Janne Palomäki
A special show was seen in Washington, where football was only a minor part, writes Janne Palomäki.
Tenor Andrea Bocelli started the evening with Nessun dorma. EPA / AOP
WC starting blocks
A block: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, winner of Europe D play-off
Block B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, winner of the European A play-off
C block: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Block D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, European C play-off winner
E block: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
F block: Holland, Japan, Tunisia, winner of the European B qualifying round
G block: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
H block: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Block I: France, Senegal, Norway, Winner of the International 2nd Play-off
J block: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
K block: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Winner of the International 1 play-off
L block: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
Let’s start with the good news.
Donald Trump was allotted two minutes of speaking time. He managed to deliver his speech in less than three minutes.
So it does not in any way explain why the program of less than two hours ended up being about half an hour long.
It was already clear in advance that The group draw of the World Cup final tournament would become a real cabaretbecause Fifa wanted to give the peace prize to Donald Trump there.
I don’t think Venezuela’s María Corina Machado (the latest Nobel Peace Prize laureate) was too upset that she didn’t get Fifa’s latest prize for herself.
Trump got it, but understood to keep the omakehu that shortthat the program continued smoothly.
And when we finally (already late) got to the point, the draw proceeded quickly. Wayne Gretzky and his partners didn’t make any big surprises or dramatic turns.
France is looking for revenge against Senegal 24 years after their shameful World Cup opening defeat. And on top of that, Bafana Bafana (South Africa’s soccer team) will try to get revenge on Mexico for spoiling a good party in the 2010 opener.
Before that, six more race places will be decidedso there’s plenty to be excited about.
Italy is seeking a place in Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. If it finally breaks its curse of further qualification and squeezes into the World Cup, it will surely get strong support from the Italian quarters of North America.
Similarly, the USA will have to face Paraguay on their home field, but regardless of the city where the match is played, the Latinos living in the USA will head there with great passion.
Out front The home audience may even be a minority.
Now that Trump has received his peace prize, we can finally focus on the matter itself.
To football.
We just have to hope that the race hosts will make the other arrangements work as smoothly as the final draw.
There are still 188 days until the start of the World Cup.