World Cup Fans Can Find Joy Beyond Stadiums
Fans from around the globe gathered in public spaces during previous World Cups to cheer on their favorite teams, creating an electric atmosphere that is an integral part of the tournament's appeal. From crowded town squares to floating big screens on barges along rivers, people came together to celebrate soccer.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar did not live up to its predecessor's promise of a vibrant, spontaneous gathering, with many fans unable to participate due to high ticket prices. However, there is hope that the upcoming tournament will offer an alternative experience for those who cannot afford or access the expensive tickets.
One potential solution lies outside the stadiums themselves. With 48 teams participating and training in various locations across the United States, including Wake Forest University, Boise, Kansas City, Boston, Alexandria, Virginia, Chattanooga, Birmingham, Alabama, Westfield, Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, Oklahoma City, Tucson, and Stillwater, Oklahoma, there are numerous opportunities for fans to catch a glimpse of their favorite teams.
Pre-tournament tune-up games will also provide an exciting experience for fans. Many teams have announced plans to play friendlies in the United States, with some opting to host them at home or elsewhere. The "Road to '26" series will feature Brazil, France, Colombia, and Croatia competing along the East Coast in March, while Argentina will face Honduras and Mexico in June.
Fan fests, a staple of World Cup celebrations, are planned across the country, attracting tens of thousands of fans who can attend without needing tickets. While some host cities, such as New York City's Rockefeller Center festival, will charge a small fee to cover costs, many others expect to be free.
If host cities, federations, and US Soccer work together creatively, this could be a World Cup that brings joy to a broader audience beyond just those who managed to secure expensive tickets. With the right approach, it is possible for fans to experience the excitement of the tournament without being priced out.
Fans from around the globe gathered in public spaces during previous World Cups to cheer on their favorite teams, creating an electric atmosphere that is an integral part of the tournament's appeal. From crowded town squares to floating big screens on barges along rivers, people came together to celebrate soccer.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar did not live up to its predecessor's promise of a vibrant, spontaneous gathering, with many fans unable to participate due to high ticket prices. However, there is hope that the upcoming tournament will offer an alternative experience for those who cannot afford or access the expensive tickets.
One potential solution lies outside the stadiums themselves. With 48 teams participating and training in various locations across the United States, including Wake Forest University, Boise, Kansas City, Boston, Alexandria, Virginia, Chattanooga, Birmingham, Alabama, Westfield, Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, Oklahoma City, Tucson, and Stillwater, Oklahoma, there are numerous opportunities for fans to catch a glimpse of their favorite teams.
Pre-tournament tune-up games will also provide an exciting experience for fans. Many teams have announced plans to play friendlies in the United States, with some opting to host them at home or elsewhere. The "Road to '26" series will feature Brazil, France, Colombia, and Croatia competing along the East Coast in March, while Argentina will face Honduras and Mexico in June.
Fan fests, a staple of World Cup celebrations, are planned across the country, attracting tens of thousands of fans who can attend without needing tickets. While some host cities, such as New York City's Rockefeller Center festival, will charge a small fee to cover costs, many others expect to be free.
If host cities, federations, and US Soccer work together creatively, this could be a World Cup that brings joy to a broader audience beyond just those who managed to secure expensive tickets. With the right approach, it is possible for fans to experience the excitement of the tournament without being priced out.
. I mean, have you seen the costs of getting to those games? You gotta be a millionaire or something! Can't we just watch it on TV like normal people? And btw, what's with all the fan fests? Just another way to nickel-and-dime the fans who already spent a fortune on tickets 
Fans outside the stadiums will finally have a chance to catch some action and cheer on their teams in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. The idea of fan fests across the country is genius – I hope they can pull it off without breaking the bank for those who want to attend. And let's be real, pre-tournament games are always gonna be lit! 
If they can make this work, we might just see a whole new wave of soccer fans discovering their love for the beautiful game 
but like... i heard some teams r playin friendlies in diff places like oklahoma city & louisville ky 
thats lit!! and fan fests are comin too! 
i heard theres gonna b 1 in NYC n atlanta but its free in most cities lol u can just chill w/ other fans n watch the games on big screens 
I'm loving the idea of fan fests and pre-tournament games being held in public spaces! It's amazing how the World Cup can bring people together like this. I mean, who doesn't love a good atmosphere with some delicious food and drinks 
The idea of fan fests and pre-tournament tune-up games being free or low-cost is a total game-changer 
. I mean, who doesn't love catching a glimpse of their favorite team in action? 
. And with so many teams training across the US, it's like they're putting on a free show 
. The "Road to '26" series sounds EPIC! 
I'm excited to see Brazil and France go head-to-head 
. If they can make this happen, we might just have a World Cup that brings joy to fans of all levels 
.
. I mean, it's not like you need tickets to get in on the fun, right? Plus, pre-tournament games are gonna be epic! I'm dyin' to see Brazil and France go head-to-head. What if they even stream some of these games online for free? That'd be lit 
!
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i'm lovin' the vibes around the upcoming world cup! it's gonna be awesome that we can catch some pre-tourney games and fan fests with our fave teams 
even if we can't get tickets, there are plenty of ways to join in on the fun. and let's not forget about those road to '26 series - france vs brazil is gonna be epic 
! plus, it's great that ussoccer is thinking outside the box with all these different events. i'm hoping we can create this amazing atmosphere where everyone can feel included, regardless of their budget 
that way ppl can still feel the World Cup vibe w/o breakin the bank 
️ or Argentina show off their skills in Chicago 
, all these fan fests are gonna cost ppl money tho... like what if i cant afford a ticket to watch brazil play france? at least try offering free viewing options for people who cant afford it, yk?
. and argentina's gonna be playin friendlies in june against honduras & mexico 
. thats some dope stuff! 
. lets just hope all da teams & host cities work together & make dis happen 
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and who knows, maybe we'll even get to see some surprise performances by teams like Colombia or Croatia. And can you imagine walking around a fan fest without breaking the bank? 
) to other cities hosting their own events, it's going to be a real treat for fans who can't snag tickets. And let's not forget about those pre-tournament games – I'm talking "Road to '26" here! 
It's all about spreading the love and making this World Cup accessible to everyone 
. I mean, who needs ticket prices when you can just have a free-for-all fan fest in the middle of the city? 
Sounds like they're trying to win over the fans with a mix of games and events outside the stadiums. Fingers crossed it's not just a publicity stunt 
. A "Road to '26" series sounds pretty cool, especially if Brazil is playing friendlies on the East Coast... about time those Europeans came to visit the good ol' US of A 
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And what about all those smaller fan fests that might not have the budget to host anything exciting? Like, wouldn't it be awesome if they could still make it happen with minimal funding? 
Ugh, I'm so torn...