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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

Mar 24

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 Mar 24 OP

The same FIFA that awarded Trump a "peace prize"? SunSeeker Mar 24 #1

That was hapless reactivity Cosmocat Mar 24 #7

Actually frees up rooms JustAnotherGen Mar 24 #11

so does this mean Trump, the vomit spewing toddler-in-chief, agingdem Mar 24 #19

He's already eaten the chocolate, only the gold foil remains. eggplant Mar 24 #20

He probably stuck the foil on wall in the Oval Office. sheshe2 Mar 24 #26

Hmm... OldBaldy1701E Mar 24 #2

FIFA is probably anticipating the likelihood that some athletes from some countries, Ocelot II Mar 24 #27

I wonder what they will do if most of the world decides to just ignore this event? OldBaldy1701E Mar 24 #34

FIFA should have pulled any games scheduled out of the US Old Crank Mar 24 #3

Agree 100%, instead they tried to make a deal with the devil. dem4decades Mar 24 #6

Those knowledgeable about FIFA popsdenver Mar 24 #17

Short term plan: suck up to Trmp. Long term plan: move away from Trmp. eppur_se_muova Mar 24 #4

Don't want to get ICEd IronLionZion Mar 24 #5

Reason #1 Botany Mar 24 #8

If they were going to move the World Cup events to Canada or Mexico FakeNoose Mar 24 #15

eye bleaching warning bdamomma Mar 24 #16

After reading all the replies, Delphinus Mar 24 #9

This is standard inventory management. QueerDuck Mar 24 #10

Very good point. SergeStorms Mar 24 #12

Thank you AverageOldGuy Mar 24 #13

That's the excuse they gave here BumRushDaShow Mar 24 #14

Yes. I think that the turnout from international visitors supporting their teams will be thin. QueerDuck Mar 24 #21

Well since this is the U.S. 250th/semiquincentennial BumRushDaShow Mar 24 #22

Stop with the rational explanations! maxsolomon Mar 24 #23

Sorry. I'll try to do better in the future... or worse... depending. QueerDuck Mar 24 #25

The truth about World Cup ticket demand and why USA's opener has struggled to sell out BlueWavePsych Mar 24 #18

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

Would not be surprised if Fifa is going to pull all it's games from the u.s. mwmisses4289 Mar 24 #28

I love the USA............... Lovie777 Mar 24 #29

I live in Philadelphia JBTaurus83 Mar 24 #30

I live here too BumRushDaShow Mar 24 #31

Well I believe Americans will come to the World Cup events FakeNoose Mar 24 #32

Dont mean to jinx it, but what if the American team falls out early? LiberalLovinLug Mar 24 #33

Hadn't thought of that possibility, but it certainly would be awful FakeNoose Mar 24 #35

This could be driven by athletes and fans privately passing the word that they won't go to the US Blumancru Mar 25 #36