Ronaldo effect? FIFA World Cup ticket prices crash after USA, Portugal exits
The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals are set to begin this week, but ticket prices for one of the biggest knockout matches have dropped significantly following the elimination of co-host United States and Portugal.According to secondary marketplace TickPick, the get-in price for Friday's quarterfinal between Spain and Belgium has fallen dramatically from around $2,950 to nearly $1,200 as of Tuesday afternoon.The sharp decline comes after the United States suffered a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16, ending the co-hosts' World Cup campaign.
A potential quarterfinal involving the home side would likely have generated much greater demand among fans.Portugal's exit also played a major role in the falling prices. Spain's 1-0 victory over Portugal not only ended Cristiano Ronaldo's FIFA World Cup career but also removed one of the tournament's biggest global attractions from the knockout stages.A quarterfinal featuring the United States and Portugal had been viewed as one of the marquee possibilities of the tournament, with the presence of Ronaldo and the host nation expected to drive ticket demand even higher.Meanwhile, France's quarterfinal against Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough is currently the least expensive last-eight fixture on the secondary market.
According to TickPick, tickets for the match are available from $989.The quarterfinals get underway on Friday with France taking on Morocco after Didier Deschamps' side edged Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, while Morocco advanced with an emphatic 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada.Spain will meet Belgium in the second quarterfinal after the Red Devils eliminated the United States 4-1, while Spain remain the only team yet to concede a goal in this year's tournament.Sunday's action begins with Erling Haaland's Norway facing Harry Kane-led England before defending champions Argentina take on Switzerland in the final quarterfinal.The four last-eight matches will be staged across Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with the winners advancing to next week's semifinals.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates.
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