FIFA has been corrupt for a long time but the fake peace prize and the crazy exaggerated prices for tickets and even water plus transportation and accommodation has made it impossible for many fans to be a part of it. And the USA has become a very toxic and hostile place for many countries and nationalities and I say this a German/Canadian who hasn’t travelled to the US since the start of Trump’s second term.
I used to be a soccer referee in my community; all ages, genders, etc. As a woman, and just about the only adult woman ref in the city, I got nothing but chauvinistic/misogynistic grief from the male head of the ref association here, but it did not curb my love of the game. I didn't play as a kid, but both of my sons did and loved the sport too. The prices of tickets, travel, accommodations, meals, etc. are definitely pricing the event out of the grasp of most lovers of the sport. It's egregious. But I can't help thinking that many fans, despite their loyalty to the sport, are simply avoiding traveling to the US to watch it, knowing that their money is going into the US economy and therefore benefiting, even if indirectly, DJT. I can't help but agree with them.
The request of a motorcade/shutting major streets for him/trying to ban insulated tumblers/the fifa peace prize..then rigging the tickets. Think it’s a classic if it walks like a duck/looks like a duck…
Add to all the price gouging that people in large chunks of the planet simply do not want to travel to the US and spend their money in a country whose leadership has been busy attacking and/or denigrating their countries
And those who are seeing new and expanded and in many cases quite expensive visa restrictions
I’m calling this a self-inflicted wound on the part of both FIFA and the current US Administration
Any stats available to compare in stadium attendance in Canadian stadiums vs. US Stadiums? Is some of the lack of attendance in stadiums due to perceived issues getting through all the security checks in order to be in the US?
However, visa issues, border concerns, and travel restrictions have all been mentioned as possible reasons some fans chose not to travel to U.S. venues.
We'll know more when the final numbers are released.
Based on the eyeball test, what has been shown on TV since the start, the stadiums in Canada and Mexico appear to be completely full, the U.S. stadiums, not so much (unless the U.S. is playing). Now, Toronto's is the smallest (48,000 or thereabouts), and the local market (the golden triangle) exceeds the population of Western Canada, so that's not suprising.
Greedy FIFI board meets greedy US administration and true fans became an afterthought. I recently read that FIFI doesn’t really care if there’s empty seats, because the elites have paid more than enough to fill the coffers.
It’s bad enough that these two greedy groups have already squeezed out every nickel and ran every scam they can, it’s that they’re not the only ones.
What I really find disgusting with these big world events is that virtually every business, regardless what its providing, at the stadium or off, jack up prices. If people are struggling to buy groceries and fill up their gas tanks, how can they afford tickets? As for foreign visitors, who the hell wants to step across the borders into the U.S.? IQ47 and his ICE thugs have already destroyed the tourism industry. Hotel California comes to mind.
I'm not a soccer fan and wouldn't spend 2 cents to watch a game, even on TV. But go for it if you love soccer. Just don't expect the taxpayer to chip in!
Not to all of us. It's also one of those 'lifetime' sports, that you can play (given that you're fit enough) at almost any age. I refereed in a men's recreational league, and there were several 70+ players who stilled loved getting out there.
It’s NOT fair that after winning its group, the U.S. is rewarded with having to play two countries in the knockout round: Bosnia and Herzegovina. All other teams only have to play a single nation!!!
If the President Bozo read your comment, he'd repost it as further evidence that the US is being ripped off. "So unfair...Thank you for your attention to this matter."
Let’s be honest here Fred. The disunited States only saw a $ when they said they wanted to host the World Cup. Hotels raised their prices, transport did the same, ticket prices were ridiculous and then Trump joined in! ICE at airports and round stadiums. Requests for phones at airports, and if your skin colour wasn’t white the risk of being picked up and imprisoned. My own Government had warned people about travel to America a few months ago. It was a huge scam. FIFA wanted to make huge amounts of money, Trumps friends too, that is probably where those disappearing tickets went. I am not surprised, this is the USA. Doing what it always does , making money. Frankly it disgusts me, I will not even watch it on television.
We have travelled internationally for World Cups many times but would not go to USA.
You missed the impact of the phoney Peace Prize on fans.
FIFA appears more and more corrupt
FIFA has always been corrupt. The history of FIFA is littered with corruption.
FIFA has been corrupt for a long time but the fake peace prize and the crazy exaggerated prices for tickets and even water plus transportation and accommodation has made it impossible for many fans to be a part of it. And the USA has become a very toxic and hostile place for many countries and nationalities and I say this a German/Canadian who hasn’t travelled to the US since the start of Trump’s second term.
Not to mention the Gestapo at the border. Not happening.
I used to be a soccer referee in my community; all ages, genders, etc. As a woman, and just about the only adult woman ref in the city, I got nothing but chauvinistic/misogynistic grief from the male head of the ref association here, but it did not curb my love of the game. I didn't play as a kid, but both of my sons did and loved the sport too. The prices of tickets, travel, accommodations, meals, etc. are definitely pricing the event out of the grasp of most lovers of the sport. It's egregious. But I can't help thinking that many fans, despite their loyalty to the sport, are simply avoiding traveling to the US to watch it, knowing that their money is going into the US economy and therefore benefiting, even if indirectly, DJT. I can't help but agree with them.
The request of a motorcade/shutting major streets for him/trying to ban insulated tumblers/the fifa peace prize..then rigging the tickets. Think it’s a classic if it walks like a duck/looks like a duck…
The hydration breaks have were added to be advertising opportunities. Normally they don’t have hydration breaks.
Add to all the price gouging that people in large chunks of the planet simply do not want to travel to the US and spend their money in a country whose leadership has been busy attacking and/or denigrating their countries
And those who are seeing new and expanded and in many cases quite expensive visa restrictions
I’m calling this a self-inflicted wound on the part of both FIFA and the current US Administration
Any stats available to compare in stadium attendance in Canadian stadiums vs. US Stadiums? Is some of the lack of attendance in stadiums due to perceived issues getting through all the security checks in order to be in the US?
I haven't seen city-by-city attendance data yet.
However, visa issues, border concerns, and travel restrictions have all been mentioned as possible reasons some fans chose not to travel to U.S. venues.
We'll know more when the final numbers are released.
Based on the eyeball test, what has been shown on TV since the start, the stadiums in Canada and Mexico appear to be completely full, the U.S. stadiums, not so much (unless the U.S. is playing). Now, Toronto's is the smallest (48,000 or thereabouts), and the local market (the golden triangle) exceeds the population of Western Canada, so that's not suprising.
Greedy FIFI board meets greedy US administration and true fans became an afterthought. I recently read that FIFI doesn’t really care if there’s empty seats, because the elites have paid more than enough to fill the coffers.
It’s bad enough that these two greedy groups have already squeezed out every nickel and ran every scam they can, it’s that they’re not the only ones.
What I really find disgusting with these big world events is that virtually every business, regardless what its providing, at the stadium or off, jack up prices. If people are struggling to buy groceries and fill up their gas tanks, how can they afford tickets? As for foreign visitors, who the hell wants to step across the borders into the U.S.? IQ47 and his ICE thugs have already destroyed the tourism industry. Hotel California comes to mind.
Great analysis.
FIFA has been corrupt and revenue focused for too long.
They don’t care about the fans, indeed they appear not to care too much about the competing teams either.
2026 World Cup is a great example of green and ego being the winners.
The host cities will reap very few benefits
Price of tickets seemed to be over the top. The average family would struggle to find yhe funds for more than one game.
I'm not a soccer fan and wouldn't spend 2 cents to watch a game, even on TV. But go for it if you love soccer. Just don't expect the taxpayer to chip in!
Perhaps being a Trump sycophant and handing him a fake peace prize didn’t help?! Now Trump is presenting the cup to the winning team?!
Because soccer is boring.
Not to all of us. It's also one of those 'lifetime' sports, that you can play (given that you're fit enough) at almost any age. I refereed in a men's recreational league, and there were several 70+ players who stilled loved getting out there.
It’s NOT fair that after winning its group, the U.S. is rewarded with having to play two countries in the knockout round: Bosnia and Herzegovina. All other teams only have to play a single nation!!!
If the President Bozo read your comment, he'd repost it as further evidence that the US is being ripped off. "So unfair...Thank you for your attention to this matter."
Hohum never mind, couldn't happen to a nicer regime. I'm sure they tariff money will help pay for the shortfall in revenue.
Let’s be honest here Fred. The disunited States only saw a $ when they said they wanted to host the World Cup. Hotels raised their prices, transport did the same, ticket prices were ridiculous and then Trump joined in! ICE at airports and round stadiums. Requests for phones at airports, and if your skin colour wasn’t white the risk of being picked up and imprisoned. My own Government had warned people about travel to America a few months ago. It was a huge scam. FIFA wanted to make huge amounts of money, Trumps friends too, that is probably where those disappearing tickets went. I am not surprised, this is the USA. Doing what it always does , making money. Frankly it disgusts me, I will not even watch it on television.
The “Trump effect”.
No one wants to visit the USA now. I don’t blame them.