The "Americanization" of the World Cup, Plus Alex on the MLB CBA

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges and expectations surrounding the 2026 World Cup and its impact on the American soccer market.

It’s the first day of the 2026 World Cup! Ticket prices, transportation, security, visas, Attorneys General investigations and water bottles are just a few of the issues threatening to distract from the play on the pitch. Now that it's time for the football to actually be played, we will finally get some answers to the biggest outstanding questions: Will FIFA’s controversial ticketing strategy mean empty seats? Will host cities actually make back their investment? Will the legacy of this World Cup be its challenges or its triumphs? Athletic Senior Writer Henry Bushnell joins The Deal to discuss all the above and more. Henry tells Alex and Jason how FIFA may have misjudged the American market. He also shares his thoughts on why the MLS has already missed the moment to capitalize on this summer’s soccer momentum, which American city will “win” the tournament and how the 2026 World Cup will be remembered.  Want more World Cup? Tune in to Bloomberg's Big Take  episode  Who's Really Paying for the World Cup? You can also watch this interview on YouTube . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Alex Rodriguez, Jason Kelly

Guest: Henry Bushnell

Topics covered

• World Cup
• FIFA
• MLS
• soccer
• sports business
• American market

Keywords

• World Cup
• FIFA
• ticket prices
• MLS
• soccer momentum
• American market
• Henry Bushnell

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FIFA, MLS, Bloomberg

Places: American

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