by Roger Childs

Which was the only unbeaten team at the World Cup Football Tournament in South Africa in 2010? (See the answer at the bottom.)

North America hosting

In 1966, when England hosted the World Cup, there was a delightful cartoon showing a husband in the living room sitting in front of the television surrounded by crates of beer, scores of packets of chippies, heaps of food and a list of takeaway joints. His wife was off to her mother’s and as she headed out the door with her cases she called out “See you in a month”.

Mexico, Canada and the United States are the three host nations this year and all three have had a good start in their first matches. There have already been some political shenanigans involving two referees being denied access to the US and Canada. Trump will be hoping he can get some mileage out of the tournament as he stares down the barrel of the possible loss of Republican control of the Houses of Congress in November.

Bigger and better?

There are 48 teams this year, 50% more than in Qatar in 2022. It started on 12 June. There are 12 groups of four teams and after a second round of 32 and then 16 it’s into the quarter-finals. The final is at the Met-Life Stadium in New Jersey on 20 July. There will be millions watching at stadia in cities from Vancouver to Guadalajara and New York to Mexico City. Hundreds of millions will be watching on television.

The World Cup has been played every four years since 1930 except during World War Two. Like any big world sport’s tournament there are always upsets and picking a winner is extremely difficult. Names being bandied around as possible trophy winners are Spain, France, Portugal, Argentina, England, Germany and Brazil. New Zealand’s All Whites won’t, but they will be keen to make the second round. In Group G they face Belgium (the highest ranked team), Egypt and Iran.

A funny to finish off with.

Did you hear about the guy who was in his expensive seat waiting for the World Cup Final to start but with an empty seat beside him.  A man came up and asked why the seat was going begging. The guy explained that his wife had recently passed away and the seat had been for her. The man said that surely one of his relatives could have taken it.

“No” he said “They’re all at the funeral”

(The answer to the question at the top: New Zealand with draws against Italy, Slovenia and Paraguay were alone in being unbeaten in South Africa, but they failed to qualify for the next round.)