# 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:** 19
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/361 "2026-05-25T16:15:51Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > It’s hard to justify selling cheap seat tickets for $2000++ unless there is a quality halftime show. Does not compute. If your team plays the final of the WORLD CUP, you’ll pay thru the nose to see it (or prefer staying in your home country just in case there’s a sudden need to go to the Obelisk in the center of the capítal city for… reasons). If not? may be go see it if it’s reasonably priced and you happen to be there, the presence or absence of things unrelated to football is irrelevant. Worse, if I knew the half-time wait was to be longer than usual I would be _less_ interested in paying for watching the game. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/362 "2026-05-25T16:17:53Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > King Charles III was nowhere to be seen in the [England](https://youtu.be/bIF-kSOHs78?si=H3BXg3g4wonHx3Zb) announcemnt I’m glad England didn’t go in for this theatrical squad announcement bs. Though we do have [Harry Maguire and his family](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/05/21/harry-maguire-left-out-of-englands-world-cup-squad/) to make up for it 😉 Scotland did [though](https://x.com/Footballtweet/status/2056677876041126091?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet). ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/363 "2026-05-25T16:41:13Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > He’s a tennis player, and many tennis players also like and some are good at football He’s (AFAIK) the only baseball supporting pope in History (a life long White Sox) fan. Pope John Paul was a former goal keeper (and Liverpool fan), I always wondered if there was an obscure polish town that converted to protestantism because their local rivals keeper became Pope 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/364 "2026-05-25T16:41:39Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I wonder why… The one Cup game I will attend is in Vancouver. I _did_ have trouble finding a room (had to go with one across the bay). At first these news items\* (about lodgings not yet filled up in several cities) seemed odd, given my experience…but then it dawned on me: Canada! A country more welcoming than than the United States. \*That was over three weeks ago. I assume most hotels are booked up by now. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/365 "2026-05-25T16:43:09Z")
Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso were central to that squad. > [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > It’s hard to justify selling cheap seat tickets for $2000++ unless there is a quality halftime show. Group stage tickets are going for over $1k in the nosebleeds. Finals tickets look like they’re ~$10k in the upper deck, $15k behind the goals, and $50k along the sidelines. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/366 "2026-05-25T16:47:41Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Pope John Paul was a former goal keeper I wasn’t his biggest fan, to put it mildly, but this is what always made him sympathetic to me, because I used to be a goalie in my youth, too. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/367 "2026-05-25T16:49:22Z")
It turns out that actually being welcoming towards foreigners helps your tourism industry, nobody knew that. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/368 "2026-05-25T16:49:35Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Finals tickets look like they’re ~$10k in the upper deck, $15k behind the goals, and $50k along the sidelines. That’s bonkers, absolutely bonkers. They take away football from the people that way. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/369 "2026-05-25T16:52:33Z")
So my tickets to Curacoa-Ivory Coast came though this week (only available via a dodgy FIFA app, of course 🙄 ). I’ll be taking the train up from DC to Philly for the day with my daughter. It will be the first world cup game for either of us. I don’t believe in national football shirts as souvenirs, but the Ivory Coast shirts are pretty awesome this year, so maybe I’ll break that rule… [![](https://cdn.media.amplience.net/i/frasersdev/37141012_o_a7?v=20260324110207) ](https://cdn.media.amplience.net/i/frasersdev/37141012_o_a7?v=20260324110207) England ticket prices are starting to come down (I can’t imagine why, are people not keen on coming to the US or something? 🤷 ). They are still outrageous but below 700 bucks on Stubhub, if they continue to drop I might try see England play in the group stage. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/370 "2026-05-25T16:59:44Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Pope John Paul was a former goal keeper Obligatory joke klaxon: I bet he was good with crosses. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/371 "2026-05-25T17:02:19Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > England ticket prices are starting to come down (I can’t imagine why, are people not keen on coming to the US or something? 🤷 ). They are still outrageous but below 700 bucks on Stubhub, if they continue to drop I might try see England play in the group stage. This is my hope, that people get desperate to unload them as the tournament gets closer and I can see a game for a grand including transportation and hotel. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/372 "2026-05-25T17:11:33Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > It’s hard to justify selling cheap seat tickets for $2000++ unless there is a quality halftime show. The prices are hard to justify regardless, a halftime show is irrelevant. I’m not personally interested in football, but I’m English, I used to work at as a football steward, I have family who are obsessive football fans. I’m familiar with the sport. It’s a bit like saying tickets are $1000 higher than usual but you’ll get a squid to take home, it’s just a bit weird and it’s not something most of the actual fans are likely to think adds any value. Anyway, I’ll only wind up watching any at the pub if someone else wants to go. Or if Scotland reach the final. Heh. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/373 "2026-05-25T18:02:59Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I wasn’t his biggest fan, to put it mildly, but this is what always made him sympathetic to me, because I used to be a goalie in my youth, too. I remember, and it fits. Goalies are like drummers: batshit crazy. The good ones at least. You know I mean that in a friendly way, of course 😉 > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso were central to that squad. Right! Ramos central defender, Xavi Alonso central midfielder. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/374 "2026-05-25T18:20:30Z")
These ticket prices are the result of what the market will bear; nothing more, nothing less. If FIFA is pricing them so low that the buyer is compelled to turn around and sell it on the secondary market for a huge markup, then it’s FIFA’s problem for setting the shelf price too low. If they price them so high that only the wealthy can attend, then the wealthy will attend and the rest of the fans will watch on TV. Yes, it sucks that the average fan is priced out of tickets to most games. Yes, it sucks even more that the USA is such a shithole now that people are rethinking coming here for games. What that probably means is that low-interest games, like (spitballing here ) Haiti v. Morocco, will have empty seats, particularly at the top of the stadium and further away from the field. Unless the price comes down enough that Americans who wouldn’t have an interest in the game will buy tickets just to be a part of the experience. Again, it’s the free market at work. I don’t necessarily _like_ it (I’d love to be able to watch the USA opener at SoFi Stadium\*, but unfortunately for me, so do millions more Americans, most of whom have more money than I and are willing to pay through the nose for it). But I do _understand_ it. \*OK, so going to SoFi would require a plane ticket and a hotel room, but my point stands. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/375 "2026-05-25T18:28:02Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I remember, and it fits. Goalies are like drummers: batshit crazy. The good ones at least. You forgot left wingers, they’re crazy too. At least according to 70s football wisdom I grew up with. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/376 "2026-05-25T18:32:05Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > But I do _understand_ it. > […] my point stands. On very shaky ground. It seems that it is not possible for US Americans to understand that some things have a societal value beyond monetary terms like cost or price. But it’s OK, I am here to learn. Today I learned that a US American who claims not to know much about football also claims > [@HeyHomie](#): > > I’m so excited I’m about to burst. It’s going to be a long three weeks until Kickoff and does not mind not being able to attend the matches because they are too expensive but finds that normal. I am left scratching my head, let’s see where this ends. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/377 "2026-05-25T18:33:06Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Again, it’s the free market at work. See? That’s the problem right there, an unabashed free market without reins in the current USA, not only in football. But that’s surely a subject for another thread. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/378 "2026-05-25T18:55:56Z")
After all what’s more important than the Free Market Cup? certainly not some sport where 22 guys run after a ball… ---
**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:** [May 25, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/379 "2026-05-25T19:14:57Z")
The ticket prices for this tournament are double or triple what they have been previously. In Vancouver, parking a mile from the stadium is going for $300. “What the market will bear” ignores the billion dollars Canadian governments spent to subsidize this, assume all the risk and see its citizens pay outrageous prices for the benefit of a corrupt FIfA. The non-disclosure agreement and tripling of cost estimates are not great examples of transparency and free markets. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/380 "2026-05-25T20:13:46Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > These ticket prices are the result of what the market will bear; nothing more, nothing less Not even slightly, this is as about as much about the free market as the prices of appliances in a Soviet supermarket. These are national teams playing in a tournament put on at great expense by three national governments, and run by a corrupt unelected body that is as open to competition as the Soviet politburo. You could argue prices in the various big domestic football leagues the players pay in are a product of free market. But the world cup is not by any stretch of the imagination a free market [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=20)