The World Cup is accessible now, to nations states and celebrity chefs

Even at $220bn, World Cups are tremendous value. No other sporting event on the planet brings as many people together at one time as the World Cup final. No other sporting event produces moments and heroes that become iconic to billions of people.

Despite the multi-pool efforts of cricket and the one-game-per-week provisos of rugby, no other World Cup seems to go on as long either. Twenty-four days separated Morocco and Croatia's dour 0-0 group game and their third-fourth place play-off. Given all that happened in between, it felt like two months.

Given the time-tunnel effect of so much football and so much drama, it feels like a million years ago when journalist Jon Sopel quoted a source close to the Qatari ruling family on the News Agents podcast.

"Nothing good has come to us as a result of this. And this has all been a giant waste of money, and I wish it would all just go away, but it can't," paraphrased Sopel, adding that the general consensus was that the tournament had, after just three days, "gone to s**t in so many ways".

Well, after Sunday's final, I would say they are happy they stayed the course and did not pack up their tent-shaped Al Bayt stadium and tell the world to go home.

Those first few days had seen the 'OneLove' armbands stand-off, the last-minute decision to ban the sale of alcohol at the grounds and also the bizarre 'I feel gay' speech from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Then you had the broadcasters, such as RTÉ, who had shelled out large sums to televise the tournament, using their opening broadcasts to discuss all the issues that left many people asking if this World Cup was not a toxic event: the deaths of migrant workers, LGBTQ+ rights and questions around how the bid was won.

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