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Concerns raised over World Cup tickets and travel as tournament draws nearer
As the countdown continues to the largest World Cup in history, scheduled to unfold across 16 stadiums in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, key details surrounding the event remain shrouded in mystery.
With just a year to go, FIFA has yet to announce when general ticket sales will commence, how much most seats will cost, where the draw will take place, or what security measures will be in place.
Interest in soccer has vastly increased in the US, with England's Premier League averaging 510,000 viewers per match window on NBC's networks last season and the European Champions League final drawing more than 2 million viewers in each of the past five years on CBS. However, CBS broadcast just 26 of 189 Champions League matches on TV in 2024-25 and streamed the rest.
MLS drew about 12.2 million fans last year, second to 14.7 million in 2023-24 for the Premier League's 20 teams, but MLS has largely disappeared from broadcast TV since starting a 10-year contract with Apple TV+ in 2023. Apple spokesman Sam Citron said the company does not release viewer figures.
In a fractured television landscape, different deals were negotiated by FIFA, UEFA, MLS, the NWSL, the USSF and the five major European leagues.
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