The World Cup conversation questions

The FIFA World Cup

 * What is your opinion of the decision to hold the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018?
 * Would you like to go to Russia to watch the tournament, or are you put off by stories of high crime rates?


 * The host country always gets to play in the World Cup no matter how good they are. What do you think of this idea?
 * Which do you think is the most important or exciting - the World Cup or the Olympics? Why?
 * The world cup takes place every four years. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of holding it (a) more frequently and (b) less frequently?
 * How do you feel about important matches being decided on penalties? Do you enjoy watching penalty shootouts? Can you think of a better system?

Supporters

 * In your country do people find time to watch matches when they should be working or studying? How?
 * All the matches should be available on-line along with the scores. How would you react if your employer filtered your internet access so that you could not obtain this information?
 * How do you prefer to watch matches if you are not at the stadium? At home alone, at home with friends, in a bar/pub, on a giant screen in the street ...
 * Hooliganism is frequently a problem at football matches. Why do you think that football has this problem?
 * What steps can the organisers take to reduce hooliganism's impact at the World Cup?
 * What do you think of the idea that international football matches are really a substitute for war?
 * How do you react if your team scores a goal?
 * In many sports in the US there are teams of cheerleaders who lead the cheering. What do you think of this practice?

Teams

 * Which teams do you expect to do well, and which team do you think could win? Why?
 * What is your opinion of your country's football team?
 * How well did they do in the last competition?
 * Different countries are said to have different playing styles. How would you describe: Brazil, Italy, England, Spain.
 * If you were in Russia and could only watch one match - which two teams would you like to see play against each other.
 * Do you think that each team's national manager or coach should be a native of that country? Why, why not?

Players

 * Which international players do you expect to shine?
 * Who do you think is the best player in the world at the moment?
 * Who do you think was the best player of all time?
 * Which players from your national team do you expect to do well?
 * Are there any players from your country who you feel should be playing but who have not been selected?

The competition so far

 * What is the best goal you have seen so far?
 * What has been the silliest goal so far?
 * Which teams do you think are playing the best at the moment?
 * What do you think is the most surprising result so far? Why?
 * What do you think about the standard of the refereeing?
 * What do you think has been the worst referring decision so far?
 * Would you like to see some technological system introduced to help referees when they make decisions? What sort of technological system?
 * Have there been many professional fouls in the games you have seen?