How FIFA Is Killing the World Cup
Summary
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in North America with 48 teams, up from 32. Some fans and analysts are unhappy about higher ticket prices, longer matches, and new features like a halftime show, saying these changes prioritize money over the spirit of soccer.Key Facts
- The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was watched by about 1.5 billion people worldwide.
- Qatar faced criticism for labor and human rights issues before hosting the 2022 tournament.
- The 2026 World Cup will be the first in 32 years held in North America and expand to 48 teams.
- Ticket prices for the 2026 event are higher, with FIFA controlling ticket sales directly and using dynamic pricing.
- FIFA added a halftime show for the final match, a new feature for the World Cup.
- Some fans feel the changes make the tournament too long, expensive, and focused on profit.
- The 1994 World Cup in the U.S. helped launch Major League Soccer (MLS), which now has 30 teams.
- FIFA says it offers lower-priced tickets, but fans say these are limited and don’t solve affordability issues.
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