Nothing like the spectacle of growth provided by an event on American (and Mexican, and Canadian) soil. With 48 teams and 104 games, we slowly began to realize that Chapecoense has the team to qualify for the second phase.
The 2026 World Cup has already started pulverizing a sacred institution from other World Cups, the Group of Death. We won’t even have the walking dead, there’s life everywhere.
Ah, but against Morocco (and without Neymar) Brazil’s debut is a dangerous game. No problem. If Brazil draws, they qualify; if Brazil loses, it will qualify; If Brazil wastes time playing video games, it will qualify. With Haiti in the bracket, even Scotland should qualify. Haiti is life… for others.
We will probably also owe Haiti a great performance by Neymar, Junior, in the World Cup — which will be widely celebrated by journalists specializing in the young man. Neymar could have as spectacular a performance against the Haitians as he had against Vasco and Remo in this year’s Brazilian Championship, silencing the critics.
We could name the first phase of the World Cup “Strangers Things”, not because strange things happen, or because it looks like the 1980s, or because we depend on someone like Eleven, but because no protagonist dies — at this point, this is no longer a spoiler. Yes, sometimes a little monster can put the main actor to sleep, but that’s about it. Before the final episode, he wakes up and takes revenge.
After 72 games, there will be 32 teams left, the total number until the Qatar edition. In other words, the first phase serves only to define the pairing and eliminate Haiti, Qatar and Curaçao from the front… with all due respect After 72 games, 32 teams will be left, a number that was the total number of teams until the Qatar competition. In other words, the first phase only serves to define the pairing and remove Haiti, Qatar and Curaçao from life… with all due respect.
The opening ceremony looked like a Netflix series: divided into short, themed episodes, all with the style of a halftime show, so as not to have time to go to the bathroom or change the channel. There was the Latin party in Mexico City, with Maná, Shakira (who has already participated in more World Cups than Piqué) and actress Salma Hayek arriving together with Gianni Infantino to lead the cup — and preventing him from getting a big boo.
Then the correct Canadian ceremony took place, with everyone expecting a great performance by Alanis Morissette singing “Head Over Feet” (a good title for opening the World Cup) or “You Learn” (dedicated to the referees). However, they reserved for the beloved rocker only the well-behaved anthem “O Canada” (“ironic”).
This column was written before the third and final opening ceremony, in Los Angeles, with the confirmed presence of Katy Perry and Anitta; and without the bellicose winner of the FIFA Peace Prize, Donald Trump — and also without Neymar. Without Neymar is an important topic in this World Cup.
Note that many current stars asked for Neymar’s presence in the squad. Messi asked, Yamal asked, Mbappé asked… But none of them want Brazil to win the World Cup.
But, yes, we will have a big fight in the first phase: the artillery of the World Cup. Imagine the ruthless Norwegian Haaland, in his first World Cup, drooling on his debut against Iraq; or the strength of the German attack against the poor Curaçao team? Chances to put 7 to 1 to shame.
For now, all the World Cup wants is to have the success of a “Waka Waka”, but it is nothing more than a “Dai Dai”. But it’s just the beginning.
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