In just under a month, the FIFA World Cup is coming to our backyard. For the first time since 1994, the tournament will be played on U.S soil, with the event debuting in a three-nation co-host format between Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
This year’s World Cup will be the largest ever because FIFA has expanded the bracket from 32 to 48 teams, and it will be featuring 104 games which will be held across all three hosting nations. 78 of these matches will be held here in the U.S, including the final which will be played in New Jersey’s Met Life stadium.
On top of the final, another 35 matches will be held along the east coast; the vast majority of which will be played in the northeast.
Though most tickets for these games have already been sold months in advance, FIFA’s last-minute sales phase will give fans the ability to buy tickets at any time throughout the tournament’s duration, albeit for a heavily up-marked price.
Prices for the “lowest profile” group stage games are already ranging between 500 to 800 dollars, with the later knockout stage matches going for up to 2,000 dollars — costs which are significantly higher than what most Americans are used to paying for NFL and NBA games.
“The accessibility aspect is a real shame, especially considering how they’re so close to home [the games],” commented varsity soccer player Henry Lee. “The price can definitely be very limiting, and that’s if you can get your hands on them, most tickets sell out almost instantly whenever they pop up.”
Apart from the issues regarding accessibility, many students here at Meridian have expressed their excitement over the tournament’s arrival so close to home.
“I’m looking forward to all the hype it’s going to bring, since soccer is definitely one of the less popular sports here compared to football and basketball,” commented junior Julian Galvan.
With the games occurring so close to home, some students will have the opportunity to see it in person.
“I can’t wait to watch the games in person with my friends, and not just on TV like other times,” said freshman Garrett Mills.
Though the ticket prices are definitely an obstacle, the enthusiasm here in the U.S and at Meridian is undeniably high. Having the world’s largest sporting event here in our own backyard in less than a month is certainly exciting, and having the games so close to home will definitely provide fans with many moments that they will not soon forget.
