FIFA's Club World Cup previews U.S. readiness to host 2026 World Cup

Soccer's Growing Popularity in the US - Soccer enthusiasm is rising, with current crowds resembling those seen in the 90s, but now with a more diverse audience including young Americans [4] - FIFA reports over 2 million in attendance across stadiums through the semi-final games [5] - The current high-profile undertaking serves as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Cup in the US [3] Economic Impact of World Cup - The World Trade Organization estimates a $47 billion economic impact on US GDP from the combined tournaments [10] - The tournaments are projected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs [10] - A significant portion of the economic impact will come from international travelers and diaspora communities within the US [10][11] Challenges and Solutions - Excessive summer heat has posed challenges, leading to incidents like fans requiring medical attention [5] - FIFA is addressing heat concerns by implementing cooling breaks, increased pitch watering, cooling stations, and shaded areas [7] - Dynamic pricing systems have resulted in significant ticket cost fluctuations, with prices dropping from $473 to around $13 for a semi-final game [5]