Former French national team player Emmanuel Petit commented on the commercialization of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, emphasizing that modern football is increasingly taking on the characteristics of a spectacle.
Changes in the game and the show factor
Petit noted that many phenomena are observed in the current tournament that were not present before, and sometimes they seem excessive. He also stressed the importance of preserving the essence of football and its natural rhythm.
Questions about breaks
He cited water breaks as an example. Although they are justified in some cases, such as during the France vs. Paraguay match when the air temperature reached 35 degrees Celsius, in most games they occur in stadiums with closed tents and air conditioning systems. Petit observed that teams often interrupt the game precisely when they are just starting to find their playing tempo.
Commercialization and boundaries
According to Petit, after such breaks, the game changes radically, and the trailing team often regains strength to compete. He admits to understanding football as a business that is slowly approaching American sports, where television advertising and various commercial elements appear, and investors are attracted. Nevertheless, he believes that sometimes all these aspects go beyond reasonable limits.
