English fans now really complaining by not even applying for tickets.
Is FIFA worried? Eh. They’ll just remarket the tix as “padless football (‘except shin guards’ in fine print)” to Muricans.
I think FIFA simply does not want an aftermarket where they get no profit. So, they plan to get theirs first (plus any possible resale fees), and have brokers lose their shirts when they cannot resell at the first-bought price.
God, America really has no shame sometimes.
This is appalling:
Meanwhile, disabled England fans have been advised that tickets for a carer or companion must be paid for.
It has been common practice for these tickets to be offered free of charge alongside wheelchair or easy-access seating at previous major football tournaments, including the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
IFYP
Well, America doesn’t really have shame either, although that shameless isn’t relevant for World Cup ticket prices.
It’s a shamelessness fest.
FIFA doesn’t seem to be suffering yet.
I suspect that nonsensical prize will lead to Infantino’s downfall after the WC.
I’m calling bullshit on that article. I don’t think mid-level or senior officials within FIFA are capable of being embarrassed, especially if there’s money to be exchanged into their personal bank accounts.
IFAB trying to speed up tactical delays:
I’m for it.
But, I’m extremely against this:
Trials of a “daylight” offside law championed by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will also continue, with Elleray confirming the Canadian top flight had expressed an interest in testing it.
Under the trial, a player would be onside if any part of their body which could score is level with the second-last defender.
Elleray said a modified trial, where a player is onside if any part of their torso is level, could also take place.
Wenger, now FIFA’s chief of global football development, believes the “radical solution” of daylight should be tried first, even though there have been questions about how it could impact on defender behaviour.
“For years offside has been about the most forward part of a player’s body, so to judge on the torso would be a change – and you have to decide what the torso is,” Wenger said. “We have to try the radical solution first and see if we need to come back from it.”
Sure, if every offside call will be decided by technology, great. But, IFAB Laws are used at every level of the game. This makes determining offside by eyesight – most of the world’s game – a lot more difficult.
How so? It’ll take some retraining, but I’d think it’d make it easier – if players are blocking your view of who is ahead, it’s onside.
That wouldn’t work for night games.
OK, so FIFA recognizes that its game is very popular, charges what it thinks is appropriate, and there is STILL demand for tickets. Loud people complain, but they seem to be, as usual, a loud minority.
Remember that they take a 15% cut via both buyers and sellers.
This is disgraceful. Many people abroad are sitting this one out as it has simply turned into a money grab by FIFA.
That’s fine. IF it comes down to too many people sitting out, the prices will adjust.
Big IF, though.
Now, it could be they are lying about it all cuz otherwise egg on their faces. I mean, we take them at their word there has been 500 million requests for tix. How many have actually been bought? Is anyone allowed to “audit” their claims?
No legs on this. People will think, “Yeah, YOU boycott! we will get tix for cheaper, maybe, probably not.”
I might make a drive-by of SoFi on a non-USA match, see what’s available at the last minute.
6/15: Iran v NZ
6/18: SUI v UEFA play-in.
6/21: Belgium v Iran
6/28 runner-up A v runner-up B. (I think I’m already busy.) Two “Groups of Death” if one is worried about who they play in the next round.
7/2: Winner H (Spain, probably) v Runner-up of Group J (Austria, or a slow-starting ARG).
7/10: QF.
I think the 500 million requests could be true, but I imagine it’s concentrated in the knockout rounds where the bigger matchups should happen. It could also be true at the same time that they have little demand for the group stages featuring matchups of minnows with huge prices.
I’m still counting on very few showing up for Australia v Paraguay in Santa Clara. No biggie if I miss it but I’ll be there if it’s a bargain.
I agree with that.
The reason I am so against this is that the WC is also about getting new people (not just existing fans) to come out and watch the games. And that usually happens in games were minnows are playing because you would usually find cheaper (affordable) tickets.