“IT’S JUST EXPENSIVE”
In a country dominated by other sports, there has been growing excitement for the World Cup.
Spain’s arrival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has generated much buzz among the community, many of whom were eager to catch a glimpse of the team and teen phenom Lamine Yamal.
Several states away in St Louis, Missouri, fans swarmed the streets for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s friendly with Panama.
In the city of Auburn, Alabama, a massive crowd of 88,000 watched Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 in a pre-tournament friendly.
Speaking to CNA, Mr Gerald Foston, head of Sammers SC – a US supporter group – said excitement will kick in for members of the group this week as they start packing for games.
“Most of us attending the matches do not live on the West Coast and we are planning for an extended stay,” he added.
Veteran journalist Steven Goff, who has spent decades covering US football, told CNA that there is excitement in the World Cup host cities.
“The high prices and general bad image of FIFA have cast a negative light on the tournament. A strong start by the host teams, particularly the US, would help elevate things.”
FIFA’s pricing of tickets has come under heavy criticism from supporters who have argued that the cost of attending matches has become prohibitive.
Many other cities in the US have been in the headlines for expensive transport offerings to get fans to and from games.