This week we continue to look at the concepts in the book that started it all, Peter Hoehne’s book 2026 North American World Cup: Capturing the New Generation Fan. We will use excerpts from the book to look at the individual concepts and provide some additional context for those that need it. This week we explore an addition to the game that will be familiar to fans of a variety of sports, Time-Outs.
Time outs are an additional New Generation feature for 2026.
Two timeouts are available per half. A team can call a time out when there is a stop in the play.
The advantages are obvious. The players on both sides gain a short break. The coaches are able to provide some timely strategic instruction. This helps the players to play their best, creating the best entertainment value for the fans.
2026 NORTH AMERICAN WORLD CUP : Capturing The New Generation Fan (HOEHNE, 2020)
Football conservatives might think that timeouts would be a move to appease American fans, but if you think the game is not broken up by teams who need a breather already, you are quite mistaken. When a team is ahead and needs a break in play to calm nerves and talk thing over what do players do? An experienced player will dive, fake an injury, take his time coming off the field, waste time taking a set piece or throw-in; all things that fan from around the world hate. Why not take one of the incentives for diving away and just allow teams a time out?
I know that is a little bit out there, but that is just one example of a benefit of time-outs, I bet if you really gave it a shot you could come up with some too. The inclination to be a football conservative is only, after all its OUR game – what happened with the European Super League showed that – but we must keep an open mind in order for the game to continue to grow and evolve like it has in generations past!