Summer McIntosh shatters two more swimming world records at Canadian trials
Three-time Olympic champion Summer McIntosh has done it again.
The teenage swimmer set her second world record in three days at the Canadian trials on Monday night in Victoria, British Columbia.
McIntosh swam the 200-meter individual medley in 2 minutes, 5.7 seconds, breaking the record of 2:06.12 set by Katinka Hosszu of Hungary in 2015. McIntosh is the first female swimmer to finish under 2:06.
SUMMER MCINTOSH EARNS HER SECOND WORLD RECORD AT THE CANADIAN SWIMMING TRIALS 🤯👏
She breaks Katinka Hosszu's 200m individual medley world record with a time of 2:05.70. pic.twitter.com/BWe6sknnzR
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) June 10, 2025
The 18-year-old from Toronto had already broken the world mark in the 400 freestyle on Saturday, completing the race in 3:54.18 and winning by more than 13 seconds. McIntosh took more than a second off the old record of 3:55.38 set by Ariarne Titmus of Australia in 2023.
McIntosh broke her Canadian record in the 800 free on Sunday with a time of 8:05.07, which was just 0.95 of a second off the world record set by Katie Ledecky in May.
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'I knew that my training has been really good these past few months, and I knew that I could do something special,' McIntosh told the CBC.
McIntosh also holds the 400 IM world record, as well as the 400 free, 200 butterfly and 400 IM records in the short-course pool.
McIntosh and Ledecky are likely to meet in the 400 freestyle at the World Championships in Singapore on July 27. They also could battle in the 800 freestyle if McIntosh decides to swim in that race after bypassing it at the Paris Olympics.
(Photo of Summer McIntosh: Joris Verwijst / BSR Agency / Getty Images)
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Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Flashlights and glowing golf balls. How a NY man played for 35 hours in quest for world record
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Fox News
4 hours ago
- Fox News
The Road to World Cup 2026: What to expect from the biggest teams
The 2026 World Cup is one year away, and the countdown is on to see which teams will qualify for the largest-ever edition of the world's most popular sporting event. So far, only 13 of the 48 teams - including the co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States – are officially in. Argentina, winner of the 2022 World Cup, is also set. But even though the full field is still not complete – qualification will go through next March 2026 before the first game kicks off on June 11 – we're expecting the world's best sides to be vying for the trophy. There will be plenty of twists and turns as teams fight for those coveted spots, but we've identified 12 sides to keep an eye on, including the three co-hosts. These teams are packed with some of the world's biggest stars and include some of the heavy favorites to win it all. Let's dive into why we hope (and expect) to see them next summer. The road to '26: Argentina are still basking in the glow from their triumph in Qatar and almost every match this cycle has had the feel of a victory tour. Lionel Scaloni's men added another Copa América title to their collection and cruised through South American qualifying, securing a World Cup berth with five rounds to spare. The opportunity now beckons to become the first repeat World Cup winners since Brazil in 1962, while Scaloni can join Italy's Vittorio Pozzo as the only managers to win two World Cups. Not much has changed since Qatar, save for Ángel Di María's international retirement and the emergence of talented youngsters like Franco Mastantuono. Lionel Messi still commands the spotlight, though Argentina proved they are much more than Messi by dismantling Brazil this past March without their injured star. With prolific strikers Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, and a midfield built around the likes of Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister, Argentina has no intention of relinquishing their crown. - Mosse The keys to success: Where to begin? What we learned from the Copa América last year is that this is a team that doesn't need Lionel Messi to be a superstar to win trophies. Of course, Lionel Scaloni has said Lionel Messi can and will be part of the national team for as long as he wants. But Argentina has a laundry list of talent playing at the highest levels around Europe who could lead La Albiceleste to another World Cup title. As one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Emiliano Martinez has proven it for both club (Aston Villa) and country. He has a highlight reel and trophy cabinet to prove it. Alexis Mac Allister may only be 26, but he plays more like a veteran in the midfield for both Argentina and Liverpool, who he just helped win the Premier League. And then there's Julián Alvarez, the young and gifted forward who has been killing it for new club Atlético Madrid, where he scored 29 goals across all competitions this season. - Litman The road to '26: Brazil finally got their man in Carlo Ancelotti, hiring the five-time UEFA Champions League winner as the team's new manager earlier this month. But the Italian has plenty of work to do to repair the damage from what's been a disastrous cycle so far. A quarterfinal elimination at the Copa América and disappointing results in qualifying have Brazil at their lowest ebb in a very long time. Ancelotti's first priority is to build a midfield that can exert control over games. The coach who jumpstarted Vinícius Júnior's Real Madrid career must also solve the riddle of why the talented winger can't reproduce the same form for his country. And it wouldn't hurt to have a healthy Neymar back in the fold, though that seems less likely by the day. No non-Brazilian manager has ever won a men's World Cup with this team, so Brazil are hoping Ancelotti can make history next year. One positive omen is that Brazil captured the 1994 World Cup in the United States, ending a 24-year title drought. The five-time champions will go into next summer exactly 24 years removed from their last triumph. - Mosse The keys to success: The five-time champions have been in a rut – just last summer the squad was eliminated in the Copa América quarterfinal after losing to a 10-man Uruguay team in a penalty shootout. Despite an insanely talented and entertaining roster, the Seleção must find another level in order to make a deep run. That will require players like Vinícius (the 2024 Best FIFA Men's Player), Neymar (who has battled injuries and been out of the recent spotlight), Alisson Becker(one of the top goalkeepers in the world who just won the Premier League with Liverpool) and Raphinha (the Barcelona forward scored a career-high 34 goals in all competitions this season) to lead the way and shed any negative stigma currently associated with the team. - Litman The road to '26: Gareth Southgate's tenure ended with another near miss, as England finished runners-up to Spain at Euro 2024. The task now falls to Thomas Tuchel to guide the Three Lions to their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup. Tuchel is the third non-English coach this century for this team, following Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. The German will have plenty of talent at his disposal, particularly upfront with Harry Kane still one of the finest strikers on the planet. Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are capable of controlling the center of the park, while England's conveyor belt has produced another dazzling left-footed winger in Cole Palmer to go with Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka. There are questions at the back, but those didn't prevent the Three Lions from reaching the final of the last two Euros. England has only ever lifted the World Cup on home soil, and there would be a delicious irony if that drought ended in the very summer in which the United States is celebrating 250 years of independence. - Mosse The keys to success: One of the biggest storylines surrounding this team is the fact that we're now in the Thomas Tuchel era after Gareth Southgate's resignation. Another will be how desperate England wants to win a major tournament after falling short at Euro 2024. At the last World Cup, the Three Lions ran into a hot France team in the quarterfinal. If the team is to go further this time and win, it will need the best performances out of what is arguably one of the most talented and deep rosters in the world. There's Harry Kane, who won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich this season and is anxious to win a World Cup at his age (he'll be 32 next summer). Jude Bellingham, who is only 21 years old and has already won a LaLiga championship and Champions League with Real Madrid. Bukayo Saka, who has become Arsenal's most lethal attacker, will also be a key playmaker. - Litman The road to '26: France came agonizingly close to retaining the World Cup crown in Qatar, and their pedigree in recent decades is the envy of every other nation. Les Bleus have reached the final in four of the last seven World Cups, winning two and dropping the other two on penalties. Their focus is on reclaiming the trophy next year. Didier Deschamps will manage in his fourth and final World Cup, bringing the curtain down on a tenure that, remarkably, stretches back to July 2012. Such is the wealth of talent at Deschamps' disposal that Ousmane Dembele may very well win the Ballon d'Or this year and still end up playing second fiddle to Kylian Mbappe in 2026. Mbappé has found the back of the net 12 times in the last two World Cups, including a hat-trick against Argentina in the 2022 final. Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals is very much in sight, and while Mbappé was unable to prevent semifinal defeats to Spain in both Euro 2024 and last week's UEFA Nations League, the Real Madrid star has his eyes on the ultimate prize. - Mosse The keys to success: The thing about France is you can never count this team out. Who could forget the 2022 World Cup final when it seemed like Argentina had the trophy wrapped up until Kylian Mbappé scored that memorable hat -trick (only for Argentina to win on penalties) in what will probably always be considered the wildest World Cup final in history? Just check out the wealth of talent that nearly helped France pull off a stunning comeback against Spain in the UEFA Nations League semifinals last week. Mbappé scored, as did Rayan Cherki (linked with a move from Lyon to Manchester City) and Juventus striker Randal Kolo Muani. PSG duo Ousmane Dembélé and Desire Doue were also dangerous in the attack against Spain, hoping to capitalize on their recent Champions League success. We could potentially see this matchup once again in a World Cup final, and expect these stars to shine if Les Bleus are there. - Litman The road to '26: It seems hard to believe that Germany's 2014 final victory over Argentina represents their last World Cup knockout match. After crashing out in the group stage in both Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, the Germans will have plenty to prove next summer. The question is whether this squad boasts enough quality to recapture past glory. Germany fell to Spain in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals and to Portugal in the semifinals of last week's UEFA Nations League, both on home soil, and their trophy drought stretches back to the 2017 Confederations Cup. The good news is that both Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz have emerged as genuine stars who can command the spotlight in 2026. The pair will be counted on for inspiration, while veterans Antonio Rudiger and Joshua Kimmich should anchor the back line. But the lack of an elite center forward may prove costly, and the international retirements of Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos have robbed Germany of any links to their last era of success. - Mosse The keys to success: It's still hard to believe that four-time champion Germany failed to make it out of the group stage at the 2022 World Cup. For what it's worth, that squad didn't have Bayern Leverkusan's Florian Wirtz, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder who could be playing for Liverpool by the time he suits up for Germany at the 2026 World Cup. Wirtz is a versatile player who can play on either wing or as a No. 9 or No. 10 and scored the lone goal for Die Mannschaft in the 2-1 loss last week to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League. Additionally, Real Madrid center back Antonio Rüdiger is reliable in the back line and Marc-André ter Stegen, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, will play key roles if Germany is to make any kind of run next summer. - Litman The road to '26: The first step towards success in 2026 is qualifying for the tournament, something no Italian will take for granted after missing out on the last two World Cups. Provided the four-time champions can punch their ticket for 2026, Italy will then have to find some genuine solutions in attack. For all their reputation as the land of Catenaccio, Italy have produced some of the most gifted players in the world in recent decades, from Roberto Baggio to Alessandro Del Piero to Francesco Totti. But those players have seemingly vanished from Italian football, leaving the national team shockingly bereft of ideas in recent years. The rest of the picture is less gloomy. Sandro Tonali and Nico Barella are the lynchpins of a quality midfield, while Alessandro Bastoni will anchor a back line playing in front of the most in-form goalkeeper on the planet in Gianluigi Donnarumma. But more is needed if Italy are to make any kind of deep run next summer. - Mosse The keys to success: After the remarkable run to the Euro 2020 title, this team then lost a playoff semifinal match to North Macedonia that kept the Italians out of the 2022 World Cup (they didn't qualify for 2018, either). Perhaps the luck of Gli Azzurri will change. For one, they have Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, who had six clean sheets for PSG in the Champions League this season, including in the 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the final. They don't call him "The Wall" for nothing. Then there's Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella, the heart of the Italian midfield who could quite literally cover an entire pitch if he needed to. If Italy qualifies this time – and gets out of its group – these guys will be a major reason why. - Litman The road to '26: So much of the discourse around Portugal in recent years has centered on Cristiano Ronaldo's role, given that he failed to find the back of the net in the knockout stage of the last two World Cups and the last two Euros. But manager Roberto Martinez has continued to place his faith in Ronaldo and that likely won't change next summer. The 40-year-old is poised to play in his sixth World Cup, having scored in the previous five, and the good news is he'll be surrounded by a supporting cast sparkling with talent. Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Rafael Leao can all be counted on to provide inspiration, while Vitinha is one of the very best midfielders on the planet. Ruben Dias anchors the back line and Diogo Costa represents a safe pair of hands in goal. It all adds up to a team more than capable of making a deep run, as evidenced by their recent UEFA Nations League triumph. But much will depend on Ronaldo once again turning back the clock and delivering when it matters most. - Mosse The keys to success: The obvious answer here is Cristiano Ronaldo. We can't forget the drama that followed him at the 2022 World Cup – he was benched and later brought on as a sub; then he left the pitch in tears following Portugal's quarterfinal loss to Morocco. But he did score in Portugal's Nations League final victory over Spain, and is still the national team captain. He'll be 41 at the 2026 World Cup and nothing would mean more than to win the country's first-ever trophy in the tournament. Other key players for this Portugal side will be goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who also showed off his heroics against Germany in the UEFA Nations League, as well as PSG midfielder Vitinha, who just helped his club win the Champions League. - Litman The road to '26: The Netherlands remain the most accomplished soccer nation yet to win a World Cup. The Dutch have been runners-up three times and fell on penalties to eventual champions Argentina in the quarterfinals in Qatar. This cycle has already featured another near miss in the form of a semifinal exit at Euro 2024. Whether the Netherlands can finally get over the hump next year may depend on whether Cody Gakpo scores enough goals to take some of the pressure off the aging Memphis Depay. Neither one will be starved for service thanks to the emerging Xavi Simons, and the dynamic Denzel Dumfries flying down the wing. Frenkie de Jong, Tijjani Reijnders and Ryan Gravenberch provide plenty of quality in the midfield, while Virgil van Dijk is still an imposing figure at the back. The Dutch won't be lacking in talent, and the hope is that, if they once again arrive at the latter stages of a World Cup, the breaks might just go their way for a change. - Mosse The keys to success: The Netherlands have come oh-so-close to winning a World Cup – they've made the final three times – but to no avail. The Oranje were knocked out in Qatar by eventual champions Argentina following a dramatic quarterfinal penalty shootout, otherwise there's a good chance they would have made a deeper run. Regardless, a talented roster will be assembled, including captain Virgil Van Dijk, who some would consider to be the best center back in the world. The 6'5" Liverpool defender is strong on the ball and in the air, and is not a player an attacker wants to see coming. He's flanked by fullback Denzel Dumfries, who helped Inter Milan reach the Champions League final, and supported by Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, who controls the midfield. - Litman The road to '26: With all their success in other competitions of late, it's easy to forget that Spain have underwhelmed in each of the last three World Cups, crashing out in the group stage in 2014, followed by round-of-16 exits in both 2018 and 2022. But another early elimination seems unlikely. In fact, Spain might just be the clear-cut favorite in 2026. It has been a remarkable trophy haul so far in this cycle with the Spanish capturing the 2023 UEFA Nations League title, followed by both the Euros and the Olympic gold medal in 2024. A World Cup crown would be the icing on the cake, and it's difficult to bet against them given the presence of Lamine Yamal, a player displaying a level of preciousness not seen since Pele. The Barcelona teenager headlines an explosive attack that includes Nico Williams, while a midfield featuring Pedri and Ballon d'Or winner Rodri will likely ensure that Spain controls every game next summer. Spain captured the 2010 World Cup with one of the greatest teams of all-time, and this current group feels like worthy successors. - Mosse The keys to success: This team is the favorite to win the World Cup. The reigning European champions just seem to keep getting better and better as Lamine Yamal gets more experienced (probably not a coincidence!). The 17-year-old winger is coming off a stellar season with Barcelona where at times he looked like the best player in the world. Yamal plays free and fearless, and exudes joy on the pitch. He's supported by top talents like Manchester City midfielder and 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is currently coming back from a knee injury, as well as club teammate Pedri, who is lethal on the dribble and is one of the most creative midfielders in the game right now. - Litman The road to '26: After reaching the round of 16 in Qatar with the second-youngest squad in the tournament, expectations were supposed to be sky high for the United States in 2026. But concerns began to creep in after a disappointing group stage exit at last year's Copa América, which ultimately cost Gregg Berhalter his job as manager. His replacement Mauricio Pochettino then presided over defeats to Panama and Canada in the Concacaf Nations League, raising further doubts about whether this generation of players is golden after all. The good news is Pochettino has 12 months to address current problems and the potential still exists for a successful campaign on home soil. Christian Pulisic will need to be a genuine match-winner to make up for the lack of a prolific center forward. Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie should help form a strong midfield, while Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson can provide inspiration from the flanks. Question marks do remain at both center back and in goal. - Mosse The keys to success: There's a lot to be concerned about as it pertains to the 2026 World Cup co-hosts. After a disastrous Concacaf Nations League in March, which saw the USMNT flame out in losses to Panama and Canada, the team was heavily criticized for being entitled and not caring enough about playing for their country. To make matters worse, the team's biggest stars like Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson and Weston McKennie are among a larger group that will not play in this summer's Gold Cup, which is the last competitive tournament the team will play in before the World Cup since they don't have to qualify. How will new manager Mauricio Pochettino come up with a roster for next summer that is cohesive, understands each other's tendencies and can win tough games together? That will remain a massive question for the next 12 months. - Litman The road to '26: Mexico entered the last World Cup with visions of getting over the round-of-16 hump, but they failed to even make it out of the group stage. Tata Martino presided over that disastrous campaign, and the lack of success under him has prompted El Tri to turn back to a familiar face on the bench. Javier Aguirre will manage Mexico at a World Cup for the third time, having previously taken charge in 2002 and 2010. His experience paid off this past March in helping the team capture the Concacaf Nations League crown which, coupled with a Gold Cup title in 2023, has allowed Mexico fans to regain some of their swagger. The main catalyst for Mexico's improvement has been the return to health of Raul Jimenez, and the Fulham striker will likely be paired with Santiago Gimenez next year. The tournament co-hosts also won't be lacking support, and with Edson Alvarez providing leadership at the back, the pieces might just be in place for a surprising run. - Mosse The keys to success: If the U.S. is a co-host that's feeling uncertain about its World Cup preparation, Mexico is the opposite. El Tri was crowned Concacaf Nations League champs in March and is a favorite to dominate and defend its Gold Cup title this summer. Forwards Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan) and Raul Jimenez (Fulham) are building chemistry up top and should be an easy reason for fans to feel optimistic about 2026. Mexico has never made it past the quarterfinal stage of the World Cup, but if that attacking duo is clicking and in sync, things could get interesting. - Litman The road to '26: Canada's first World Cup appearance since 1986 didn't last very long, as they dropped all three games in Qatar, exiting at the group stage. But the Canucks get a second bite at the apple, this time as tournament co-hosts, and the arrival of American manager Jesse Marsch has raised hopes for a successful campaign. Marsch proved his worth by orchestrating a semifinal run at last year's Copa América, and a Concacaf Nations League win over the U.S. this past March also endeared him to fans. That victory did come at a cost with Alphonso Davies tearing his ACL, but the Bayern Munich standout is expected back well before the start of the World Cup. Davies headlines a talented generation that includes midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, and the prolific strike pairing of Jonathan David and Cyle Larin. David in particular could be one of next summer's breakout stars, and a strong performance from him would go a long way towards helping Canada confirm all their recent progress. - Mosse The key players to success: Canada won't have defender Alphonso Davies for this summer's Gold Cup while he continues to recover from the torn ACL he sustained vs. the United States in the Nations League, but he's certainly expected to return and be at full fitness in time for the 2026 World Cup. Davies, who is only 24, is a strong and speedy presence on the left side and has been a reliable defender for Bayern Munich since 2019. Elsewhere, Jonathan David is a player who could really use this summer's Gold Cup as an opportunity to boost his stock ahead of what will be an important 2026 for the dynamic forward. David has said he will leave French club Lille when his contract expires, and he'll be a huge get for a bigger European club. David, 25, is Canada's men's all-time leading goalscorer (32 goals in 61 games) and will have plenty of expectations put on his shoulders next summer. - Litman Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman. David Mosse is a researcher for FOX Sports and co-host of Alexi Lalas' State of the Union Podcast.
New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
World Cup 2026, one year to go: What still needs to be sorted?
The men's World Cup is one year away and 13 nations — including host countries the United States, Canada and Mexico — have secured their place at the expanded 48-team competition. Some 75 percent of the matches will be played in the U.S. across eleven cities. Mexico will host the opening matchday in Mexico City and Guadalajara, but the involvement of Canada and Mexico will cease after the round of 16, with all games from the quarter-finals onwards to be played in the U.S., inclduding the final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. Speaking on a media call with Fox Sports, former USMNT forward Landon Donovan said: 'I don't think there's any doubt that this will be the biggest sporting event in the history of the planet.' As the clock ticks down, The Athletic details just some of the most pressing challenges, reputational risks and supporter concerns about the U.S. portion of the competition, which will encompass 78 of the 104 games that will be played between June 11 and July 19 in the summer of 2026. On the surface, the return of President Donald Trump to the White House for a second term represents positive news for FIFA. In his Oval Office, sandwiched between an ornament of Abraham Lincoln and below a U.S. flag, we often see his replica of the World Cup trophy taking pride of place during presidential news conferences. He has also welcomed FIFA president Gianni Infantino into the White House and established a White House Task Force to organize the competition, entrusting Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York City mayor and Trump ally Rudy Giuliani, to direct the group. Inbound travel is crucial to the success of the competition for the U.S. host cities, with the hope being that the local, state and federal tax dollars that have been invested into the competition can be recouped through foreign visitor spending. Infantino claimed the Club World Cup and the World Cup would bring almost $50billion in economic impact. Advertisement However, the Trump administration has made deportations and a clampdown on illegal immigration key objectives. He signed executive orders banning travel by citizens from over a dozen countries — including Iran, which has qualified for the competition. While exemptions are made for major sporting competitions for athletes, support staff and immediate relatives, FIFA is coming to terms with the fact the travel bans threaten to exclude supporters from countries such as Iran, but also Venezuela and Haiti, both of whom remain in contention for the tournament. On top of that, a long-standing issue for the U.S. government has been visa wait times for tourists. This is particularly important in relation to the World Cup as fans may usually wait until after the draw — likely to be held in Las Vegas in early December — to book their travel. In Colombia, the wait is 15 months for an appointment, while it is 10 months in Ecuador and nine and a half months in Costa Rica. Cuts to the size of the state and in embassies have also provoked fears within the U.S. government that wait times may worsen while multiple sources within the U.S. Department of State previously told The Athletic there are also fears a 'non-insignificant' number of people who legitimately acquire tickets for the tournament will be refused visas. This is because the stringent vetting process for entry means possession of a World Cup ticket does not guarantee entry. Potential visitors must prove continuing ties with their home country and convince consular officers they do not intend to overstay their tourist visa. Alex Lasry, the CEO of the New York/New Jersey World Cup host committee, told The Athletic that foreign visitors are key for the tournament's success: 'The World Cup is not a domestic tournament. It is the World Cup. One of most important elements is having the world coming to the United States. That leads not just to the economic impact over 40 days, but five, 10, 15 years afterwards.' Speaking at an event co-hosted by the U.S. host cities on Monday, the Philadelphia host city executive Meg Kane said: 'We recognize we're planning within uncertainty. What we can say is that the current administration — while there are certain situations that we are watching, that we are certainly monitoring closely — has been extremely supportive of the World Cup.' This week saw protests against the government following raids by immigration and customs enforcement officials, which then led to President Trump calling the National Guard into Los Angeles. Jason Krutzsch, vice president, marketing and communications for the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, said: 'We're actively monitoring. It's all unfolding in real time. Our markets will be prepared to welcome them with open arms and deliver an exceptional experience.' New York executive Lasry insisted: 'When it comes to World Cup planning, we haven't seen any effects on tariff policy on World Cup.' Advertisement While both Infantino and the U.S. vice-president J.D. Vance have insisted fans will be welcome, the concern is whether the overall climate may impact the desire of travellers to spend their money in the country. Occupancy in U.S. hotel rooms was down around 1.6 percent during the week ending May 31 relative to the previous year, while the U.S Travel Association pointed The Athletic to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data from the 16 largest international airports (air travel only, including Mexico and Canada), which indicated inbound visits were down 4.7 percent in May 2025 versus May 2024. The U.S. cities are waiting to discover whether their costs for the World Cup will be offset by a combined $625m fund they have jointly requested from the federal government to go towards the security of a tournament that not only encompasses 78 games in the country but also fan festivals. The request was first made to the Biden administration but they have paid lobbyists from Hogan Lovells US LLP six-figure sums to convince the Trump administration, as well as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the White House, of the merits of their request. The funding is essential due to the security risks. A letter signed by 48 members of Congress in December 2024 warned the size of the tournament made it a 'uniquely attractive target for malicious actors'. It also said intelligence from the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center 'confirms an increase in threats targeting stadiums and public events'. President Trump has since said during a news conference that he supports 'whatever it takes' to guarantee security and that any money spent will be returned 'many-fold' in economic impact. Yet as of Monday, the cities were still to be informed as to whether they will receive the full $625m. Dan Corso, an executive at the Atlanta host committee, said he was confident 'based on the rhetoric, the discussion, and just having optimism that we believe it's going to come'. Advertisement The importance of federal security funding is widespread as host cities are eager to share the burden that is being placed on state and city taxpayers. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey has previously explained that MetLife Stadium has already spent $37m on upgrades to enable it to host the final and New Jersey will take on '$65m in costs for things like transit security for all hubs, bridges, tunnels, and airports'. He says New Jersey requires a $65m share of the requested $625m. Miami-Dade County, meanwhile, is forecasting costs of $46m between cash subsidies, police services and expenses associated with the cost of hosting seven World Cup matches at Hard Rock Stadium, according to publicly available documents. Miami were stunned last summer when poor organization, insufficient security personnel and ticketless fans at the Copa America final led to frightening scenes for supporters in attendance. While that tournament was a CONMEBOL production, FIFA's security measures are more stringent. Alina Hudak, president of the Miami host committee, said: 'We're very cognizant. It's something that we want to make sure never happens again. We're in a really good place.' The host city contracts are particularly onerous for the cities. They are responsible 'for safety, security and protection, including all related safety and security measures, for all individuals and entities attending, or being involved in the organization of, the competition'. This includes public areas, FIFA fan fest locations, airports, other transport hubs and vehicles used in competition, as well as fire protection and medical service measures, which must be provided free of charge to FIFA. FIFA also sets the prices and takes the revenue for ticketing and parking at venues, although FIFA does pay the stadium a rental fee. Host cities are able to sell sponsorships and take revenues around fan festivals and other activations held across their cities, but not at the stadium. These challenges leave host cities requiring a funding from the federal taxpayer, state and city subsidies, private partners and sponsorships. The situation is acute in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom did not include any fresh state funding for the World Cup in his budget earlier this year. The governor's spokesperson Robert Salladay told FOS this was due to 'pressure on the budget from Trump administration chaos, and the need to protect critical state programs'. He added the state 'expects to assist the Host Committee and local authorities with appropriate existing resources'. Advertisement There may also be jeopardy for the San Francisco Bay area, where the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to reimburse the costs of the matches being held in Santa Clara for approved expenses that are not recouped by the host committee through private investment or sponsorships. The San Francisco Chronicle has reported there may be as much as $37m at risk but some of this has already been offset by host city partnerships with EA SPORTS, Kaiser, PNC Bank and Levi's. Supporters traveling to the World Cup will be at the mercy of FIFA's dynamic pricing, under current plans by the competition organizers, which means the prices will fluctuate based on demand. This can sometimes work to the advantage of the consumer — such as the tumbling prices for certain games during the FIFA Club World Cup this summer — but demand for the World Cup, a competition that is more familiar and popular with both a domestic and international audience, is expected to be much higher. FIFA has not announced pricing for the tournament in 2026 but it set prices very high for the Club World Cup after the draw last December. Exceptions will be made for a small amount of fixed pricing for the per-game allocation provided to football federations around the world whose teams will be competing in the tournament, but general sale tickets will be at the mercy of market forces. For now, the only ticket packages available for the World Cup have been limited to hospitality offerings that feature multiple games. Prices for those start at $3,500 per person, soaring to $73,200. For the last World Cup in the U.S. in 1994, ticket prices ranged from $25 to $475 and drew over 3.5 million fans in a 24-team tournament. The Athletic has reported that, in the 'United' bid for the U.S., Canada and Mexico to co-host the World Cup, the countries submitted 'a ticketing revenue estimate of $1.8 billion', which it claimed was 'conservative.' FIFA announced in March that it has a revenue target of $13billion for the four-year cycle culminating in 2026, up from $7.6billion between 2019 and the men's World Cup in Qatar in 2022. This underlines how FIFA sees the scale of their money-making opportunity in the North American market. Chris Canetti, the president of Houston's World Cup bid for 2026, told The Athletic: 'Every single game is going to sell out. My analogy would be how, in America, we go to the Super Bowl no matter who's playing in it. It's such a big event. It's not about who the teams are that are in the Super Bowl or the Final Four. The World Cup is bigger than all of them.' Former USMNT forward Donovan told The Athletic: 'Sporting events are expensive, man. I live in San Diego and to go to a Padres game and sit in good seats, it's hundreds and hundreds of dollars plus parking. That's just an American thing. I can't control that. Would I like to see it more accessible? Of course, we all would, but the market dictates what prices are gonna be.' Advertisement Tim Zulawski is the president of AMB Sports & Entertainment, which is the ownership group of Atlanta's host site at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He told The Athletic they do not have any input into the ticket prices of the World Cup. They have, however, insisted upon fair pricing for food and drink for supporters. 'A non-negotiable for any promoter including FIFA is that our concession pricing stays as it is,' Zulawski said. Ticketing will not be the only sector which works dynamically, with ride-share apps, airlines and hotels likely to work similarly. At previous World Cups, such as in Qatar in 2022, free public transport was available if supporters had a valid match ticket. Such subsidies are easier to secure in a state where policy is largely decided by the Qatari Emir, but much harder for FIFA to get over the line when negotiating with multiple host venues. Some venues are not easily accessible via public transport, such as Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Levi's Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area is around 43 miles from San Francisco, while the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is around 18 miles from Dallas, and the Gillette Stadium is 25 miles from Boston. Car parking costs for sports events in the U.S. can be hugely expensive, with fees for games at the Copa America in the U.S. last summer as high as $132. On Monday, The Athletic asked several host cities whether transit will be made freely available for fans to and from the venues, and very different answers emerged. In Dallas, their host city executive Monica Paul confirmed buses and rail systems would be made free to fans, with 100 complimentary buses being laid on. Paul said: 'We feel like it's important to provide that experience to our visitors.' Advertisement However, Houston does not have plans to provide free transport, with their executive Canetti saying any surplus profits will be invested in legacy projects. Cities with downtown locations including Atlanta and Seattle are not committing to make their transit free. Seattle, whose options will include water taxi, ferry, monorail, light rail, buses and scooters, say they are creating a multi-day transit pass for fans, but fares are yet to be decided. Atlanta are of the view that their city's transit and walkability means it is not necessary to cover the costs. New York and New Jersey also do not intend to cover transit costs for fans to MetLife Stadium. One argument against covering transit costs is that it would be unreasonable to cover costs for individuals capable of affording expensive World Cup tickets, when the ordinary person living in host cities pays a full fare to go about their daily life. The New York host committee executive Lasry says his focus is on preparedness: 'What's gonna keep me up at night is, 'How do you just make sure that you're prepared for the unknown? How do we make sure over the course of 40 days, we are ready?We're not arrogant enough to think that a bus won't ever break down, but how are you prepared for that contingency? How are you going to make sure that your response is quick, transparent and seamless?' (Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic; Maddie Meyer, Anna Moneymaker, Jim WATSON / AFP, / Simon Bruty/Anychance / Getty Images)
