To wonder why you don't see anything for the World Cup anymore?

[dottypotter]

I'm sure you could go into places like Asda and see shirts, flags and other accessories for the football.

Didn't notice anything last time either or for the Women's game?
Wonder why no displays or anything?

I've seen bits and pieces, favourite thing being profitergoals (profiteroles) didn't buy them but white chocolate and raspberry does sound very tasty

I'll be watching the tournament. It's not the viewing publics fault that FIFA gave the tournament to Qatar. Nor is it the players fault. They shouldn't have to miss out on playing in the most high profile tournament.

At the end of the day, having the World Cup in an Islamic country means having it in a homophobic country. There's no way around this. And no Islamic country really has the infrastructure to host it without spending billions on new stadiums etc and bringing in migrant workers to build them. If you hold the tournament anywhere outside western Europe, the US, Australia, Japan and South Korea, there are always going to be problems.

It's disgusting the England hasn't hosted the World Cup for nearly 60 years when we invented the game and have all the necessary infrastructure without having to spend any money.

Lol, the same medieval country that has invested 40 billion in the UK and owns our stock exchange as well as part of Barclays Bank, Harrods and other UK companies.

Maybe we should add more fuel to the fire of our sad financial decline and ask the medieval country to withdraw all its investments.

I'd blame FIFA (Blatter, Platini) for taking the bungs to stage it there in the first place to allow Qatar to secure it. Can hardly blame the players.

You can blame the players who seem happy to make political statements in countries which allow them to. Not turning up would have been an excellent way to shine a light on the human rights disaster that is Qatar, but surprise surprise, they all bottled it.

You can't really decide to not show up to your job

On top of the human rights atrocities already cited, let's not forget this gem.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10538379/amp/Female-World-Cup-official-faces-lashes-jail-extramarital-sex-alleged-RAPE-Qatar.html

There is a lot to be disgusted about in this country right now but not holding a football tournament is certainly not one of them

Our shops are full of products made by people working in similar, or worse, conditions as the migrant workers in Qatar.

Why doesn’t F1 or Moto GP or any other sport get the same bashing as football when it goes to Qatar ?

Shelf and shop floor wise it is much more profitable for stores to have Christmas displays and stock available this month rather than selling heavily licensed products that have rubbish margins for retailers and then have to pay for merchandisers to change all the displays after a short time.

Financially, aside from the general feeling towards Qatar, it wouldn't make good business sense to prioritise World Cup merch this close to Christmas.

Most cheap clothing everyone buys is made by slave labour, double standards?

Englands first game kicks off 1pm GMT on a Monday. At previous tournaments with time zone differences the national bleating about time off, breaks, big screens at work etc was endless. Haven’t heard a peep from anyone this time. Maybe it will pick up if England get anywhere. I kind of understand Christmas being a priority with the shops but it’s surprisingly low key on TV and radio as well. Odd. I’m not complaining, mind.

I don't blame the players for it being in Qatar, I do blame them for going.

This year's tournament is a mess and should not be happening.

Do we really need more highly themed disposable tat to buy, hold onto for a few weeks and then chuck into landfill?

No.

@girlfriend44

I don't think it's a vile post at all.

Surely being wealthy (ie, not dependent on this salary for your families food and well being) should make it even easier to stand by your morals.

Qatar's human rights record is hideous. Anyone making money from their purchase of this tournament would be hypocritical to 'go back' to supporting gay rights and equality once it's over.

Watch Kickback on Amazon Prime, brilliant viewing and we should all be boycotting the whole damn thing.

I think we should stop trading / dealing with all countries that have poor human rights records. Maybe we could start with the one and only country that dropped a nuclear bomb, the US.

Than we could also take the moral high ground with all the countries that have grown rich on the colonization of other countries.

Lots of people being very selective with their moral outrage against Qatar and maybe a bit hypocritical.

We should stop using anything made in China as well. It is a totalitarian regime with a gross human rights record.

I am usually so excited for the World Cup, and yes I agree that there seems to be nothing about at all @dottypotter No memorabilia or anything. Also, no buzz or excitement or anticipation either... not amongst the people I know anyway

I can't get excited about it this year. Firstly because of where it is, and secondly because of WHEN it is. It's nearly Christmas. That's all I have on my mind now. Getting the decorations and tree out of the attic, putting everything up, including the 100s of lights we have, putting dates of Christmas markets and fetes and celebrations in my village and my local market town in my diary, (along with Carol services, Christingle, Advent celebrations etc.)

Also, Christmas gift buying, wrapping gifts, writing all my cards out, buying the Christmas food and booze, going to 3 parties, visiting friends and family, and having extended family from near and far around throughout December etc. Last thing on my mind is this World Cup.

I agree with @Grumpybutfunny it should have been end of January, into February. Having it so close to Christmas - 20th November to 18th December is a bit shit IMO! As some people have said, no gatherings, no BBQs, no 100s of people in the parks and big squares in the cities, all around a huge 75 foot wide screen, coz it's too cold and everyone is too busy. And pubs are full of Christmas parties!!! Also, a World Cup Final 7 days before Christmas day? It's just SO wrong. I hope England don't get too far this time TBH - like they're out in the quarter finals, coz I CBA with this one at all for a number of reasons.

As for the Womens football. I'm sorry to say I struggled to find a single person genuinely really interested. I know SOME people were, and I respect them for how well they did, but I just can't garner any excitement for womens football. As good as they are, they have a LONG way to go before they get the same excitement and furore of mens football. Half a century probably! if ever.

I'm giving it a miss this time around, despite being a massive footy fan (see username). If I was a Qatari woman I'd need permission from my father or husband if I wanted to play the game.

Plus, if it's so easy to become an overpaid lazy footballer - why isn't everyone doing it? Err.. because it's bloody hard/near-impossible to make it to that level and requires A LOT of hard work and talent.

England players earn a good living working for their clubs. They always give their international fees to charity.
That said the FA should have taken a stand and boycotted this World Cup.

We won't be watching it.