'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4 Con: Viewership will take a hit
The World Cup is the grandest tournament in the world. People who don’t generally watch football stay glued in front of their television to get a glimpse of the beautiful game. Even the elder ones stop watching daily soaps for a day and focus on the game instead.
This is why the World Cup attracts viewers like none other. While a lot of Arabian teams might have been able to qualify for the World Cup – a grand total of four – the lack of Italy in the World Cup finals will definitely hurt the tournament in terms of viewers.
I remember the time when Arab kids in the United Arab Emirates wore Italy shirts whilst the World Cup was in progress – such is the fan base for the Azzurri. However, with their absence in next year’s World Cup, the viewer count might take a hit – something which is never good for a tournament as big as the World Cup.
