Why I like World Cup

1. Loosers don't play. In some leagues (like the NHL) you can get into the playoffs with loosing records. That's nuts! In World Cup, you gotta be at the top of your continent to even play. All the teams are really good.

2. Every game matters. This isn't baseball, where you play over 100 games so it is very hard to get emotional about each one.

3. Every part of the game matters. this isn't basketball, where most of the game doesn't really matter. For ESPN they are using the slogan "one game changes everything", but the truth is that one goal changes everything. (If you are a USA fan, especially.) So every part of every game matters, because it might contain that one goal that changes the whole complexion of the game.

4. Every team is competitive. In American football, this is called "On any given Sunday..." meaning that for any given game, either side might win.

5. Four games per day (or less). So you can easily follow both your team's games and the games likely to lead to your future competitors.

Why I don't like World Cup

1. Refereeing.

I know this will never happen, but FIFA really should steal every good idea that American football has about refereeing:

a. Teams of officials, who practice, work, and are promoted together.

b. Officials are cooperative non-hierarchical groups. (None of this referee, assistent referees, and 4th official, instead have center referee, near side referee, far side referee. Everyone is there to judge the game, not help someone else do so.)

c. Each official has specific places and fouls to look for.

d. Officials work together, and just because one sees a foul does not mean a foul will end up being called.

I'm sure FIFA is loath to use ideas pioneered by American football, but they need to "grit their teeth" and do it. For the good of the game.