Another Mosconi Cup in the books. Another Team Europe blowout. Another Team USA implosion. Another round of armchair quarterbacks offering the definitive answers for what needs to change to make the Mosconi Cup competitive again.

It’s the same old song.

Or is it?

As someone who has seen virtually every Mosconi Cup and has repeatedly opined that the Cup is fine and that its uniqueness makes it almost indestructible, I have to admit that this year struck a little different.

There seemed to be a different vibe in Alexandra Palace and around the pool community this year, a feeling that bordered on indifference. What has become apparent is that during the six years since the U.S. miraculously won back-to-back Cups has only served to widen the gap between the teams. And with that schism in talent, the sideshow has overtaken the actual competition. And to be honest, the Mosconi Cup has become repetitive and tired.

Just follow the script: Press conference “fireworks.” Working the crowd into a faux lather in the second rack of the opening team match. Line dancing and leading the same singalongs as each previous year.

Rinse and repeat.

I’m afraid the Mosconi Cup needs a bit of a facelift. Of course, nothing would go farther towards adding genuine, new excitement than somehow getting Team USA to pocket match-winning 9 balls when the opportunity arises.

In the meantime, what can Matchroom do to slow the movement of the Cup from its origins of raucous nationalistic pride amid great play to today’s presentation of boorish, over-the-top fan engagement, bombastic player antics and myriad other actions that have little if anything to do with competitive pool?

And I’m not even talking about the rolling roar of the crowd during shots. I’ve always wanted to see more of that. The Mosconi Cup is the one event in which that type of fan engagement and added pressure works. And, trust me, the players will all get used to it now that it’s clearly acceptable.

Again, if the Mosconi Cup is indeed getting stale and leaning towards a fan base that is driving away pool purists, the fix is as simple as returning the event to being competitive. And in that department, the answers are plentiful.

During the recent Mosconi Cup, Matchroom founder Barry Hearn announced that his company will be taking its talents directly into the U.S., opening an office for pool and darts and focusing on increasing opportunities for both pros and junior players to raise the overall level of play and competitiveness in America. That’s a welcome, albeit ambitious, undertaking by pool’s biggest promoter.

In the meantime, what will make next year’s Team USA more competitive?

I’ll tell you what won’t. And that’s rehashing the same formula that has not worked over the past two years. While the shift to playing captain works just fine for Team Europe (it was, after all, Jayson Shaw’s idea, and he’s perfectly suited to that role), it clearly has not worked with Team USA.

The idea of a non-playing captain, at least for Team USA, received a lot of discussion following the 2025 Cup. Numerous names were floated, including Matchroom pundit Scott Frost, former Mosconi Cup player Dennis Hatch and former Team USA captain Johan Ruysink. I like any of those options over the current structure. And, personally, I still prefer Johan for the simple reason that he is a proven difference maker.

Regardless, it does feel like the Mosconi Cup is at a crossroads. Seeing as it is Matchroom’s Golden Goose, I assume they also see that and will address the key issues. And this time hopefully before November!