FIFA World Cup '26: News & Analysis

But we knew going in that this would be a World Cup for local area fans and fans who mostly live in the USA. Especially since there are millions of soccer fans in this Country from all over the world.

For a third of the matches to be purchased overseas is still a big bit of news considering all the slop being fed to us about people not wanting to come to the USA.

 

Fair enough, why I stay away from the news lol.

 

I wish certain posters around here would follow your lead on that one.

 

US hotels are "slashing" hotel prices to only double what they'd normally charge in peak tourist season.

 

But, why avoid critical thinking when people are likely fudging the numbers?

a) 1/3 of what? If Foxboro is still underselling matches, then "1/3" is meaningless.

Hey guys, I sold 300 tickets: 100 to Tina, 100 to her husband Tim, and 100 to a random teenager.
You know, I can safely conclude that married people have bought 2/3 of my sold tickets. Even better, I can claim that married people will dominate WC attendance.

b) Nice short data: three buyer categories have somehow split purchases into equal thirds.

Hey guys, I like digestible data. Nothing better to help spread lies than simple data like 1/3 here, 1/3 there, etc.

Seriously, how many WC tickets has Foxboro effectively sold? Percentages/proportions do not say much, when you have US-based scalpers sitting on many tickets.

 

I assume FIFA would like or have some sort of reason to embellish but local leaders and organizers who want things to go well? I don't buy it one bit. They would probably avoid the issue and questions of tickets if that were the case. They are slimy like that.

What do you mean by underselling matches? What data do you have that shows evidence of that?

I assume the answer to your question here is a lot of tickets. Or at least a lot more than what people expected.
Scotland and England have many people across the pond who want to come here.
"Boston" also is hosting a round of 32 match and a quarter-final which are appealing.
Total tickets sold are probably pretty good.

Haiti which plays Scotland is a part of the list of countries that cannot really come here easily. So that makes it even MORE impressive to have a third of tickets sold from overseas.

 

No one in yesterday's press conference talked about ticket sales per match. So your assumption about which type of Haitian fan has purchased tickets lacks a foundation.

In reality, no ticket numbers were discussed during that press conference. Only one qualifier was used: "robust" ticket sales. Of course, along with their vague ticket sales breakdown by thirds.

Being fair, officials kept repeating how long their free Fan Fest will be: 16 days (June 12-27).
So, it will close before Foxboro holds its KO matches: June 29 and July 9.

Curiously enough, a congressman spoke about his Boston experience, watching the 1994 WC final BRA vs ITA. So, there won't be a Fan Fest in Boston for the upcoming final match, as they need to keep soccer crowds away from American independence crowds.

Yesterday's press conference:

 

Politicians using words like "robust" is better than saying "no comment" or trying to avoid ticket issues all together.

Thanks for your critical thinking.

 

I am saying if one of your matches includes a team of fans that cannot even come from overseas it makes it more impressive that a third of the tickets purchased are from around the globe.

 

To be fair to FIFA, (Makes me squirm just saying that) Miami has the luck of hosting a small team like Cape Verde and a team that is not that popular like Saudi Arabia.
And the teams that are popular like Colombia and Uruguay and possibly Argentina already have people in that area who are gobbling up tickets and do not need hotels. Or they have family in the area so they will just stay with them like National Lampoon Vacation.

 

You know better. Not all matches are created equal.

A "third" of "robust" ticket sales does not say much. But you know what they say: fake it until you make it!

 

True. But they were talking about generalities. So generally speaking things are not looking as bleak as the "critical thinkers of the news" say they are going.

 

Insane to even make the suggestion

 

That would be epic.

 

If Iran withdraws and is replaced by Italy then I suspect FIFA will need to find a few more replacement teams.

 

1994, the ongoing series:


Still quaint though:

 

Given the fact that the European organization for airflight companies to weeks ago warned that if the Hormuz blockade isnot lifted within 3 weeks (=May 1st) lack of kerosene will lead to cancellation of flights.
Boy, it will be epic if the FIFA Peace Prize winner's war leads to a ruined world cup.

 

Wonder what's the official rule in FIFA's own guidebook. IMO Iran should be replaced by the UAE, not by Italy, but maybe their own rules say something else.

 

I feel that because the president is Italian... and that there are a lot of Italians in the USA (Bank of America was started by an Italian in San Francisco... It was called the Bank of Italy originally) we will see the Azzurri.

Just so happens their schedule is similar to if they qualified normally LA, LA, Seattle vs Toronto, LA, Seattle... Maybe they still have the flights.

Personally I see them making a pretty good run if they are in fact part of the tournament. Awwwww Baggio memories in 94... That was fun