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FIFA responds to fan outrage, establishes new World Cup ticket tier with $60 prices

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FIFA responds to fan outrage, establishes new World Cup ticket tier with  prices

FIFA announced an affordable admission pricing tier for every nation that’s qualified for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The supporter entry tier will make tickets available at a fixed price of $60 for every match, including the final, for each nation’s participating members associations.

The new tier comes after supporters’ groups from Europe called out FIFA on the dynamic pricing of tickets, which changes the value based on the popularity of the teams playing in each match.

“In total, 50% of each PMA allocation will fall within the most affordable range, namely supporter value tier (40%) and the supporter entry tier (10%),” FIFA said in a statement on Tuesday. “The remaining allocation is split evenly between the supporter standard tier and the supporter premier tier.”

FIFA will also waive the administrative fees for fans who secure participating member association tickets. But if their teams do not advance, they can seek refunds.

Tickets sales were rolled out by FIFA in phases, with a third of the tournament’s inventory claimed during the first two phases. The third phase started on Dec. 11 and will go through to Jan. 13. During this period, fans have the opportunity to allocate tickets for a match based on a random selection draw.

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Before the new tier was introduced, the cheapest ticket for the World Cup final in MetLife Stadium in New Jersey would cost fans more than $4,000. The high prices raised concerns among European supporters.

“The prices set for the 2026 World Cup are scandalous, a step too far for many supporters who passionately and loyally follow their national sides at home and abroad,” the FSA, an organization of supporters for England and Wales, said in a statement posted on its website on Dec. 12. “Everything we feared about the direction in which FIFA wants to take the game was confirmed — Gianni Infantino only sees supporter loyalty as something to be exploited for profit.”

FIFA previously stated it adopted the variable pricing because it was common practice for major North America sporting events.

“What FIFA is doing is adapting to the domestic market,” a FIFA official said in the conference call. “It’s a reality in the U.S. and Canada that events are being priced as per the demand that is coming in for that event.”

A FIFA official told reporters before the first tickets went on sale that world soccer’s governing body expects to make more than $3 billion from hospitality and tickets sales and is confident the tournament will break the all-time World Cup attendance record set in 1994, the last time the men’s competition was held in the U.S.

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That 1994 World Cup featured just 24 teams and 52 matches. The 2026 tournament will be twice as large, with 48 teams and 104 games.

FIFA said it received 20 million requests during the random selection draw sales.

SoFi Stadium will host eight matches, beginning with the U.S. opener against Paraguay on June 12. The Americans will finish group play in Inglewood on June 25, playing the winner of a March playoff involving Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey and Romania. Two Group G matches — Iran versus New Zealand on June 15 and Iran-Belgium on June 21 — also will be played in SoFi, sandwiched around a Group B match between Switzerland and the winner of another European playoff, this one featuring Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy and Northern Ireland.

The teams for the three knockout-stage games to be played at SoFi Stadium — round-of-32 games on June 28 and July 2 and a quarterfinal on July 10 — haven’t been determined, but the possibilities include Mexico, South Korea, Canada, Spain, Austria and Algeria.

Staff writer Kevin Baxter contributed to this report.

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Josh Allen reflects on growth he’s made since joining Bills and becoming expectant father

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Josh Allen reflects on growth he’s made since joining Bills and becoming expectant father

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has had a terrific 2025.

He and his wife, actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, got married in June and last week he announced the two were expecting their first child together. Not to mention, he started the year being awarded the NFL MVP trophy.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Allen expressed some appreciation for how he’s grown as a person since he arrived in Buffalo in 2018 as his life took him from a small town in California to Wyoming to the NFL and on the brink of leading a championship-starved city to a Super Bowl appearance.

“Yeah, I guess it’s like the evolution of life,” he said Wednesday. “I consider this place my home. It’s where I’ve done a lot of growing up. And it’s a place that I’ll raise a family. It’s really cool.”

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As his work-life balance becomes more rigid, The Associated Press noted a curious comment he made in October during “Monday Night Football.” He was asked what Steinfeld has taught him during their relationship. He responded, “Maybe I am more than a football player.”

Allen confirmed to The Associated Press that Steinfeld’s pregnancy factored into his response.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

“Overjoyed, absolutely overjoyed,” he said, while confirming that he knew he was going to be a dad before the ESPN interview occurred.

Allen is a three-time Pro Bowler and coming off an MVP season. While he’s done more than enough to warrant talk of back-to-back MVPs, Allen shook that notion off going into Week 16.

“I’m just trying to do my job, just trying to find a way to get in the playoffs here,” he said.

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Beating the New England Patriots last week after being down 21 points was a good first step. Buffalo has had ups and downs all season long but the team seems to be hitting its stride now with four wins in their last five games.

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Buffalo will go up against the Cleveland Browns on the road on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NFL Week 16 picks: Rams defeat Seahawks; Broncos edge Jaguars

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NFL Week 16 picks: Rams defeat Seahawks; Broncos edge Jaguars

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Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: CBS, Paramount+.

Line: Bills by 10½. O/U: 41½.

After an amazing comeback against a really strong New England team last Sunday, the Bills are emboldened and Josh Allen is on an MVP pace. Cleveland relies on its stout defense, but that unit didn’t show up in Week 15 against Chicago, surrendering 31 points. Buffalo, which is 7-2 outside the division, wins this going away.

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Pick: Bills 27, Browns 16

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Heisman Trophy voter blasts Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia for F-bomb remark in fiery column: ‘Punk move’

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Heisman Trophy voter blasts Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia for F-bomb remark in fiery column: ‘Punk move’

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One Heisman Trophy voter isn’t staying silent after seeing Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s message about finishing second over the weekend to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.

Chase Goodbread of The Tuscaloosa News, who has a Heisman vote, wrote a piece this week about Pavia saying “F— all the voters” after finishing a distant second behind Mendoza. Pavia wrote it in the caption of an Instagram story post with a picture of his Commodores teammates.

While Pavia apologized for his initial response to the loss in New York City, Goodbread wasn’t impressed by what Pavia had to say.

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Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy before the 2025 Heisman Trophy presentation at Marriott Marquis Hotel Dec. 13, 2025, in New York City. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

“He’s a big boy now,” Goodbread wrote in his column. “Old enough to have more than one college degree. Old enough to beat the NCAA in court to gain extra eligibility, and old enough to make the pile of NIL money that came with that. Old enough to know better. And old enough to handle some criticism.

“It was a punk move, Diego. This voter wasn’t sitting right next to Mendoza Saturday night, but my congrats for him are at least genuine.”

Goodbread added that Pavia’s behavior was “jackassery,” saying, “After 6 years in college, you’d think Pavia would’ve signed up for at least one course in humility by now.”

DIEGO PAVIA KNOWS EXPLICIT OUTBURST AGAINST HEISMAN VOTERS WAS ‘UNACCEPTABLE,’ VANDERBILT AD SAYS

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Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189.

The Vanderbilt athletic director released a statement on Monday after Pavia’s comment.

“Diego knows his actions were unacceptable, and he has apologized,” athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement to The Tennessean Monday. “I know he is contrite and regrets the hurt he caused. He is a passionate and authentic competitor, and while his authenticity has been nurtured and celebrated here, it does not change the responsibility that comes with representing Vanderbilt University.

“We believe in growth and accountability, and we will continue to support Diego as he learns from this moment.”

Pavia later apologized for his comments on X.

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Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores warms up before a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

“I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to,” he wrote in a statement. “I have much love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I am sorry.

“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving winner of the award. I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments as well as the success that Jeremiyah [Love] and Julian [Sayin] had this season. I’ve been doubted my whole life,” he wrote.

“Every step of my journey I’ve had to break down doors and fight for myself, because Ive learned that nothing would be handed to me. My family has always been in my corner, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my six. I love them — I am grateful for them. — and I wouldn’t want anything to distract from that. I look forward to competing in front of my family and with my team one more time in the ReliaQuest Bowl.”

Pavia, playing in his second season at Vanderbilt after starting at New Mexico State, led the SEC with a 71.2% completion rate with 27 touchdowns, 3,192 yards passing and nine rushing scores. He rushed for 826 yards on 152 attempts.

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Pavia’s reaction to the voting results wasn’t much of a shock, though. He has always been self-confident to the point he kept telling voters to send him to New York City because he felt he deserved the Heisman.

Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws to an open teammate against South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 9, 2024. (Imagn)

“The Heisman Trophy winner goes to the best player in college football,” Pavia said on OutKick’s “Hot Mic.” “I believe that to be myself. You check the numbers, and especially — there’s two things that don’t lie to you: Numbers and tape. I’ve been taught that since I was young. You go check that out. I feel like I’m undoubtedly the best player in college football.”

Vanderbilt had a 10-2 record on the year, ranking No. 14 nationally at the end of the regular season.

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