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Dave Portnoy proposes changes to soccer viewing experience during World Cup

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 22, 2026, 5:34 PM

Last updated Jun 22, 2026

Dave Portnoy proposes changes to soccer viewing experience during World Cup

Summary

Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, has suggested several radical changes to improve the soccer viewing experience amid the ongoing 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. He expressed his discomfort with the current format, stating that American viewers might not find it engaging. Portnoy recommended enlarging goal nets, introducing power plays, and penalizing backward passes as part of his ideas to make the sport more appealing to viewers in the United States. He believes that these modifications could attract more fans to soccer, particularly within Major League Soccer. Portnoy plans to elaborate on these suggestions after the World Cup concludes.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Portnoy calls for bigger nets and power plays during the World Cup.
•He believes current viewing experiences fail to engage American fans.
•Suggestions include stricter regulations on backward passes.
•Portnoy aims to make soccer more appealing to a wider audience.
•The World Cup is currently in the group stage.

Latest Updates

5:34 PMYahoo Sports — Dave Portnoy calls for soccer to add power plays to fix ‘viewing experience’

What they're saying

"
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is underway, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States serving as the host nations. The event, which is still in the group stage, has delivered on all counts so far, for most people. However, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who claims that he has “World Cup Fever,” still feels…
— Yahoo Sports

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