Yo, grab a beer and sit down, 'cause I got news that'll make you forget about price hikes and loan payments! The 2026 World Cup is coming with a schedule that's like the world championship of madness: 104 matches, bro! For the first time, 48 teams, not 32 like we're used to. And it's not played in one country, but three: USA, Canada, and Mexico. That means you gotta drive to the match, bro, like you're standing in line at the tax office, but at least you see football! The group stage is between June 11 and 27, then the round of 32 and round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals. The third-place match on July 18, and the big final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. You heard that? Romanians in the diaspora over there already have tickets, and us back home, we watch on Netflix if we can catch it.
Man, 104 matches! And only 5 days off between them: July 8, 12, 13, 16, and 17. That means non-stop football, like at Fane's terrace when Steaua plays and everyone gathers. Now, let's be serious: 48 teams means even Saudi Arabia gets in with their sheikhs, who tied Uruguay 1-1 recently and shut everyone up. I saw the match: that Saudi guy, Bielsa, said they fight everyone. Yeah, bro, with oil money you can do anything, but you can't buy the title at football. Look, now they're spending 300 million on solar panels in Bulgaria, like I heard at OMV Petrom, but at our pump, 9 lei per liter? Man, come on!
Now, the schedule: group stage June 11-27, round of 32 June 28 - July 3, round of 16 July 3-7, quarterfinals July 9-12, semifinals July 14-15. It's a thing that they play all over North America: from Vancouver to Mexico City, through Texas, New York, Los Angeles. You'd think it's a tennis tournament, not football! And on July 8 there's a day off, like to catch your breath after the round of 16. But I say: better to play then too, 'cause we're used to scandal and matches every day.
Maybe Romania didn't qualify this year, but no biggie: we have Romanians everywhere! In Canada, in the USA, in Mexico, there'll be entire stands with the tricolor. And I watch the matches at Fane's terrace, with beer at 7 lei, with Mitică and Gică the Dinamo fan. Gică, who's a Dinamo fan, says Argentina wins, but I say Brazil or France. Or maybe Saudi Arabia if they throw in enough money! Haha, no, I'm kidding, but who knows? Now with 48 teams, maybe Moldova's national team will get in sometime. Just like we've been waiting for the Moldova highway, same thing.
The final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium. New Jersey, bro, it's not exactly New York, but it's there, nearby. I think about what it'll be: 90 minutes of football, then penalties, and everyone screaming. Mioara says I'm going to work the next day, but I say it's vacation then! Look, remember from me: it'll be the most watched World Cup in history, 'cause now there's TikTok, Instagram, and all. Brian will be glued to the screen, to see who the new Messi is. But me, I hope there's no scandal with referees again, like in Blatter's time.
Alright, I'm off to tell Brian to keep an eye on TikTok, maybe he'll find the team! And until then, we drink a beer and dream of big football.
