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BlueWavePsych

(3,333 posts)

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

Tuesday

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

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

That was hapless reactivity Cosmocat Tuesday #7

Actually frees up rooms JustAnotherGen Tuesday #11

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

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

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

Hmm... OldBaldy1701E Tuesday #2

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

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

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

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

Those knowledgeable about FIFA popsdenver Tuesday #17

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

Don't want to get ICEd IronLionZion Tuesday #5

Reason #1 Botany Tuesday #8

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

eye bleaching warning bdamomma Tuesday #16

After reading all the replies, Delphinus Tuesday #9

This is standard inventory management. QueerDuck Tuesday #10

Very good point. SergeStorms Tuesday #12

Thank you AverageOldGuy Tuesday #13

That's the excuse they gave here BumRushDaShow Tuesday #14

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

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

Stop with the rational explanations! maxsolomon Tuesday #23

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

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

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

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

I love the USA............... Lovie777 Tuesday #29

I live in Philadelphia JBTaurus83 Tuesday #30

I live here too BumRushDaShow Tuesday #31

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

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

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

This could be driven by athletes and fans privately passing the word that they won't go to the US Blumancru 13 hrs ago #36