
Brazil – 5
Russia – 8
Qatar – 10
North America – 7
Ease/Cost of Ticket purchase
In 2014, I managed to snaffle tickets for all England matches up to (theoretically) the Semi-Final via FIFA, the group games coming in at $90 each. For fans in general, a long distance and safety concerns over political instability put people off making the trip, making it a little easier to get as many tickets as I did.
Likewise, Russia was a simple process; England fans were not so keen to travel, so once more all games up to the Semi-Finals were obtained. This time the encounter with Croatia was a more than reasonable £300 second hand. An absolute bargain.
2022, again, easy enough to buy tickets. A fair trek from the UK and low demand for this edition due to reduced interest and media negativity back home. Not much more than $100 was required for a pretty standard ticket, not too shabby.
One of the biggest downsides of this World Cup, there is unprecedented demand and seemingly all tickets already snapped up. How much of them are by touts looking to make enormous profits through FIFA’s facilitation is hard to say. The only hope is that tickets drop in the run up to the summer and the stadiums are firstly full, and secondly, full of genuine fans. I don’t have a huge amount of faith FIFA will get this right, but I can only hope. If not, it’s looking like £500 a ticket. Insane.
Brazil – 8
Russia – 9
Qatar – 8
North America – 2
England performance
2014 genuinely couldn’t have gone any worse, starting with two defeats leaving us out of the competition by Day 8. We then put out a reserve team for a limp draw with already qualified Costa Rica. Awful. Thank God it was such an amazing country. If we’d have been successful on the pitch, I think I’d have completed World Cups and stopped going after that one.
Russia. Wow. Heading into the campaign on the back of Euro 2016 and losing in dire circumstances to Iceland, little hope was held for this bunch of young lads who’d learnt their craft in the lower divisions.
Last minute winners, despatching minnows, losing to end up on the right side of the draw, comfortable knock outs and even a win on Penalties. The journey was something special, an absolute pleasure to have experienced firsthand. The connection between fans, players and manager was real and genuine. By far my favourite period following the Three Lions.
In 2022, beating Iran so comfortably meant there was next to no jeopardy by the time I arrived. Lack of time and funds meant I only caught two matches but there wasn’t the same vibe. High expectations and pressure on Southgate’s style meant the sentiment was very different from 2018.
And what of 2026, second favourites behind Spain and with good reason. Our greatest ever player leading the line with a plethora of young stars behind him. But as with fans across the world, there will be another 7 or 8 nations with genuine hopes of winning the sport’s biggest prize. And football being the wonderful game that it is, we have a cracking journey ahead of us before we find out the victor.
Brazil – 1
Russia – 9
Qatar – 5
North America – 7
What was the best World Cup to attend?
So, where does that leave us? Just writing it and reliving it in my mind, I don’t think I need my Abacus to confirm what the worst was, but I’m intrigued to see which won.
So, there it is. Russia ends up the clear winner. It’s fair to say it was neck and neck with Brazil as a host overall but the fact the English campaign was a success gave Russia the edge. Both fostered a brilliant environment for football, people were great and you felt you were part of a month-long party.
Qatar, despite being easy to move around and incredibly safe, in reality, it was boring and lacked feeling and culture, and who are we kidding? If you can’t pop into a bar/pub/café for a casual beer then you’re taking something fundamental away from football fan culture.
Cost of tickets and the pain points of travelling around for the upcoming spectacle are the biggest issues ahead. If these can be resolved, a deep run for England and who knows? Hopefully I’ll be coming back praising North America 2026 as my favourite of the four, time to get hustling.