FootBiz newsletter #171: And now, we wait....
The World Cup, Man City charges, it's all a question of patience
This week feels like we are all sat in the waiting room.
Could it be, finally, that we are at the end of the Manchester City case that has rumbled on for far too long.
At this point, anyone suggesting they know when it’ll drop is seemingly guessing but this period before the World Cup would seem like as good a time as any for the Premier League to have the news come out, given how quickly the news cycle could then move on.
Happening mid-season also feels like it would be very difficult for a number of reasons.
It’s not the only thing we are waiting for, of course. We want to see how this World Cup pans out.
Every tournament has its critics and its issues in the run-up, and this tournament has been magnified by it being the USA under a president without precedent. Tickets have been sold for big money, but there are increasing signs that FIFA may have overplayed its hand a little in its pursuit of the gaudy revenue targets that Gianni Infantino has promised in return for re-election.
That thousands of tickets remain unsold for the host nation’s opener (USA vs Paraguay) less than two weeks before it kicks off is absolutely remarkable. Those prices, which were some of the most absurd, might manage to thread the needle of pissing off absolutely everyone — with early buyers, among the most committed fans, annoyed at getting ripped off while those looking now will be annoyed at the increased cost of travel and accommodation while also bristling at the premise of such brazen attempts at gouging.
General admission are up against it whether they bought early or late, but even those with the resources to buy hospitality tickets far in advance are encountering issues right now.
Despite their website (below) clearly promising tickets and locations would be with buyers by now, a FootBiz subscriber has been in touch to say they have had no such luck.
So we can conclusively say that the ticketing has been a mess, if not a disaster, and as you’ll see below the paywall today there are also issues with visas for the travelling parties.
That USA vs Paraguay game could embarrass organisers on a number of levels. Firstly, the prospect of there being empty seats (or a late fire sale of tickets) would dominate conversation around the fixture but there are also now operational concerns. Per Adam Crafton, the union for workers at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium will vote on strike action a week ahead of the World Cup kicking off.
FIFA will surely be scrambling for a contingency plan now, but with LA hosting eight World Cup fixtures they need a resolution to this as soon as possible even though it is not them who will be at the negotiating table or ponying up the money.
Messy.
The next week or so are set to be all about the World Cup preparations, from squads arriving on North American soil to stadiums getting things in order to cities resolving transport and security issues.
Unless, of course, the Manchester City verdict drops. In which case, all hell could break loose.
A reminder that there are drinks for premium subscribers attending the World Cup opener in Mexico City, they will take place on June 10, the night before. Reply to this email for details.
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