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BlueWavePsych

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18. The truth about World Cup ticket demand and why USA's opener has struggled to sell out

Tue Mar 24, 2026, 10:25 AM

15 hrs ago

The unexpected sale was, some experts suspect, the clearest evidence yet that FIFA has perhaps overstated demand for some World Cup games — or, rather, that it has priced out segments of that demand.

It is not entirely clear why FIFA created this surprise sales window. One source suggested that the inventory could include tickets that had been offered to (and declined by) broadcasters and sponsors. Others assume it was tickets that FIFA wasn’t able to sell in its main lottery phase, the “Random Selection Draw,” which wrapped up last month.

And to people who’ve followed the World Cup ticketing process, the overarching conclusion was reasonably clear.

“They have a lot of inventory they need to move,” Barry Kahn, a former ticketing executive who helped pioneer dynamic pricing in sports, told The Athletic.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7080325/2026/03/02/fifa-world-cup-ticket-surprise-window-demand-usmnt/

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Highlight:

FIFA is canceling its reserved hotel rooms in World Cup host cities - but nobody is saying why [View all] BumRushDaShow 21 hrs ago OP

The same FIFA that awarded Trump a "peace prize"? SunSeeker 21 hrs ago #1

That was hapless reactivity Cosmocat 18 hrs ago #7

Actually frees up rooms JustAnotherGen 16 hrs ago #11

so does this mean Trump, the vomit spewing toddler-in-chief, agingdem 14 hrs ago #19

He's already eaten the chocolate, only the gold foil remains. eggplant 14 hrs ago #20

He probably stuck the foil on wall in the Oval Office. sheshe2 11 hrs ago #26

Hmm... OldBaldy1701E 19 hrs ago #2

FIFA is probably anticipating the likelihood that some athletes from some countries, Ocelot II 10 hrs ago #27

I wonder what they will do if most of the world decides to just ignore this event? OldBaldy1701E 6 hrs ago #34

FIFA should have pulled any games scheduled out of the US Old Crank 19 hrs ago #3

Agree 100%, instead they tried to make a deal with the devil. dem4decades 18 hrs ago #6

Those knowledgeable about FIFA popsdenver 15 hrs ago #17

Short term plan: suck up to Trmp. Long term plan: move away from Trmp. eppur_se_muova 18 hrs ago #4

Don't want to get ICEd IronLionZion 18 hrs ago #5

Reason #1 Botany 18 hrs ago #8

If they were going to move the World Cup events to Canada or Mexico FakeNoose 15 hrs ago #15

eye bleaching warning bdamomma 15 hrs ago #16

After reading all the replies, Delphinus 17 hrs ago #9

This is standard inventory management. QueerDuck 16 hrs ago #10

Very good point. SergeStorms 16 hrs ago #12

Thank you AverageOldGuy 16 hrs ago #13

That's the excuse they gave here BumRushDaShow 15 hrs ago #14

Yes. I think that the turnout from international visitors supporting their teams will be thin. QueerDuck 14 hrs ago #21

Well since this is the U.S. 250th/semiquincentennial BumRushDaShow 14 hrs ago #22

Stop with the rational explanations! maxsolomon 13 hrs ago #23

Sorry. I'll try to do better in the future... or worse... depending. QueerDuck 11 hrs ago #25

The truth about World Cup ticket demand and why USA's opener has struggled to sell out BlueWavePsych 15 hrs ago #18

"Hello, you've reached the FIFA TRUMP SUITES INTERNATIONAL. How can we help you?" littlemissmartypants 13 hrs ago #24

Would not be surprised if Fifa is going to pull all it's games from the u.s. mwmisses4289 10 hrs ago #28

I love the USA............... Lovie777 10 hrs ago #29

I live in Philadelphia JBTaurus83 10 hrs ago #30

I live here too BumRushDaShow 9 hrs ago #31

Well I believe Americans will come to the World Cup events FakeNoose 8 hrs ago #32

Dont mean to jinx it, but what if the American team falls out early? LiberalLovinLug 7 hrs ago #33

Hadn't thought of that possibility, but it certainly would be awful FakeNoose 4 hrs ago #35