- 3 days ago
Hosted by Ng Chia Yin and answered by S. Saktesh and T. Avineshwaran, the team from StarSport share their take on the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and also some key talking points, or shall we say controversies, before the tournament. Listen and enjoy!
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00:05Hello everyone, after four years of waiting, the World Cup is finally here again.
00:10So this time, it is coming to North America.
00:14I'm Chia Yin, your host for today, the Stars Podcast.
00:17And with me are our journalists, Avi and Satech.
00:21Hello, hello, hello.
00:22Okay, so today we are breaking down the biggest match of the opening week,
00:26starting with Mexico versus South Africa, a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener.
00:32But this time, it's on Mexican soil.
00:35So, how do you foresee the match, Avi?
00:38It would be a KG match, I believe, because both sides would want to get either a point or a
00:44win.
00:45But to get a win, sometimes you have to be tactically smart or astute.
00:48So it's going to be a KG affair.
00:50But if one of the teams decide to get engulfed by the atmosphere,
00:56because the Aztecas is known for such a cold run for a lot of fans, for a lot of players.
01:01So imagine the Mexican fans, you know, rallying their crowd, rallying their players.
01:06And they suddenly decide, you know what, it's time to turn up.
01:09It's time to show who we are truly.
01:12And yeah, play an entertaining game.
01:14But I foresee a pretty KG affair.
01:17So I think South Africa will want to go for it all, whereas Mexico will be under pressure.
01:21So they would be hesitant to play some balls and all that.
01:25So it will be a KG affair.
01:27I'm excited for the opening ceremony.
01:29I mean, before the match itself, because it's going to be colourful.
01:32It's going to be loud.
01:33It's going to be very significant to, I'm sure, the Mexican culture and all.
01:38And you're going against South Africa, which probably still one of the best World Cups
01:42was in South Africa for the culture, the colours, the music and everything.
01:48The ball, jabulani.
01:49That too, the vuvuzelas.
01:51Do Mexicans have any sub-musical instruments that's as loud as that?
01:54I don't think so.
01:55Maybe percussions, drums and all that.
01:57Like a mariachi band.
01:58Yeah, mariachi band.
01:59That would be fun to watch.
02:00But yeah, I think it's a clash of very colourful and passionate group of fans.
02:05So, just for the whole sake, yeah, I would want to see Mexico maybe get a 2-1 or 3
02:11-1 win.
02:11You'll see.
02:12You'll see what happens.
02:13But beyond the opener, there are some other mouth-watering matches throughout week one.
02:19So, can you run us through them?
02:21So, the first one would be Brazil versus Morocco.
02:23I think everybody's talking about that game because you have two teams.
02:27Stylistically, very entertaining football.
02:29They have got players with flair, pace, movement and so on.
02:33So, imagine Morocco with the likes of Chamsdine Talbi there who plays for Sunderland.
02:40And then they have the striker Al-Kabi who loves to score bicycle kick goals.
02:44Ashraf Hakimi, don't forget.
02:45Ashraf Hakimi as well.
02:46One of the best wingbacks in the world.
02:47Amir Abad also.
02:49Sophia Amir Abad.
02:51Good midfielders and all that.
02:52Actually, beyond Amir Abad, there are other midfielders who are quite good.
02:55One guy that really is taking my attention is Ayubo Adi.
02:5918 years old.
03:00Why?
03:01Amazing player.
03:03Very good with his feet.
03:05And he's also very hardworking, technically strong.
03:09Imagine Amir Abad who is a workhorse but makes a workhorse and a tactical player.
03:15That's Ayubo Adi.
03:16He's that kind of player.
03:17So, that excitement is also there.
03:20But let's not take anything away from Brazil.
03:23A side that is now being led by one of the, to me, the greatest of all times in terms
03:28of coaching.
03:28If he wins the World Cup, he's the greatest.
03:30Carlo Ancelotti.
03:31Fair enough.
03:32Carlo Ancelotti.
03:33So, imagine with him, he has players like, Neymar might miss out this game.
03:37But he has players like, Henrik Vinicius Jr., Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães.
03:41For the MU fans out there, it's Casemiro.
03:44I miss him already in MU.
03:46So, I watch him in Brazil.
03:47But they also have Ederson there.
03:49That's also true.
03:49They're a new player.
03:50That's also true.
03:51So, I mean, it's a pretty good, it's an eclectic choice of players, which I think would be a good
03:57watch.
03:57So, I think that would be, I say the first game is going to be a KG affair.
04:01This would be an entertaining affair.
04:03Expect lots of goals.
04:04Do you think they're going to bring back Samba football?
04:06I too think so, yes.
04:08Because the players that they selected, like, even if Neymar is not there, there's this one guy named Luis Henrique.
04:13He plays in Russia for Zenit, St. Petersburg.
04:16Nobody knows him.
04:17But I watched him in the past three, four friendly games.
04:19He reminded me of what Brazilian football is all about.
04:22The Samba skills, the movement, the certain, you know, darts and all that.
04:25So, yeah, I think it'll be back.
04:27That'll be an interesting one.
04:28Yeah.
04:29But you know what?
04:29I think Japan versus Holland would be another exciting match.
04:33Oof.
04:33On that one, I think maybe biasness of being Asian.
04:37But I will be rooting for Japan as much as I love Holland at the same time.
04:41They have a good amount of players.
04:43Specifically, I honestly can't pinpoint anyone.
04:45Avi, how about you?
04:46Do you have any knowledge on the Japan team?
04:48Japan.
04:48Oh, they've got a good side.
04:49I mean, a lot of people say they don't have Kaoru Mitoma.
04:52But when you have players like Kengo Nakamura, Junya Ito.
04:57And then they have workhorses like Dyson Maeda there.
05:01And then Wataru Endo, the Liverpool player, who people say he's injured.
05:06But I think whenever he plays, he gives his all for Japan.
05:08The best part about Japan is, it's their depth.
05:12Right now, they have lots of players around the world.
05:15So, they have no issues in terms of calling up players.
05:20Top quality players.
05:21And right now, under Hajime Moriyasu, they look like a solid unit.
05:25If they have to play against the Netherlands, they know Netherlands will want to have the ball all the time.
05:28They'll be like, okay, fine.
05:29You have the ball.
05:30We got no issues with that.
05:32We will absorb and we will kill you.
05:34Japan is that kind of team.
05:35Okay.
05:35Whereas, Netherlands is a bit wishy-washy.
05:37They lost Jurien Timber with a two-injury.
05:40True.
05:40And they've selected Lut Sheryl Gertruda, who is also a talented wing-back.
05:44But do they have that X-factor?
05:46The players that can change a game?
05:48Like last time, we have Iron Robin, Wesley Snyder, Robin Van Persie and so on.
05:51I hate to say his name, but yeah, being an Arsenal fan.
05:54It's an Arsenal fan, no wonder.
05:56But in terms of cohesiveness, I think they're able to get that under Coleman.
06:01But if they don't win this game, then they will not go to the next stages.
06:06That's my take.
06:07They're in a tough group, you feel?
06:08Yeah, tough group.
06:09Definitely.
06:11But in Group E, I can see that four-time World Cup winners, Germany are playing against the smallest country
06:17ever qualified for World Cup, Kurasau.
06:19So what do you think this match is going to be?
06:22Abi, do you know where Kurasau is, Abi?
06:23It's in the Caribbean.
06:25I know that.
06:25I know.
06:26I feel like that's a fun fact for anyone who's going to watch the World Cup, be like, figure out
06:29where these countries are from.
06:31Do you know where Aruba is?
06:34I only found this out like 10 minutes before getting here.
06:36So apparently it's, Kurasau is above Venezuela.
06:41It's in South America.
06:42So it's right at the top there.
06:44It's next to Aruba.
06:44Oh, it's not within the Caribbean islands.
06:46No, it's actually closer to South America.
06:48They are tiny.
06:51Tiny.
06:51Like it's, I'm pretty sure they're smaller than Singapore.
06:54It's just a town.
06:56There's no towns.
06:57It's a town.
06:58And then they have a football team at the World Cup.
06:59The smallest team in the World Cup.
07:02That's...
07:02Fun fact.
07:03They also have one player who plays in Malaysia.
07:06Which player?
07:07Javain Kastaneri plays for Tengano.
07:09Oh.
07:10He is their main striker.
07:12Oh, that's very interesting.
07:13He's at the World Cup.
07:13Yeah.
07:14Oh my God.
07:15Yeah, that's Kurasau.
07:16But Germany, as we know, they are a force to reckon with.
07:18But a lot of people are actually not putting their bets on Germany to win the World Cup because of
07:23the team that they have.
07:25But Germans, we know if there is no expectations, that's when they come and say, hey, we are here now.
07:31They remind you that they are there.
07:32Yeah, they are there.
07:33And they have players who can do that as well.
07:36For example, I mean, I like Jamal Musiala.
07:39Finally, he's back after injury and he's still his usual self.
07:43And then they have...
07:43Yeah, Wurz might have had a poor season with Liverpool, but it's still a game changer for Germany.
07:47It's totally different when you play international football.
07:49International football, yeah.
07:49It's going to be different when you're in a club and then when you play international football.
07:52It's a whole different mindset.
07:54I have a question for you.
07:54Walter Marder or Howard's number nine?
07:58Maybe Howard's for me.
08:00Why Howard's?
08:00I'm an Arsenal fan, but I don't think it's consistent.
08:03Again, maybe it's the international fact of that.
08:06You know, when you're playing international football, you kind of have to put aside how they've been performing in the
08:12leagues or in the clubs in the season.
08:14Because it's going to be very different, totally different ballgame.
08:18They're no longer playing for themselves or the club they're playing for the country, which ask any footballer.
08:23And it's a new level of responsibility, I guess.
08:27Well, one thing I want to point out, Leonard Kahl is not there.
08:29He was injured last minute.
08:3217, 18-year-old boy.
08:33Really good for Bayern.
08:35And I was looking forward to watching him play in the World Cup, but he got injured.
08:38You have to wait another four years for that, I guess.
08:39I pity him, yeah.
08:40But he'll still be young, 23 years old.
08:41So, that's one play to watch, actually, in the future.
08:44True.
08:45So, now that we have gone through all the matches, so now let's get into the uncomfortable stuff because football
08:51is not the only story.
08:52There are so many issues going on, yeah.
08:54So, like, a lot of issues like highly-priced tickets to slow visa approval to certain countries.
09:00And then, huge sums for broadcast rights.
09:04So, how do you see these things?
09:07The ticket prices being so high, but, you know, there are apparently, like, more than $150,000, $180,000 tickets
09:13still unsold.
09:14There are tickets going for millions.
09:17There was one, $11 million for a match.
09:20Not just tickets.
09:21You know parking tickets?
09:22Yeah.
09:23I read some updates.
09:24I do not know whether it's true or not, but this one, I read it in The Athletic.
09:27It cost about $4,000 just to get a parking ticket in Dallas.
09:32Oh, my God.
09:32Someone I knew in Canada who's renting out his apartment in Vancouver, he's going to make back his rent of,
09:38you know, or, like, what he could make from Airbnb, renting out Airbnb for, like, four, five months in a
09:43couple weeks.
09:45But it's the cost of everything that's going on.
09:47Everything is going up.
09:48That's crazy.
09:49That is crazy.
09:50Issues aside, visas, you would assume that if a country is hosting, you know, such a big event, the processes
09:56would be easier, but I feel like this one's gone the other way around and made it tougher.
10:00You know why I'm wearing black today?
10:01Why?
10:02Because I'm moaning for the fans.
10:04Oh, my God.
10:04You know why?
10:05That's sad.
10:06I mean, yeah, it's a bit far-fetched to say that I'm moaning.
10:09Welcome to the sad part of the show.
10:10But the fact is, I've been to the Qatar World Cup.
10:14I was supposed to go to Russia, but I didn't manage to go due to work commitments.
10:18When I went to Qatar, everybody said things are going to be expensive.
10:21Oh, wow, it wasn't.
10:24Train rides were free.
10:25Tickets were expensive, no doubt.
10:26But the one in the North Americas is even worse.
10:30It's way more expensive than what I paid in Qatar.
10:34So when I see some fans not able to buy tickets,
10:38luckily in New York, Zohran Mamdani made sure that they toned down the prices
10:42so that people can watch the World Cup.
10:43But that's only for a thousand people and you have to enter a raffle to win that.
10:47Yeah, exactly.
10:47And they start at like 500.
10:48500.
10:49That's also another sad thing.
10:50But at least he reduced it.
10:52Something.
10:52That's something.
10:53But fans are not able to watch the games from Africa, from Iran,
10:58or some Arabic countries not able to go to the States because of visa issues.
11:04I think that to me is really sad.
11:06Because for example, in Russia and Qatar, FIFA made it clear.
11:11Every friend should be able to come with the pass.
11:14Why the same is not being done in the States?
11:16Even the referees are not allowed to get me.
11:17Exactly.
11:19Omar Amartan is one of the best referees in the world.
11:22And he's only 32.
11:24From Somalia.
11:24Yeah, Somalia.
11:25One of the best.
11:26Because he's denied two referees in one of the biggest tournaments in the world.
11:32Pity a youth like him who is being denied that.
11:34And he was like kind of last minute, right?
11:36Exactly.
11:36He was already there.
11:37He landed and then they denied him.
11:38And the best part is he actually went through every diplomatic process.
11:42He went through it all.
11:43Through FIFA.
11:44Why suddenly now they are not allowing it?
11:47My surprise is FIFA is keeping quiet.
11:49I mean, they have not kept quiet.
11:50They just said we have to follow the laws of the land.
11:53Why didn't they do that in Qatar?
11:55Why didn't they do that in Russia?
11:57Okay, fine.
11:58When Indonesia wanted to host the under-17 or under-20 World Cup, the moment they said
12:03we cannot have Israel, their rights were taken away.
12:06Why the same cannot be done in the States?
12:08That's my question to FIFA.
12:10You say you want to unify the world, right?
12:12Through football?
12:12Why are you not doing that?
12:14Am I right or not?
12:16I think even as journalists who want to go and cover, I've heard some from African continent
12:20who go to the US, they're issued only one-time visas.
12:23Exactly.
12:23So if they follow their country to Canada or Mexico, they cannot go back to the US.
12:28I mean, that's the definition of confusion and chaos if there's everyone.
12:33It is, yeah, confusion and chaos.
12:34Some teams get nice welcomes.
12:37Some teams go through extra searches.
12:39Stringent checks.
12:39Some players go through six hours, seven hours to TSA just to get out of the airport.
12:44It's Senegal, right?
12:44Senegal, Iran, all that.
12:45A few players.
12:47It just makes you think like...
12:49Why?
12:50For a country that calls it soccer, it's a bit too much, isn't it?
12:52Yeah.
12:53It's a little bit too much.
12:54It's a bit too much.
12:55But it's okay.
12:55They love it.
12:56That's their chant.
12:57I mean, I'm not going to deny the infrastructure is amazing.
13:00They've got really good stadiums and so on.
13:02But World Cup is for everyone, man.
13:03No, even then, you say stadiums are good.
13:04There are so many pitch problems because most of their pitches are not...
13:08Oh, no, no.
13:08The funny games are not actual pitch.
13:11The ones that are going to be played in the stadiums, they are going to be fine.
13:13Because FIFA has made sure that that will not happen.
13:17Hopefully.
13:17Unless tournament...
13:18I mean, game day, we see if something is happening, that's when we question.
13:21There will be another issue.
13:23Another issue.
13:24But here's the thing.
13:25Despite all of that noise, when the referee blows the whistle and Mexico and South Africa
13:30walk out onto the pitch, the football will take over.
13:32It always does.
13:34So, thank you for joining us here today and sharing your opinions.
13:38I'm Chia Yin from Starsports Class.
13:40And the World Cup is just beginning.
13:51You
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