Mamdani, who is the current frontrunner ahead of November's general election, launched his Game Over Greed petition on Tuesday night, calling on FIFA to end dynamic pricing and set a price cap on resale tickets. He also called on soccer's governing body to set aside 15% of tickets for local residents at a discounted rate. Mamdani said thousands of people have signed the petition since it was launched Tuesday night.
The opening sales phase for the 2026 Fifa World Cup is the first chance for fans to secure tickets for the 23rd edition of the tournament. Organisers said almost 3.2 million tickets were sold for the 2022 finals in Qatar, generating $686 million in revenue. Tickets for the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico are certain to be hugely popular again, featuring 104 international matches across 16 cities between June 11 and July 19 2026.
Ecuador have booked their ticket to a second straight World Cup with ease, even after starting this qualifying cycle on the back foot with a three-point deduction. El Tri have been remarkably hard to break down, posting seven wins, eight draws and just two defeats from 17 outings. All eight stalemates have finished 0-0 - including their last four in succession - highlighting both their defensive discipline and their attacking shortcomings.
Not even the most blinkered South Korean fan would deny that Japan presents the United States with the strongest test that Asia has to offer. The Samurai Blue may not have a player like Christian Pulisic who has played regularly at elite clubs, but the roster is full of talents playing at high level, and was the first country other than the hosts to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
If Spain are to come anywhere close to their 2008-2010 feats and back up their European Championship title by adding the World Cup, then they have a central problem. Literally. It's a 6-foot-2, 118-pound problem by the name of Rodri Hernández: Ballón d'Or winner, leader, champion, enforcer, brainiac, and someone without whom, on top form, Spain simply won't lift their second Mundial trophy in New Jersey next July.
England will host Andorra and travel to Serbia in September as they seek to book their place at the 2026 World Cup, and they will play those matches without Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jack Grealish.
Soccer fandom is so much more than a team's wins and losses. For some, it's a vibrant way of life that defines their identity each and every day. That powerhouse dynamic will stoke unparalleled excitement around the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Per We Are Social, brands should plan accordingly as they prep for the ultra-high-profile event, which runs in 16 North American cities from June 11 to July 19 next year.
Commissioner Kionne McGhee has expressed concerns over Miami-Dade's budget, indicating that the approval of $46 million for World Cup expenses needs to be reconsidered as funding for local nonprofits falls short.
"It's a massive lesson for us, I think it's priceless," Pochettino said at his post-match press conference. "I think it was an amazing tournament to realise the way that we want to grow. It's also a very, very painful night. When you lose a trophy or lose a game, it's really, really painful. But the most important thing is to have our heads up."
Concacaf announced that players from Canada, United States and Mexico who receive a red card during the 2025 Gold Cup will serve a suspension during the team's next friendly match, as the disciplinary action does not carry over into the 2026 World Cup.
Both teams demonstrated significant strength in their recent matches, showing that they could be serious contenders for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, but concerns about early peak performances linger.
"International football has shown many times over the years that there are no easy games and although on paper people will think we should win that game [against Liechtenstein] comfortably, we still have to go out there and perform."