Commentary: We have stopped believing in the perfect World Cup – that's why we keep watching

The author admits to having abandoned the notion of a 'perfect' World Cup. The tournament has grown too vast and intricate to be grasped in its entirety, leading to a disillusionment with the ideal of a flawless event. This perspective shift acknowledges the overwhelming nature of modern football's premier competition.

What endures from the tournament, the commentary suggests, is not dictated by FIFA or political bodies. Instead, the lasting impressions and significance are shaped by the viewers themselves. This places the power of interpretation and emphasis squarely in the hands of the audience, rather than the organizing entities.

Ultimately, the piece argues that spectators hold the agency to decide which elements of the World Cup they choose to engage with and how seriously they take them. This empowers individuals to curate their own experience and meaning from the event, moving beyond any singular, imposed narrative of perfection.