Qatar versus Bosnia and Herzegovina marks halfway point of huge World Cup

With four games a day across the opening two weeks, it has been a whirlwind of a tournament, but when you take a step back, what have we learned?

Pre-tournament issues fade away

There were many problems facing FIFA and the World Cup heading into this tournament. Spread across three countries, logistics was always going to be problematic; however, the main issues faced by fans were economic.

Sky-high ticket prices threatened games, whilst just entering the country for some fans was almost impossible. Reports before the tournament saw visa entry for some nations reach more than 10,000 dollars, whilst some were denied entry, like Somali referee Omar Artan.

Some fans, journalists and officials have had a tough time, but by and large, the stadiums have been filled, a victory of sorts for FIFA's dynamic pricing initiative. Tickets are still incredibly expensive, but that will be no matter for the governing body.

In some cases, most notably in Philadelphia for Ecuador's clash against Senegal, there was a sea of yellow, given that Senegal's fans were barred from entering en masse.

Yet, reports of violence, anti-social behaviour or problems in host cities have not surfaced. Instead, the carnival of football has passed through without major incident, much to the credit of travelling fans.

Hydration breaks remain contentious

The 'hydration breaks' at this World Cup - a three-minute interval in the middle of each half - has been roundly booed wherever Flashscore has been in attendance.

Fans have not bought into the concept, designed in principle to give players time to hydrate during hot weather clashes. They have quickly been seen for what they are - advertising breaks - as Flashscore's David Pavek reflects on.

UEFA, the European governing body of football, have already announced that they will not have them during the next European Championships in 2028, and it feels doubtful leagues across the world will implement them in the league.

Again, much like the ticket prices, it's unlikely FIFA will worry too much about this, given they will be counting the dollars from their new idea.

Gaining traction

The interesting thing for Flashscore's Josias Pereira has been how the World Cup, especially in the USA or Canada, have been received.

He remarked: "In the United States, in particular, this often feels like a World Cup driven by football lovers who already live here, many of them immigrants. The contrast is striking between a typical American neighbourhood and communities where the sport is deeply embedded in everyday life.

"Indifference and passionate support coexist side by side, creating one of the tournament's most fascinating dynamics. It is a reminder of the gap between football's global significance and how it is received in the nation hosting the most matches in this year's tournament."

This point about whether the World Cup is striking through to casual fans remains difficult to read. For USA's victory over Australia in Seattle, more than 14 million people watched the game across the nation - the biggest audience for a football game since their 2022 World Cup match against England.

Canada are also setting ratings records in the country. An average of 5.2 million watched them thrash Qatar, the biggest number since the 2014 World Cup final.

The further each host nation goes, you would expect the interest to continue to rise, and potentially building a legacy.

Logistics remain an issue

For fans and media alike, just getting to games has proven challenging. If you wanted to follow all of Czech Republic's games for example, you needed to travel to Guadalajara first, before trekking to Atlanta and finishing off in Mexico City.

It's a serious undertaking that has made viewing your nation in every group match very hard. 

It's in stark contrast to the World Cup in 2022, where most of the games were played in just Doha, allowing fans to visit multiple games a day.

If your nation finishes third in the group, the next stage is incredibly unpredictable and likely to see fans struggle to make it to the knockout games.

World Cup experience

Attending a World Cup is a bucket list item for most, if not all, football fans. The thrill of seeing the best players, the best international teams in some of the best atmospheres, is something most can't refuse to be a part of.

And, for the most part, the World Cup has lived up to expectations.

Josias Pereira added: "On the pitch, the tournament has been a joy to watch. The matches have been competitive, goals have come in abundance, and the crowds have created a vibrant atmosphere. As I often say, the football itself ultimately makes up for the challenges along the way. Once the ball starts rolling, the World Cup remains an unmatched spectacle."

Flashscore's Fabio Russomando has also felt the romance for the tournament whilst covering it, saying: "The impression I’ve taken from these first weeks of the World Cup is that it has a unique ability to make you fall in love with football all over again.

"If, for any reason, you’ve grown distant from the game, if you’ve become disillusioned with football because of the politics, the business, the money, the endless controversies, the World Cup has a way of bringing you back.

"You see it in the eyes of the fans. In their hopes, their dreams and their emotions. You see it in children experiencing their first World Cup and in adults who have waited years for this moment. You see it in people who have travelled thousands of miles simply to wear their colours and support their country.

"All of this exists beyond the business side of football. Beyond sponsorships, television rights and financial interests.

"This is what truly drives the game."

That is really what World Cups are remembered for. For all the controversy around visas, ticket prices and travel, once the referee blows their whistle, the football takes centre stage. 

There will be more headlines from off the pitch to come, but this World Cup, with its diverse cultures and atmospheres, has felt like a truly global tournament, and has shown, so far, that we all have far more in common than we sometimes believe.