Maradona's prophecy in a 2018 video: "The U.S. will make 4 times at the World Cup for advertising. I don't like it, there is no passion"

In 2018, during an interview with TeleSur, the late Diego Armando Maradona made a prediction about the future of football that has recently gained renewed attention. He spoke about the upcoming FIFA World Cup scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026. According to Maradona, the American team would introduce four halves of 25 minutes each, primarily to accommodate commercial breaks. This statement was initially overlooked but has now resurfaced as the World Cup unfolds, revealing striking parallels between his foresight and current developments.

Maradona expressed his disapproval of this potential change, stating that he did not find it appealing because it lacked passion. He also commented on the Canadian team, suggesting they might excel in winter sports such as skiing, while emphasizing that the Americans were likely to focus more on maximizing advertising opportunities rather than genuine sporting competition. Furthermore, he predicted that despite the Mexican team's chances of hosting matches, they might not deserve them unless they could maintain their performance beyond just two victories before being eliminated by stronger teams like Brazil or Germany, similar to his own experience.

The concept of dividing matches into shorter segments for commercial purposes seems to have taken shape with the introduction of so-called "hydration breaks" by FIFA. These pauses, intended to allow players to hydrate, last three minutes and occur twice per match, effectively splitting games into four segments of approximately 25 minutes each. While FIFA claims these breaks are necessary to ensure equal conditions for all players, critics argue that they serve mainly to enhance revenue through increased advertising time.

This approach has been met with mixed reactions among coaches and players who feel that the additional stoppages disrupt the flow of the game. Despite FIFA’s official stance, many believe that the primary motivation behind implementing these breaks is financial gain rather than player welfare. The practical effect of these changes has led to longer match durations, with each half stretching to around 50 minutes when accounting for the added rest periods.

As the tournament progresses, observers will be watching closely to see whether Maradona's predictions hold true. The Mexican team faces challenges ahead, including potential encounters with strong opponents such as England or Congo in the quarterfinals, followed possibly by Brazil or Norway in subsequent rounds. Whether or not the Mexican team will succeed under these circumstances remains uncertain, but the structural changes introduced by FIFA continue to influence the dynamics of the competition.

The unfolding of the World Cup provides an opportunity to reassess the balance between commercial interests and traditional aspects of the sport. As the tournament continues, stakeholders will be keenly observing how these new formats affect both the spectacle of the game and its underlying principles. The legacy of Maradona's foresight serves as a reminder of the ongoing dialogue between innovation and tradition within the world of football.