Other Games - 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup Edition (+ warm-up matches): Villa-watch

[Dogtanian]

I think this is something where they need to start looking to the local area for customers rather than just Villa fans.

[LeeS]

I’d be interested if I was a young man again. I remember being 19 and watching Euro 96 in very large pubs. It was bloody brilliant. Now I’m more likely to sit in a mate’s lounge with a group of 4 or 5. Or a smaller pub.

[LeeB]

I’d be interested if I was a young man again. I remember being 19 and watching Euro 96 in very large pubs. It was bloody brilliant. Now I’m more likely to sit in a mate’s lounge with a group of 4 or 5. Or a smaller pub.

Makes us the same age, and it was bloody brilliant, but I'd run a mile from the same thing now.

Plus, every game had jeopardy in that tournament, this bloated mess won't get interesting till a fortnight in.

[Dogtanian]

It can be good watching the games in pubs, as long as you don't end up surrounded by massive twats.

I'd watch Villa matches at the Warehouse, as I did for the away semi leg against Forest, because it's Villa and the extra effort to get there makes sense. That's less so for an England game, as there will be England fans everywhere and you can easily find somewhere walking or taxi distance away from home to have a drink and watch the game with others. I suspect the prices will be a lot cheaper too.

[LeeB]

It can be good watching the games in pubs, as long as you don't end up surrounded by massive twats.

I'd watch Villa matches at the Warehouse, as I did for the away semi leg against Forest, because it's Villa and the extra effort to get there makes sense. That's less so for an England game, as there will be England fans everywhere and you can easily find somewhere walking or taxi distance away from home to have a drink and watch the game with others. I suspect the prices will be a lot cheaper too.

I can recommend the Indian Brewery in Hockley, huge screen, nice food and beer and a lack of beer throwing twat types.

[itbrvilla]

It can be good watching the games in pubs, as long as you don't end up surrounded by massive twats.

I'd watch Villa matches at the Warehouse, as I did for the away semi leg against Forest, because it's Villa and the extra effort to get there makes sense. That's less so for an England game, as there will be England fans everywhere and you can easily find somewhere walking or taxi distance away from home to have a drink and watch the game with others. I suspect the prices will be a lot cheaper too.

I can recommend the Indian Brewery in Hockley, huge screen, nice food and beer and a lack of beer throwing twat types.

Its great. Its where I watched the Forest second leg.

[itbrvilla]

Doesn't really fit here but it made me laugh when I saw a comment describing Cole Palmer as someone who looks baffled to be alive.

[Villa Lew]

Scotland are getting a BH after their first game which kicks off at....2am on Sunday morning.....

Boiled gammon incoming.

Yeah I'm just reading about that, it was granted by the King last February, it's reckoned that about 3,000 pubs will be showing the match, well done Charles.

[Dogtanian]

An interview with the former mayor of Chicago who stopped them from being a host city due to FIFA's ridiculous requirements;

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7318897/2026/06/08/world-cup-chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-2026/

[PeterWithesShin]

[Dogtanian]

Christ on a treadmill - $79 + tax to have your name displayed on the big screen during a match! 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7344160/2026/06/09/fifa-world-cup-big-screen-fans/

"The program lists all 72 group-stage matches and prompts users to select which team they are supporting in the match, and how many shoutout slots they wish to purchase. There is a maximum of four per order, thus four shoutout slots would cost $316 (before tax)."

[AV82EC]

Christ on a treadmill - $79 + tax to have your name displayed on the big screen during a match! 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7344160/2026/06/09/fifa-world-cup-big-screen-fans/

"The program lists all 72 group-stage matches and prompts users to select which team they are supporting in the match, and how many shoutout slots they wish to purchase. There is a maximum of four per order, thus four shoutout slots would cost $316 (before tax)."

Maybe Bill Hicks did have a point.

[Dogtanian]

Surprising that the billionaires don't believe in restricting prices.

Dynamic pricing should be illegal.

[PeterWithesShin]

Iran's allocation of fan tickets for the group stage of the World Cup has been revoked just days before the start of the tournament, says the country's football federation.

The World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, begins on Thursday, with Iran scheduled to play New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June - both in Los Angeles - before facing Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

Iran's governing body says Fifa regulations state each federation involved in the World Cup receives 8% of the tickets for each of their matches, to distribute to supporters.

It added that it had already begun selling tickets but can no longer provide them to fans, some of whom have already made travel arrangements.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9q2vrdx0ewo

[German James]

An interview with the former mayor of Chicago who stopped them from being a host city due to FIFA's ridiculous requirements;

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7318897/2026/06/08/world-cup-chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-2026/

Whaddaguy!