In general soccer games tend to run 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes for 90 minutes of game time. Compared to 3 or 3 and a half hours for 60 minutes of football. Yeah sure there are breaks in the action, but the focus stays on the field rather than breaking for commercials constantly, it's not even comparable.
***Official 2026 World Cup Thread***
- Thread starter ISU3PtLand
- Start date
But outside of the hydration breaks (which purists hate as well), they’re not going to commercial at each of those stoppages. That’s what is making football take so long. Every chance they get it’s a 3-4 minute commercial break. It isn’t that there is a stoppage between possessions, it’s that those stoppages are being artificially lengthened by TV.
Rough for England after this battle/heartbreak having to turn around on 2 days off and play in the heat & humidity of Miami once again for the 3rd Place game. France with the extra day of rest as well.
Foolish to think anyone is going to “handle” Argentina. Spain might win, but it will be a fight.
I’d expect both teams to field almost exclusively bench guys. Neither country will give a **** about winning that match and none of the big names are going to want to risk and injury or more fatigue.
The game does count towards the golden boot. So I’d assume Mbappé will push to play and be featured prominently. It would be the ultimate backdoor BS play to have Mbappe win it playing against a bunch of English bench players while Messi has to play against Spain’s defense. But these are the rules.
Your analogy just doesn’t work though. The ball isn’t in play continuously. There are so many more natural spots for breaks. Just admit you’re wrong and we will all move on.
It also gives an unfair advantage to the players on teams who advance while some great scorers get left behind when their team drops out. Just the way it is. IMO, it's a silly award in the first place.
I've rewatched that second goal by Argentina several times now. I love the crowd, the announcers and Messi not giving up on the play. I've gained a ton more respect for Messi this world cup ( I already respected the heck out of him) The things he can do for his team, even at this age, is amazing.
I don't think there's a real debate between Ronaldo and Messi. Mbappe is going to break Messi's scoring record in the World Cup but I still think Messi is an overall better player.
Someday....USA will have a player like this........someday.
I don't think there's a real debate between Ronaldo and Messi. Mbappe is going to break Messi's scoring record in the World Cup but I still think Messi is an overall better player.
Someday....USA will have a player like this........someday.
Who cares if he’s wrong? It’s an idiotic take not even worth responding to. Just ignore it and move on, imo.
This is exactly why I've come around during this WC on watching soccer. It's a significantly better sport to watch as a regular viewer. It just goes. Hockey is in a similar vein so long as it's not in intermission.
Football is absolutely ungodly terrible for commercials. Baseball is terrible for commercials. Basketball is borderline terrible for commercials. Hockey and soccer are not.
Probably (maybe even this year) but nothing is guaranteed. One way or another I doubt it is going to last long though. If they expand to 64 teams the record is going to go up fast. I bet it won't be uncommon for several people to get double digit goals every year.
