SLICES: Did World Cup Expansion Bring Home the Bacon?

SLICES: Did World Cup Expansion Bring Home the Bacon?

The World Cup already felt like the biggest sporting event on the planet. Then this year, they expanded from 32 teams to 48. More countries involved, sixty percent bigger than the last tournament, and the advertising budget to go with it. If it wasn’t broken, why did they meddle with success? Scott and A take a look at the pros and cons of this expansion.  — Slices is created by Scott Sigler [http://www.scottsigler.com/] and A B Kovacs [https://abkovacscom.wordpress.com] — Produced by Steve Riekeberg [http://www.steveriekeberg.com] — Production Assistance by Allie Press [http://www.alliepress.net/] — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  [http://www.emptyset.com/] Don’t know about you, but sometimes I expand for the better, too! Just start big, yo! Snag yourself a sweet new three-year domain using GoDaddy Promo Code CJCFOSSIG3 [http://www.scottsigler.com/godaddy-promo-codes%20CJCFOSSIG3], which helps you also snag a whopping ninety-nine percent off the first year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

SLICES: WNBA Bad Girls

The WNBA is trying to crack down on excessive physical play. And somehow, everyone is upset about it. So has the WNBA actually changed the rules? Nope, The league simply told officials to enforce certain rules more consistently, especially around excessive contact and freedom of movement. We chat about the rule, the problem, and why everyone’s still upset. — Slices is created by Scott Sigler [http://www.scottsigler.com/] and A B Kovacs [https://abkovacscom.wordpress.com] — Produced by Steve Riekeberg [http://www.steveriekeberg.com] — Production Assistance by Allie Press [http://www.alliepress.net/] — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  [http://www.emptyset.com/] We talking about toughness?  I’m absolutely here for tough women in sports. And tough women in general. This is the way. Another way might be cashing in on the GoDaddy Promo Code CJCFOSSIG3 [http://www.scottsigler.com/godaddy-promo-codes%20CJCFOSSIG3], to save yourself 99% off the first year of a three-year new domain. That’s tough enough for me! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

SLICES: Why Sports Fans Hate Change

The 2026 World Cup in North America introduced mandatory Hydration Breaks every 20-ish minutes.  Fans are big mad that soccer is now “played in quarters,” and the players get a chance to be coached during these mandatory breaks.  But … the field of play is much more humid and also hotter than these players (and their fans) are used to, so FIFA stepped in to protect the players.  OR DID THEY? Scott and A discuss the current situation.  — Slices is created by Scott Sigler [http://www.scottsigler.com/] and A B Kovacs [https://abkovacscom.wordpress.com] — Produced by Steve Riekeberg [http://www.steveriekeberg.com] — Production Assistance by Allie Press [http://www.alliepress.net/] — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  [http://www.emptyset.com/] Øh, you need a little sippy poo of water? OF COURSE YOU DO.  I am a person who never drinks enough water. I thought I was in the minority, but apparently footy players also don’t slake themselves. I could post a tutorial by using GoDaddy Promo Code CJCFOSSIG3 [http://www.scottsigler.com/godaddy-promo-codes%20CJCFOSSIG3], so I save ninety-nine percent off of my three-year domain’s 1st year. Let’s toast to that! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

SLICES: AI Invades the World Cup

The 2026 World Cup features Virtual Assistant Referees, or “VAR.” Some fans love it, some fans hate it. Sometimes based on whether their team benefits from the call.  We do a deeper dive specifically into how the computer-assisted officiating has changed the 2026 World Cup, and how folks feel about it. — Slices is created by Scott Sigler [http://www.scottsigler.com/] and A B Kovacs [https://abkovacscom.wordpress.com] — Produced by Steve Riekeberg [http://www.steveriekeberg.com] — Production Assistance by Allie Press [http://www.alliepress.net/] — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  [http://www.emptyset.com/] I don’t need a computer to know they’re cheating! World Cup has me all up in my feels. If YOU have big opinions and nowhere to put ‘em, consider a blog and use GoDaddy Promo Code CJCFOSSIG3 [http://www.scottsigler.com/godaddy-promo-codes%20CJCFOSSIG3] to save 99% off your 1st year of a 3-year domain registration. Don’t need a red card for that! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

SLICES: The Dawn of AI Refs

The 2026 World Cup features Virtual Assistant Referees, or “VAR.” Some fans love it, some fans hate it. Sometimes based on whether their team benefits from the call.  So “AI Refs” also raise the ire of sports fans around the world, just like their human counterparts.  Scott and A dive into “computer-assisted refereeing” and what it means for sports and sports fans around the world.  — Slices is created by Scott Sigler [http://www.scottsigler.com/] and A B Kovacs [https://abkovacscom.wordpress.com] — Produced by Steve Riekeberg [http://www.steveriekeberg.com] — Production Assistance by Allie Press [http://www.alliepress.net/] — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  [http://www.emptyset.com/] That was totally not offsides!  Need help figuring out which team to root for? Can’t help you there! But if you use GoDaddy Promo Code CJCFOSSIG3 [http://www.scottsigler.com/godaddy-promo-codes%20CJCFOSSIG3], you’ll save ninety-nine percent off your first year of a 3-year domain registration, and brah, that is gold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]