All articles tagged with #worldcup
The USMNT’s 26-man World Cup squad is taking shape under Mauricio Pochettino as Christian Pulisic endures a long scoring drought while the coach tests formations and rotations; Gio Reyna is viewed as a potential decisive substitute, with Balogun, Pepi and Wright contending for forward minutes and Alex Freeman’s versatility at wing-back/center-back guiding defensive options.
Alex Freeman, 21, son of Packers legend Antonio Freeman, has been named to the USMNT for the FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. A Villarreal winger/defender who debuted for the national team on May 22, 2025, and has 15 caps with 2 goals, will play in a home World Cup with venues tied to NFL history, including a June 19 clash vs Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle and a potential path to Levi’s Stadium if the U.S. advances from Group D. The piece highlights the poetic parallel between his father’s NFL legacy and his own international soccer opportunity, hoping he can bring home a world title.
A position-by-position comparison shows the 2026 USMNT squad is mixed: goalkeeper is downgraded vs 2022, the defense is upgraded with more depth, the midfield is even, the attackers are upgraded led by Balogun and Pepi, and Mauricio Pochettino is an upgrade at manager; plus the 48-team format makes the group stage more navigable, giving the US a clearer path to the knockout rounds than in 2022.
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino unveiled a 26-man World Cup squad amid fan reaction and media scrutiny, with questions about a thin central midfield after injuries and the absence of several potential ball handlers; he defended his selections and declined to discuss those left out, while a defense-heavy balance and few holding‑midfield options could complicate how the team attacks and defends this tournament.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino named a 26-man World Cup squad that includes Alejandro Zendejas while Tanner Tessmann is omitted; Gio Reyna is in and Diego Luna is out, joining a mix of veterans and rising talents as the team tunes up for friendlies against Senegal and Germany ahead of FIFA’s roster deadline.
Thomas Tuchel builds England’s World Cup squad around system fit and results rather than sheer talent, dropping Phil Foden and Cole Palmer after limited international impact while relying on other No 10 options like Bellingham and Rogers to drive his approach.
Hotels say FIFA-blocked rooms for World Cup 2026 in major U.S. cities have largely been canceled, undermining projected tourism and GDP gains even as FIFA maintains bookings were managed under contract and occupancy may rise closer to kickoff.
AT&T Stadium is being outfitted to host FIFA World Cup matches, with Colorado-grown natural grass, a ventilation/irrigation setup, and pink lighting; the project spans about 45,000 man-hours and 15,000 tons of material. Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb has urged for real grass for football, a push that will depend on the NFL-NFLPA agreement and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones backing the effort.
Ticket prices for the World Cup have spiraled, pricing out many fans as some US opening-game seats top $1,000 and the final exceeds $10,000; Infantino argues the spike isn’t FIFA’s fault but stems from American resales, a stance echoed by critics including Donald Trump.
Iran did not attend FIFA’s congress amid immigration-related controversy, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino reaffirmed Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico; reports say Iran’s delegation was blocked at the Canadian border over IRGC ties, and Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in the tournament.
FIFA’s resale marketplace lists four World Cup final tickets at about $2.3 million each, with other seats priced from roughly $10,000 to $207,000 and a low $10,923.85 option for four upper-deck seats; FIFA charges 15% buyer and 15% seller fees, potentially netting around $690,000 per top-ticket sale. The organization notes no resale-price cap this tournament due to the loosely regulated US/Canada market, unlike past cups; direct-sale final tickets are $10,990.
Ticket sales for the USMNT’s World Cup opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium are lagging, with about 40,934 tickets sold by April 10 versus 50,661 for Iran-New Zealand at the same venue. Main price tiers remain steep ($2,730, $1,940, $1,120), helping drive tepid demand and resale listings below face value; FIFA claims strong overall demand while keeping prices for this match high, prompting questions about attendance in Southern California ahead of the tournament.
As the World Cup lands in multiple cities, fan transportation costs differ dramatically: New Jersey Transit will charge about $150 for a round-trip rail trip from MetLife Stadium to Penn Station after World Cup matches (versus the typical $12.90), while Philadelphia’s transit system offers free travel for fans leaving matches. FIFA criticized the New Jersey pricing as potentially deterring attendance and causing congestion, and the contrast is echoed by other host cities like Boston, where round-trip bus service to Gillette Stadium costs $95.
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, whose contract runs through the 2026 World Cup, says he’s focused on the World Cup and USMNT friendlies, while leaving a slim open possibility of a future return to European soccer; he praised Tottenham amid relegation anxiety and managerial turnover and is not pursuing the Spurs job now.
USA's 5-2 loss to Belgium was overshadowed by a jersey color clash that made it hard to distinguish players on the field; Pulisic and McKennie said it affected quick decisions, and while a switch to Belgium's red home kit was discussed, logistics prevented a change before the next match.