One year from the largest World Cup ever, many questions unanswered on tickets and security
NEW YORK — A year from the largest World Cup ever, there has been no announcement on general ticket sales, prices for most seats, location of a draw or security arrangements as FIFA has mostly avoided disclosing details of an event set for 16 stadiums across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
There is uncertainty about whether fans from some nations will be welcome — 11 of the venues are located in the U.S., where all matches will be played from the quarterfinals on.
Security is a concern, too. At the last major soccer tournament in the U.S., the 2024 Copa America final at Miami Gardens, Florida, started 82 minutes late after spectators breached security gates.
'That was certainly a reminder and a wake-up call if anybody needed it that those types of things are going to be used in terms of the ultimate assessment of whether this World Cup is successful,' said former U.S. defender Alexi Lalas, now Fox's lead soccer analyst.
U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens from 12 nations exempted athletes, coaches, staff and relatives while not mentioning fans. Vice President JD Vance made what could be interpreted as a warning on May 6.
'Of course everybody is welcome to come and see this incredible event. I know we'll have visitors probably from close to 100 countries. We want them to come. We want them to celebrate. We want them to watch the game,' he said. 'But when the time is up they'll have to go home. Otherwise they'll have to talk to Secretary Noem,' he added, speaking alongside Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
The 1994 World Cup sparked the launch of Major League Soccer with 12 teams in 1996, and $50 million in World Cup profits seeded the U.S. Soccer Foundation, tasked with developing the sport's growth. MLS now has 30 teams, plays in 22 soccer specific stadiums and has club academies to grow the sport and improve talent.
Next year's tournament will include 104 games, up from 64 from 1998 through 2022, and the 11 U.S. stadiums are all NFL homes with lucrative luxury suites and club seating. It also will be the first World Cup run by FIFA without a local organizing committee.
'The legacy initiative of 2026 is around how we ensure that soccer is everywhere in this county,' U.S. Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson said. 'How do we ensure that every American can walk, ride their bike or take public transit to a safe place to play soccer? How do we make it to where every school in America has soccer accessible to their students? And how do we make it to wherever every American can truly see themselves in the game?'
Interest in soccer has vastly increased in the U.S., with England's Premier League averaging 510,000 viewers per match window on NBC's networks last season and the European Champions League final drawing more than 2 million viewers in each of the past five years on CBS. However, CBS broadcast just 26 of 189 Champions League matches on TV in 2024-25 and streamed the rest.
Will visa delays and border fears keep international fans away from the Club World Cup in the US?MLS drew about 12.2 million fans last year, second to 14.7 million in 2023-24 for the Premier League's 20 teams, but MLS has largely disappeared from broadcast TV since starting a 10-year contract with Apple TV+ in 2023. Apple spokesman Sam Citron said the company does not release viewer figures.
In a fractured television landscape, different deals were negotiated by FIFA, UEFA, MLS, the NWSL, the USSF and the five major European leagues.
'You basically have over 2,800 game windows per season aired in the United States and so that requires distribution largely on streaming platforms like Paramount+ or ESPN+, but it's difficult for new fan adoption and it makes reach kind of challenging,' said Gerry Cardinale, managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners, which holds controlling interests in AC Milan and Toulouse and owns a non-controlling stake of Fenway Sports Group, parent of Liverpool. 'Kids today are getting weaned on Premier League football and Serie A football, and when you watch that as a product, it's hard for MLS to compete.'
The 1994 World Cup, a 24-nation tournament, drew a record 3.58 million fans for 52 matches. Ticket prices ranged from $25-$75 for most first round games and $180-$475 for the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
FIFA, which has about 800 people working at an office in Coral Gables, Florida, says it will announce information on general tickets in the third quarter. It wouldn't say whether prices will be fixed or variable.
Hospitality packages are available on FIFA's website through On Location. For the eight matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, including the final on July 19, prices range from $25,800 to $73,200 per person.
FIFA appears to be using variable pricing for this year's Club World Cup, played at 12 U.S. stadiums from June 14 to July 13, and some prices repeatedly have been slashed. Marriott Bonvoy, a U.S. Soccer Federation partner, has been offering free tickets to some of its elite members.
FIFA's media relations staff would not make FIFA president Gianni Infantino available to discuss the tournament.
Ahead of the 1994 World Cup, FIFA announced in May 1992 the draw would take place at Las Vegas on Dec. 18 or 19, 1993. FIFA has not revealed plans for this year's draw but appears to be planning for Las Vegas on Dec. 5.
Regular ticket sales began in February 1993 for the U.S. soccer family and general first- and second-round sales started that June. Fans submitted lottery applications in October 1993 for games from the quarterfinals on.
While not detailing ticketing plans for next year's tournament, FIFA is spreading it beyond the host cites and lists about 60 possible base camps for teams to use, paired with hotels. Some are fancy — The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia — and some more Spartan — the Courtyard by Marriott Mesa at Wrigleyville West in Arizona.
Thousands of arrangements must be coordinated. Major League Baseball is drawing up its schedule to ensure that the four teams whose ballparks share parking lots with World Cup stadiums — in Arlington, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Philadelphia; and Seattle — won't play home games on the dates of tournament matches.
Boris Gartner, CEO of La Liga North America, a joint venture of the Spanish soccer league and Relevent Sports, said the 2026 World Cup should be viewed as just another step in the sport's long-term growth in the United States.
'If you have a clear understanding of the market and the audience, a clear understanding of the value that these properties bring to media companies, and you mix content with a commercial strategy, with the right media distribution strategy, this is something that will continue to grow over the next two decades,' he said. 'If more people are watching the NWSL, more people are going to be interested in soccer that could potentially end up watching a Bundesliga game or La Liga game.'
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CNN
16 minutes ago
- CNN
DHS defends social media post calling for public to help ICE locate ‘all foreign invaders'
On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security posted a striking graphic on its official X account. Uncle Sam, a symbol of American patriotism, is depicted nailing a poster to a wall that reads, 'Help your country… and yourself.' Written underneath the poster is the sentence, 'REPORT ALL FOREIGN INVADERS,' and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement hot line. The post — which DHS and the White House also posted to Instagram — prompted a flood of criticism, with some social media users comparing the post to authoritarian propaganda. On Thursday, at least two far-right X accounts claimed to have a hand in creating or disseminating the image before it was shared by DHS. A source within DHS told CNN the agency did not create the graphic. The DHS's Uncle Sam post has more than 81,000 likes and comes as immigration protests roil Los Angeles and other cities around the country, amid a deportation crackdown by President Donald Trump and DHS. And it marks an escalation in the agency's communication strategy, after weeks of using social media to attack or mock perceived enemies, promote ICE arrests and ridicule media reports it disagrees with. In another recent post, DHS responded to a comment appearing to question a popular X user's immigration status with a meme of a character with magnifying glasses. In May, DHS also said it was reviewing a reality TV show pitch where immigrants would compete for US citizenship, which an agency spokesperson said at the time was in the early stages of vetting and had not yet been approved or denied. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later told a Senate committee that she had 'no knowledge' of a reality show plan. The Uncle Sam graphic is reminiscent of media used previously by other governments to provoke fear, especially of immigrants, said Elisabeth Fondren, a journalism professor at St. John's University who has studied government propaganda and communications during war times. 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Hamilton Spectator
26 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada may lose access to Peace Garden airport
INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDEN – David Pedersen drives his truck past border customs, turns up a grassy hill and stops at a ramshackle piece of tarmac on the edge of the country. Opening his car door, Pedersen drops his feet down on the warped pavement. There it is, he says: this piece of tarmac is Canada's contribution to the International Peace Garden Airport. The paved ground on Canada's side of the airport is smaller than the footprint of a community tennis court. It's not much to look at, but it allows Canada to use the North Dakota airstrip next door. Canadians can land at the airstrip, taxi the aircraft over the border to the pavement chunk in Canada, park, visit the gardens, clear customs, and take off again. But the airstrip and the taxiway, being just south of the border, are paid for by the United States. The future of this relationship, however, is in jeopardy. Canada will lose access to the airport in next eight to 15 years unless some department in the country partners with North Dakota on a rebuild. Due to federal regulations, North Dakota will need to reconstruct some of its tarmac and that will directly cut off access to Canada's slab of pavement. The Americans are looking for someone to deal with in Canada to build a new access, however they've failed to connect with a single agency willing to partner on the project. The regulation failure is that the taxiway that gives access to Canada is not at a 90-degree angle to the landing strip, according to Kyle Wanner, director of aeronautics for North Dakota, who added that Canada's pavement is too close to part of the airstrip. As a result, Canada's slab of pavement at the airport needs to move, or it won't be connected in the future. 'What will happen here is, during the short term, we'll still have access to Canadians on that taxiway moving forward,' Wanner said. 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'While the minister's office has received a proposal regarding a future expansion to the airport at the International Peace Gardens, the proposal was referred to the federal government who have sole jurisdiction over that particular airport,' wrote press secretary Caedmon Malowany on behalf of Minister of Municial and Northern Relations Glen Simard. In an email to the Sun, a departmental spokesperson for Transport Canada said that the decision over this land, such as to issue permits or approve land use applications, would fall to local governments. 'Land ownership and land use decisions are typically handled by municipal or provincial governments,' wrote the spokesperson to the Sun. 'We recommend contacting the Municipality of Boissevain–Morton, and or the Province of Manitoba.' The spokesperson said that should a project be proposed at the airport that would affect aviation safety or operations, the agency would review to ensure complaince with regulations. On his way home from the airport, Pedersen said the recent lack of upkeep at the International Peace Gardens Airport is a symbol showcasing that the Province of Manitoba overlooks airports and their significance. He said it's one of a trend across Manitoba. 'This is a symbol of a bigger, greater, problem,' Pedersen said. In the RM of Piney, a Canada-U.S. airport was discontinued in December of 2024 due to a lack of funding on the Canadian side, Pedersen said. He argued that it was a loss as the airport could have been used this year to assist wildfire efforts in the east of the province, giving surveillance planes somewhere out of which to operate. 'Especially in Manitoba, the provincial government is ignoring the contribution that the southern airports make,' he said. 'What I visualize is that we will lose more airports.' Pedersen promotes aviation in the south of the prairies, asserting that airports are crucial for emergency responses such as wildfires and medical evacuations, and that the province does not invest enough in the asset. Adam Penner, owner of Harv's Air Pilot Training near Winnipeg, said he agrees that there is a lack of funding for airports in Manitoba, and worries the Peace Garden airport will end similarly to the loss in the RM of Piney. 'It's the same kind of vibe,' Penner said. 'The Canadians can't decide who's responsible for it, and nobody does anything, it's a real shame.' He said the Peace Gardens airport is a beautiful place to visit. The gardens are nearby, as well as the value of being able to clear customs going north and south of the border. Penner uses the airstrip on business roughly 25 times a year, including for trips to Minot, N.D. The United States this summer is spending $3.5 million to rehabilitate all airport pavement on the U.S. side of the border. Workers cannot cross over to Canada due to jurisdictional issues — and North Dakota has been unable to find a partner in Canada to organize the project. 'I'm a bit embarrassed,' said Penner. 'The Americans can resurface the entire runway, and we can't even get our act together on a little ramp.' Wanner told the Sun that North Dakota is seriously interested in making something work between the two countries, and that there is still years to organize before the airport performs reconstruction that would cut off Canada's existing parking pad. 'I appreciate any positive publicity on the situation,' said Wanner when reached by the Sun. 'I would be happy if somebody in government would actually pay the phone call and say, 'Hey, let's figure this out.'' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup: How to watch, soccer tournament schedule, USMNT games and more
Products featured in this Yahoo article are selected by our shopping writers. We will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off in the U.S. this weekend. Just a year out from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Gold Cup gives fans a chance to check in on the top teams of the region. The tournament kicks off this Saturday, June 14, with the Mexico vs. Dominican Republic game. The U.S. men's national soccer team (USMNT) plays its first game on Sunday, June 15, against Trinidad and Tobago. Here's what you need to know about tuning into the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, including the full group stage TV schedule, how to watch Gold Cup games without cable and more. How to watch the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Dates: June 14 - July 6 Advertisement TV channels: FS1, FS2, FOX (USMNT games and final) Streaming: DirecTV, Fubo and more What channel are Gold Cup games on? The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup will air across FS1, FS2 and FOX. FS1 will be the main place to catch games, FS2 will host some games, and FOX will air all the USA games and the Gold Cup Final. How to watch the CONCACAF Gold Cup without cable: Watch FS1, FS2, FOX and more Fubo TV Starting at $65 for your first month, Fubo TV's Pro tier gives you access to FS1, FS2, FOX and 100+ more live channels. The live TV streaming service is definitely pricey, but it still leaves you with major savings compared to a traditional cable package and will get you access to the Gold Cup. Fubo subscribers also get unlimited cloud DVR storage. The platform offers a free trial period, and you can currently get $20 off your first month. Try free at Fubo How to watch the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a VPN: If you don't have FOX and don't want to add another streaming-service subscription to your life, you could always try tuning in with the help of a VPN. In Central America, all CONCACAF Gold Cup matches will stream live on Disney+, which you may already subscribe to. In the U.K., many Gold Cup matches will stream free with an account on CONCACAF Go and via YouTube. Advertisement Not in either of those places right now? You can still tune in like you are with the help of a VPN. Stream CONCACAF Gold Cup games ExpressVPN The CONCACAF Gold Cup will stream on Disney+ in Central America and free via YouTube in the U.K. ExpressVPN offers "internet without borders," meaning you can tune into the tournament from anywhere. All you'll need to do is sign up for ExpressVPN, change your server location to the U.K. or Central America and find games streaming live on YouTube, via CONCACAF Go or Disney+. ExpressVPN's added protection, speed and range of location options make it an excellent choice for first-time VPN users looking to stretch their streaming abilities, plus it's Engadget's top pick for the best streaming VPN. New users can save 49% when they sign up for ExpressVPN's 12-month subscription. Plus, the service offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you're nervous about trying a VPN. From $4.99/month at ExpressVPN ● Group Stage: June 14 to 24 ● Quarterfinals: June 28 to 29 ● Semifinals: July 2 ● Final: July 6 Who is playing in the 2025 Gold Cup? The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup will feature 16 national teams: the best 15 from the CONCACAF region, who qualified through the latest edition of the CONCACAF Nations League or the 2025 Gold Cup Prelims, along with one invited guest team, Saudi Arabia. Here's who is playing in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Group A: Mexico, Costa Rica, Suriname, Dominican Republic Advertisement Group B: Canada, Honduras, El Salvador, Curacao Group C: Panama, Jamaica, Guatemala, Guadeloupe Group D: United States, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage schedule: All times Eastern. Saturday, June 14, 2025 Mexico vs. Dominican Republic: 10:15 p.m. (FS1) Sunday, June 15, 2025 United States vs. Trinidad and Tobago: 6 p.m. (FOX) Haiti vs. Saudi Arabia: 8:15 p.m. (FS1) Costa Rica vs. Suriname: 11 p.m. (FS1) Monday, June 16, 2025 Panama vs. Guadeloupe: 7 p.m. (FS1) Jamaica vs. Guatemala: 10 p.m. (FS1) Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Curaçao vs. El Salvador: 8:15 p.m. (FS1) Canada vs. Honduras: 10:30 p.m. (FS1) Advertisement Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Costa Rica vs. Dominican Republic: 7 p.m. (FS1) Suriname vs. Mexico: 10 p.m. (FS1) Thursday, June 19, 2025 Trinidad and Tobago vs. Haiti: 6:45 p.m. (FS1) Saudi Arabia vs. United States: 9:15 p.m. (FOX) Friday, June 20, 2025 Jamaica vs. Guadeloupe: 7:45 p.m. (FS1) Guatemala vs. Panama: 10 p.m. (FS1) Saturday, June 21, 2025 Curaçao vs. Canada: 7 p.m. (FS1) Honduras vs. El Salvador: 10 p.m. (FS1) Sunday, June 22, 2025 Saudi Arabia vs. Trinidad and Tobago: 7 p.m. (FS1) United States vs. Haiti: 7 p.m. (FOX) Mexico vs. Costa Rica: 10 p.m. (FS1) Dominican Republic vs. Suriname: 10 p.m. (FS2) Advertisement Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Panama vs. Jamaica: 7 p.m. (FS1) Guadeloupe vs. Guatemala: 7 p.m. (FS2) Honduras vs. Curaçao: 10 p.m. (FS1) Canada vs. El Salvador: 10 p.m. (FS2) More ways to watch the CONCACAF Gold Cup:
