Opinion: The Football World Cup is sports greatest event.
There is nothing better - nothing compares to the drama, the moments, the controversy, the superstars and the unpredictability.
It's the only sporting World Cup where 90 percent of the teams attending can realistically find a path to victory, and where on any given day, any team can beat another.
History proves that.
1950 - United States 1 - England 0
1966 - Korea Republic 1 - Italy 0
1982 - Algeria 2 - West Germany 1
1990 - Cameroon 1 - Argentina 0
1998 - Nigeria 3 - Spain 2
2002 - Senegal 1 - France 0
2002 - Korea Republic 2 - Italy 1
2014 - Costa Rica 1 - Italy 0
2022 - Saudi Arabia 2 - Argentina 1
2022 - Japan 2 - Germany 1
2022 - Morocco beats Spain via penalties
2022 - Morocco 1 - Portugal 0
Upsets happen in sports, but there is something about the Football World Cup that makes it more impactful.
And speaking of impactful.
The contrast in the tears shed by fans, players and officials as footballing dreams are crushed to the delight of the pure joy felt and expressed by those on the other side - it defines what sport is all about.
It's an escapism. It's passion. It's a beautiful game.
This World Cup in all likelihood will be won by Argentina or France, but the alternate universe in which Croatia play Morocco in next Monday's (NZT) final isn't too far from reality.
I love all sports - I am a sports nutter - a description of myself would be the great Murray Deaker that once threw at me.
But for me, the ultimate sporting event is the Football World Cup.
A place where superstars gather but only a few find success. Where dreams come true and nightmares become commonplace.
Give me more and in 2026 the footballing dreams of Kiwi fans could come alive. Who knows, maybe the All Whites can do a Morocco.
Don't be against it.
