Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

World Cup threat to $30bn America boom with one million tickets still unsold and hotel and flight sales ‘underwhelming’
The Sun ^ | May 5, 2026 | Henry Ollis-Brown

Posted on 05/05/2026 5:54:45 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

THE 2026 FIFA World Cup is posing a threat to the United States’ expected $30 billion boom.

Hotel and flight sales have proven lacklustre with one million tickets still unsold ahead of the World Cup.

Overseas soccer fans appear uninterested in attending the upcoming World Cup in the USA.

International fans are choosing to boycott the tournament, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s US Hotel Outlook Report.

Nearly 80 percent of hotels in nine American host cities claim that they are operating behind initial projections.

It has been suggested that FIFA releasing 70 percent of its room blocks has led to mass cancellations from fans.

Kansas City, Missouri, appears to be the worst-affected city with up 90 percent of respondents reporting figures below their expectations.

In fact, some hotels have even reported that bookings are below what they would expect during a typical summer without a major tournament.

Another issue has been concerns regarding immigration, visa delays, and a rise in airfares.

A hike in public transport costs is also thought to be putting some fans off attending as flight sales have been branded as “underwhelming.”

(Excerpt) Read more at the-sun.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Sports
KEYWORDS: soccer
Message from Jim Robinson:

Dear FRiends,

We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.

If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you,

Jim


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-47 next last

1 posted on 05/05/2026 5:54:45 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

🔥 2% of tickets left
Fri Jun 12 12pm
Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina - World Cup - Match 3 (Group B)
BMO Field
Toronto, ON, CA
From $1,042

https://www.vividseats.com/world-cup-soccer-tickets—sports-soccer/performer/944


2 posted on 05/05/2026 6:01:48 PM PDT by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

A couple of topics of note.

The rat cities are unprepared for a major event and are trying to scalp fans while taking all of their money.

FIFA may not be as popular in the US as they proclaim.

Prices for flights and hotels are too high.


3 posted on 05/05/2026 6:02:22 PM PDT by Dacula
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

World Cup should never have been in America in the first place.


4 posted on 05/05/2026 6:02:48 PM PDT by escapefromboston (Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Total commie sport.


5 posted on 05/05/2026 6:05:20 PM PDT by HYPOCRACY (There is no gravity. The earth just sucks. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

I can watch my grand kids play soccer for no additional outlay on my part.


6 posted on 05/05/2026 6:06:19 PM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dacula
FIFA may not be as popular in the US as they proclaim.

They'll sell out in NYC and LA but not in Kansas City, especially if it costs you a couple of grand to buy a ticket.

Europeans (and Canadians) refuse to attend due to TDS.

7 posted on 05/05/2026 6:06:44 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Dacula

Pretty much every game for the 1994 World Cup in the US sold out.


8 posted on 05/05/2026 6:06:59 PM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Where’s the “That’s a shame” gif?


9 posted on 05/05/2026 6:08:30 PM PDT by Blueflag (To not carry is to choose to be defenseless.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Pick up the ball and throw it!!!


10 posted on 05/05/2026 6:08:40 PM PDT by rexthecat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Libloather
I have $150 a piece tickets for Germany v whoever in “First Round” at Soldiers Field.
The next Germany match at MetLife in NY/NJ is @‘$1,200 a ticket!! We will probably spend that $$ staying at Trumps place in Chicago.😉
11 posted on 05/05/2026 6:14:49 PM PDT by MotorCityBuck (Keep the Change You Filthy Animal !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Soccer or “futball,” a sport where you cannot use half your limbs. I get more enjoyment watching turtles walk.


12 posted on 05/05/2026 6:16:41 PM PDT by Fungi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

They are going to blame Trump. They will say the Iran War increased gas prices for planes, that they hate Trump and are boycotting him, etc. It will reflect poorly on Trumpif sales are low which is what they want.


13 posted on 05/05/2026 6:16:58 PM PDT by vivenne (7Come to think of it. Fact.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rexthecat
I would be interested in soccer if the players were required to have their arms amputated at the shoulder. That soccer would be fun to watch.

If I want to see a bunch of prancing poseurs, I'll put Bambi or Santa Claus's reindeer on the VCR.

14 posted on 05/05/2026 6:19:07 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Soccer is a girls game.


15 posted on 05/05/2026 6:19:37 PM PDT by PhiloBedo (You gotta roll with the punches, and get with what's real..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: HYPOCRACY

16 posted on 05/05/2026 6:19:58 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: HYPOCRACY

Are you this dumb in real life? Or just online?


17 posted on 05/05/2026 6:20:14 PM PDT by bigdaddy45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Governor Dinwiddie
I'd pay to watch a match between Greek and German Philosophers.


18 posted on 05/05/2026 6:20:50 PM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: DoodleBob

19 posted on 05/05/2026 6:24:39 PM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Exactly! IMHO this is not going as well because ticket prices are outrageous, and you have to travel a long way to different venues, 11 in the US, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. Then you have the unrest in Mexico, and international political unrest. Lots of factors.


20 posted on 05/05/2026 6:32:22 PM PDT by neverevergiveup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-47 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson