Colman Noctor: World Cup creates rare opportunities for families to come together

Colman Noctor talks about the importance of family rituals and how to avoid a fragmented family

Watching live sport together as a family offers a rare antidote to modern fragmentation. Picture: iStock

As an Irish football fan, I have felt torn about the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Of course, I am excited to watch the greatest sporting spectacle in the world, but it is accompanied by the familiar disappointment because Ireland didn’t make the cut.

Part of me also feels disappointed that my children are not getting to experience the buzz of Ireland qualifying for a major tournament.