# FIFA World Cup 2026 - discussion etc **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-soccer-fifa\ **Created:** [October 14, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962 "2025-10-14T15:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/261 "2026-04-01T19:32:01Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > it was officially West Germany starting in 1954 until reunification Nitpick: in the 1974 WC in West Germany, the GDR were also qualified, got drawn into the same group as the FRG, and famously won that game 1-0 in Hamburg by the goal of Jürgen Sparwasser. West Germany won the tournament in the end nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/262 "2026-04-01T20:29:02Z")
I logged into the FIFA ticket portal this morning and jumped into the queue, then did a bunch of other stuff (went for a walk, watched chess, played a board game). Four hours later the queue finalized and I clicked “Enter”, and it threw me onto a white screen that I left for about 30 minutes before closing the tab. I was more curious about ticket prices than anything, and also local availability. Not sure if I would’ve bought anything. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/263 "2026-04-02T18:40:12Z")
The ticket prices are obscene. $11k for a final ticket? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/264 "2026-04-02T18:53:13Z")
Being caught by the TV cameras in the stands will be more embarassing than what happened to that unmarried couple at the Coldplay concert. And that in the days of facial recognicion for the masses! Perhaps some attendees will be ~~even lynched~~ fired too? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/265 "2026-04-03T01:50:22Z")
I got into both the regular and resale markets. There are five matches with face value tickets left, $600 is the lowest. On resale, I looked at my local stadium’s round of 32 match, which is where Germany would end up if they win their group, and the shittiest nosebleed seats start at $1400. That’s interesting since the sides aren’t even known; presumably a marquee matchup would drive that up. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/266 "2026-04-03T05:17:19Z")
How on earth have they managed to sell so successfully, given how ridiculously expensive they’ve been? Am I just naive? I thought they would be hard to shift. And apparently the stupidly high prices broke the guarantee in the original joint bid between the 3 hosts. No surprise there I guess, when the bids are just lip service to the rules and everyone already knows who’s going to win (the one with the biggest brown envelope). ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/267 "2026-04-03T05:52:44Z")
I’m not sure if I’m looking at the right or wrong thing or place, but Match 76 - which is the Round-of-32 game where Brazil is almost certainly going to end up - is going for just only $772 or so for Cat-3 seats. Why is Germany’s Round-of-32 going for $1,400 in the nosebleeds? I am looking at VividSeats, though, not the FIFA Resale site. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/268 "2026-04-03T11:34:02Z")
Good question. One thing I know is, FIFA has said that tickets sold through external vendors instead of their resale market may not be recognized by their app, and the app is needed to gain entry. I also know they keep 30% of the resale cost, so that is going to mark things up a bit. But still a good question. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/269 "2026-04-04T20:02:48Z")
The US is huge and wealthy and soccer is much more popular here than it was 32 years ago. Not sure what the least desirable game would be. Haiti vs Scotland, Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, Algeria vs Jordan, and Uzbekistan vs DRC don’t strike me as having appeal to neutrals, those are going for $600? Damn. Hoping to get people with serious FOMO. I guess you can rationalize that $600 is cheaper than flying to Morocco for the next one. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/270 "2026-04-04T23:57:35Z")
I once paid $200 for Stanley Cup Final nosebleed seats. Paying $1000 to watch a game between middling teams is money better spent at the local, in my view. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2026, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/271 "2026-04-05T09:03:21Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Haiti vs Scotland, Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, Algeria vs Jordan, and Uzbekistan vs DRC don’t strike me as having appeal to neutrals, those are going for $600? I have zero interest in buying tickets, but those kinds of games have always been one of the minor appeals of World Cups for me. I may very well watch one on TV, just for the oddity of it. Hmmm, Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, or Uzbekistan vs DRC? ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/272 "2026-04-09T23:50:06Z")
[Since all these uncivilized ferners’ don’t know how to tip.](https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/09/kc-restaurants-auto-gratuity-world-cup) > The Missouri Restaurant Association (MRA) is advising Kansas City restaurants to add automatic 20% gratuity to checks this summer as the city hosts the World Cup. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/273 "2026-04-09T23:57:57Z")
How can it be legal to automatically add tips? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/274 "2026-04-10T00:17:36Z")
Lots of restaurants in the US do it for parties of eight and more, occasionally for parties of six and more. As long as it’s disclosed somewhere on the menu, it’s legal. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/275 "2026-04-10T00:21:47Z")
Yeah, that slipped my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/276 "2026-04-19T07:05:05Z")
> [@Moonrise](#): > > Hmmm, Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, or Uzbekistan vs DRC? Speaking from the experience of the Womens World Cup a few year ago, Australian and New Zealanders (joint hosts) embraced the event and the atmosphere, and bought tickets to matches between teams which they probably couldn’t place on an atlas, and then just got into the groove of a good match. They chose the favourite, stuck with the underdog or just supported both with equal passion. Pretty much every team had a small-\>big local community who, of course, provided all the necessary colour and music (and flags), but would end up commanding half a packed stadium of supporters by the end. The pricing does seem ridiculous and exhorbitant, and will stop the family groups going, which was a wonderful feature of the FIFA WWC. That seems a completely effective disincentive for the curious, non-partisan football fan to want to turn up, and just pick a random team to support for a game or two. Has echoes of Atlanta Olympics’ unfettered gouging (if you’re too young for that, find the Simpsons episode where they get Hollywood to film Radioactive Man in Springfield for context). Nice one, Infantino! ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/277 "2026-04-19T11:14:31Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Football is one of the few spheres of life in which nobody holds any grudges against the United States 🙁 Give it time. The tournament hasn’t even started yet. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/278 "2026-04-19T20:58:04Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Football is one of the few spheres of life in which nobody holds any grudges against the United States 🙁 Mexico does. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/279 "2026-04-20T04:45:15Z")
There’s a lot of anger against the U.S. due to what’s felt as “Americanization” of the game, for example the planned Half-Time show in the final. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/280 "2026-04-20T07:40:23Z")
Do they plan to perform the national anthem too? I hope the guests bring vuvuzelas. No grudges? It’s about time! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=15)