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Axios, U.S.
“Skeptics have been preparing for months for the possibility that the World Cup would clash with a polarized, limited American audience that would be put off by high prices. The tournament drew the largest audience in U.S. soccer history. <…> The World Cup turned into a massive, unexpectedly festive cultural exchange, completely dispelling pre-tournament fears. For a brief moment, the World Cup made America feel like a soccer nation.”
Reuters, United Kingdom
“The World Cup in Mexico drew packed stadiums and millions of euphoric fans, but failed to boost the sluggish economy, weighed down by weak investment and uncertainty surrounding the upcoming renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In the tournament, which concludes on Sunday after more than a month of matches in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, Mexico hosted 13 of the 104 games. However, it has not met its ambitious official tourism targets aimed at boosting gross domestic product (GDP), which contracted in the first quarter.”
The Wall Street Journal, U.S.
“This final is a raucous conclusion to a spectacular North American Cup, the reaction to which shifted from ‘Why are we doing this?’ to ‘This is one of the greatest sporting events we’ve ever seen.’”
BBC, United Kingdom
“In many countries, soccer is not just a national sport, but an obsession that has been cultivated for decades. This cannot be said of the United States, the host country of the World Cup, where American sports have a longer history and dominate media coverage, sponsorship deals, and public discourse. Although attendance at matches is growing rapidly and TV ratings show heightened interest comparable to the NBA Finals and the World Series, it remains unclear how long this will last. Analysts have yet to determine whether this will be a turning point.”
South China Morning Post, China
“China may have already secured the tournament’s main economic prize without even taking the field. This year’s World Cup has brought significant profits to many Chinese companies that manufacture and export sporting goods and products to global markets. As the matches draw to a close, the challenge now is to sustain this commercial success.”
El País, Spain
“Compared to previous World Cups, the organizers’ investment in this tournament was significantly lower. The stadiums had already been built, so there was virtually no need to spend money on major projects. And the 16 host cities did not undertake large-scale urban redevelopment, which often leaves behind a legacy of historic competitions, as is usually the case with the Olympic Games. The 2026 World Cup has avoided all of these investments. In the U.S., where success is often linked to money, the tournament is expected to generate substantial profits.”
