Serguei Semak Discusses World Cup 2026: Money Over Sport?

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Sergei Semak, the head coach of Zenit, has expressed his views on the upcoming World Cup 2026, which will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams. During the matches, there will be special water breaks in the middle of each half. Semak stated, "As a professional and a fan, the thought that this is all about money doesn't leave me: more matches equal more money. The difference in team levels is quite significant, and the sporting interest isn't always what one would expect from a tournament of this caliber. It seems to me that America is at the forefront of sports commercialization. We won't escape this fate either. Sports are increasingly intertwined with business; those breaks for water essentially serve as additional pauses for advertising, which is also a source of revenue for FIFA’s budget," he said in an interview with Sputnik.