Anxiously waiting...

Early this morning (June 12th, Vietnam time), the 2026 World Cup officially kicked off, but it seems the excitement of football fans is no longer what it used to be?

In part, and rightly so, the World Football Federation (FIFA) has increased the number of national teams participating in Mundial 23 to 48. And among them, quite a few teams are making their first appearance.

At the same time, FIFA's increase in the number of teams participating in the 2026 World Cup also means that the number of matches will skyrocket to 104; 40 more than the 2022 World Cup. And of course, the appeal of the group stage will be somewhat reduced.

On the other hand, fans are likely still "fed up" after the incredibly exciting matches of the European Cups, which ended not long ago! Perhaps, therefore, the "heat" of the 2026 World Cup will only begin from the knockout rounds of the 32 teams that advanced from the group stage.

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Live broadcast of Colombia vs Democratic Republic of Congo (09:00 on June 24th): The door to qualification is wide open.TPO - Colombia currently has 3 points while the Democratic Republic of Congo has 1 point. This match could completely open the door for one of the two teams to advance, provided that team wins.

Thailand aims to dethrone Vietnam at the 2026 AFF Cup: A battle of adversity.Amidst the favorable circumstances enjoyed by coach Kim Sang Sik and his team in the domestic league, Thai media are urging the team to overcome its personnel crisis and reclaim its position as the region's number one.

I remember a time when, sometimes just a few months before the World Cup, the atmosphere was bustling with newsstands selling publications related to the World Cup, such as breaking news, match schedules, and posters featuring famous players. Or consider the matches broadcast live via the Hoa Sen satellite decades ago, which, despite their minor flaws, still managed to attract millions of football fans to their screens.

Undeniably, over the years, FIFA has consistently strived for innovation in many aspects to enhance the appeal of football; from changing some football rules, increasing the number of teams participating in the Finals, to allowing countries to co-host the World Cup. However, things still don't seem to be going as the global football governing body desires, beyond the commercial benefits.

The 2026 World Cup adds to the worries of the national teams, especially those from Europe, due to the less-than-ideal weather conditions in the host countries. Not to mention, constant travel also significantly impacts the players' physical condition.

Therefore, we will have to wait until the knockout rounds, when the players get used to the weather and the competitiveness of the 2026 World Cup increases, before fans can hope to attend top-level matches. For now, everyone is anxiously waiting to see if FIFA will pass the first "test" in its efforts to "revamp" the 23rd World Cup!

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Live Colombia vs Democratic Republic of Congo 0-0 (Half-time): Missed!!! Colombia dominates.TPO - The Congo defense is having to work quite hard to thwart Colombia's attacks.

Chelsea suffered a humiliating defeat, losing their European Cup qualification spot to a newly promoted team.TPO - The final round of the English Premier League witnessed a major shock as Chelsea officially lost their chance to qualify for next season's European competition after a bitter 1-2 defeat against Sunderland.

Breaking FIFA's new rule of covering one's mouth during an argument: England's Bellingham escaped a red card again, why?Jude Bellingham became the center of controversy after the 0-0 draw between England and Ghana in Group L of the 2026 World Cup. The 22-year-old midfielder was caught covering his mouth with his hand during a tense exchange with Ghanaian striker Jordan Ayew, but received no punishment from referee Said Martinez.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/thap-thom-doi-cho-3340170.html