World Cup 2026...........'draw'....

[Kingdom]

Do we have any idea where our potential games will be played yet? Mexico surely, but the other ones? I seem to remember that in 2002 we were the only country that had to up sticks after the first round and catch a flight for the next round so we could be dicked around again. Anyone better informed about this?

Whoever wins Group A stays in the Azteca until the quarter-finals, then it's on to Miami, then Atlanta.

Runner-up goes to So-Fi (LA), then Houston, then New England, then Dallas.

Lets call a spade a spade here, it's a ****ing ****-show of a tournament in no way in favour of attending fans.

[SkStu]

If Prague then Dublin
If Dublin then Guadalajara, Atlanta, Mexico City
If Guadalajara, Atlanta, Mexico City, then Kingdom^^

[Kingdom]

If Prague then Dublin
If Dublin then Guadalajara, Atlanta, Mexico City
If Guadalajara, Atlanta, Mexico City, then Kingdom^^

If Skstu ^^^, rib removals abound...

[Fixer82]

Are they keeping groups in the same time zones? I know in 1994 we had to got to Florida but at least there was no jetlag/time difference just flying straight south from NJ to Florida

[EalingGreen]

Are they keeping groups in the same time zones? I know in 1994 we had to got to Florida but at least there was no jetlag/time difference just flying straight south from NJ to FloridaNope

For example, were NI to qualify (I know, I know), the first game would be vs Canada in Toronto (12 June); then to the West Coast to Los Angeles to face Switz (18 June); then North to Seattle to play Qatar (24 June).

The truly bonkers thing is that the other venue in Canada is Vancouver i.e. a (relatively) short hop down the West Coast to Seattle, and a bit further down the coast to LA, with all in the same time zone.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/fd12/live/0450c070-d418-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.png.webp

Stadium Guide here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/extra/i4yxbkxake/world-cup-2026-stadium-guide

[ifk101]

Times and venues are all preliminary, no? If he moves venues, games could conceivably kick off at the same time (as with the recent 48 team U17 WC). Anyways, long way to go for us to worry about this and who knows, Europeans could be banned from entering the 4th Reich come next June. Absolutely bonkers draw btw.


"Football fans heading for the 2026 World Cup, as well as other British travellers planning visits to the US, will soon have to provide details of their social media activity going back five years."

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/us-tourist-social-media-check-esta-b2881584.html

Guessing my post above gets me banned.

[sidewayspasser]

Well, if you want to travel to Trumpistan (does that term get me banned too?), you should maybe not let them know the details of your foot.ie account. How likely is it that they'll find it, given that your username doesn't give away your identity?

[tetsujin1979]

eh, I'm ok with it.

[Fixer82]

This World Cup is going to be one massive rip-off.

[pineapple stu]

Aren't all World Cups rip-offs? (Well, since maybe the last US World Cup)

[jbyrne]

Aren't all World Cups rip-offs? (Well, since maybe the last US World Cup)

my Cat 4 WC2002 tickets were $75 each from memory. We spent on average €50 each per night for accommodation.
all quite reasonable I felt at the time

[Nesta99]

Aren't all World Cups rip-offs? (Well, since maybe the last US World Cup)

Well there was Messrs George Joe Delaneys doing their own style rip offs in 94. But Gianni aint loading sponsors to take the load off fans thats for sure. Id have thought stadia are bigger in 2026 too. Throw in travel compared to Qatar in getting from game to game. I may be labouring the point but this version of FIFA is a bigger sickener than Blatter's. At least he was arrogant enough not to be pathetic alongside world leaders, sitting on thrones like a flipping queen beside the king.

I dont think all group matches are equal. So higher profile games are set higher. BBC suggesting Socts v Haiti not categorised same as England v Croatia for exmple. Not sure how that works expect for dynamic pricing rather than match category but really should have been set prior to the draw and suck it up if there was a real potential classic match up and none of this dynamic rubbish. Unless you can show that it wrecks the secondary market exploitation which I doubt. But like the beer index, higher pricing doesnt often mean less demand, people will break themselves trying regardless. Even if I was loaded Id not fancy this one!
https://peopleandqatar.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/4.png

[pineapple stu]

OK, that's a mental price increase if true. And saw today that prices for the final are starting at €3,500...

Between that and banning anyone who's badmouthed Trump on social media, this could be a bigger disaster attendance-wise than Qatar.

Elsewhere, I see FIFA have selected Egypt v Iran as the LGBTQ+ Pride Match - to predictable complaints from both countries. Be interesting to see if inclusion finally calls the bluff of homophobic Islam. But I reckon money will talk...

[tetsujin1979]

There were empty stadiums during the club world cup It won't be the same at the world cup, but we could see a lot of empty seats

[Eirambler]

OK, that's a mental price increase if true. And saw today that prices for the final are starting at €3,500...

Between that and banning anyone who's badmouthed Trump on social media, this could be a bigger disaster attendance-wise than Qatar.

Elsewhere, I see FIFA have selected Egypt v Iran as the LGBTQ+ Pride Match - to predictable complaints from both countries. Be interesting to see if inclusion finally calls the bluff of homophobic Islam. But I reckon money will talk...

I don't think it was FIFA that did that, it was a local group. FIFA are far too money driven to have the balls to get behind something like that.

[Nesta99]

There were empty stadiums during the club world cup It won't be the same at the world cup, but we could see a lot of empty seats

Dya know dynamic pricing may bite back in this WC. If demand is mediocre, stadia not selling out then prices may stay flat. Im sure there'd be a minimum but there could well be a lot of people leaving it to hours before games to get their ticket. Not for me but I do know a few people who have been at some of the biggest fixtures about just by waiting and if it doesnt happen they hit a bar and enjoy a mini holiday, they'd say they nearly prefer the prematch buzz than the game itself.

[Nesta99]

I don't think it was FIFA that did that, it was a local group. FIFA are far too money driven to have the balls to get behind something like that.

I think its the city's pride week that week. Now you couldnt pay for that sort of timing and profile by the Pride organisers. But FIFA could have been quicker to head off the potential controversy. Shows how much attention they were paying to things on the ground while fawning over Donald and his faux peace prize while readying for war off the coast of one of the hosts. Shame Venezuela hadnt qualified just to see if FIFA would bow on that one while ignoring others on orders of El Trump....

[tetsujin1979]

It's not just the week, June is Pride Month across the States. Not sure why Seattle was chosen for the Pride game.

[Nesta99]

Not bothering to look at more liberal countrie for such a game but if it was design for the countries involved I might actually think FIFA do have some substance, playing up to some while working on other initiatives quietly. I just doubt it so its left them with a headache. June is pride month and flags are flown and events held but I think in this case there is a main festival same week as the game in the same city. As said well played by somebody including festival organisers if it was done by design with quick thinking on the publicity it will generate. If it take off, it will be a ignificant test for FIFA under what would bound to be pressure from the WH to make it go away as well as the countries involved. If the pride game is reallocated it will say planty we already know about this version of FIFA and WC.

[pineapple stu]

I don't think it was FIFA that did that, it was a local group. FIFA are far too money driven to have the balls to get behind something like that.
I don't think you get to do anything at a World Cup without FIFA's explicit support to be honest.

[Eirambler]

FIFA can't stop people living their lives once it's happening outside the stadium gates.

[Nesta99]

But the host nation can...

[Neish]

Whilst I agree the pricing is ludicrous, about 5 million registered into the world cup ticket lottery. Thats all FIFA will look at

[Eirambler]

There will be plenty of demand for the bigger games - knockout rounds, big name countries etc. But I can absolutely see the dynamic pricing kicking in for some of the lower profile matches. Especially in Mexico where I'm guessing some of the games not involving the hosts could be a tough sell to the locals at those prices. But probably to some extent in the US too as travelling fans are put off going by the costs and the political situation.

[pineapple stu]

Lottery regulations and ticket sales can be very different things in fairness

[Nesta99]

There will be plenty of demand for the bigger games - knockout rounds, big name countries etc. But I can absolutely see the dynamic pricing kicking in for some of the lower profile matches. Especially in Mexico where I'm guessing some of the games not involving the hosts could be a tough sell to the locals at those prices. But probably to some extent in the US too as travelling fans are put off going by the costs and the political situation.

Its a bit mad that Mexico wasnt the obvious concern on this. My immediate thought was might be an interesting and cheap spot if someone wanted to knock WC Finals games off a bucket list.