Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, football (soccer) fans around the globe, welcome to America!
In just a few days, you’ll descend upon the United States to cheer on your team, witness some of the planet’s biggest stars gracing the world stage one more time before they head off into their summer break — albeit a brief one.
This is an extraordinary time for soccer in this part of the world. The Copa América was here in 2024. The Club World Cup kicks off this weekend. The World Cup — the grandest soccer show of all — is in 365 days. The 2027 Women’s World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games will be upon us before we know it.
But while the U.S. is going to be a summer soccer paradise, it’s not going to be a cheap one for those who like to budget with caution.
Last year, MLS commissioner Don Garber told The Athletic: “There’s no question now that America has become the ATM for the soccer world. We have raised the commercial value of the sport in our country in ways where it now is perhaps the most valuable soccer market, commercially.”
Garber’s comments reflect reality. Part of the reason America is such an attractive proposition for FIFA, international leagues and elite global teams is that large numbers of fans are willing to pay sky-high prices.
For decades, the…
