International Archives - Cal South

FIFA World Cup 26 tickets: applications for Visa Presale Draw now open

rjohnson — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:22:05 +0000

The Visa Presale Draw entry period opened at 11:00 ET (17:00 CET) on Wednesday, 10 September, and will close at 11:00 ET (17:00 CET) on Friday, 19 September.

Entry period now open via FIFA.com/tickets
Tickets will start at USD 60 for group-stage matches
Information on additional phases also available

The first ticket draw entry period for the FIFA World Cup 26 is now open at FIFA.com/tickets.

As Canada, Mexico and the United States prepare to welcome the world, the Visa Presale Draw gives fans worldwide the opportunity to take part in this historic tournament. Thanks to FIFA’s Official Payment Technology Partner, qualifying Visa cardholders can submit an application at any time during the ten-day entry period – which opened at 11 am ET (17:00 CET) today, Wednesday, 10 September, and runs until 11 am ET (17:00 CET) on Friday, 19 September – for their chance to purchase tickets.

FIFA World Cup Tickets

“With just ten months to go until the FIFA World Cup 26 kicks off, we are excited to launch the first phase of ticket sales for the tournament,” said FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Operating Officer, Heimo Schirgi. “This marks a momentous milestone as we build up to this historic event, and we look forward to millions of fans joining us in North America next June.”

“The countdown to FIFA World Cup 26 starts now, and lucky Visa cardholders get the first shot,” said Frank Cooper III, Chief Marketing Officer at Visa. “Through our partnership with FIFA, we’re proud to help fans take the first step toward the stadiums — offering a chance at early access to tickets and the peace of mind that comes with secure, seamless payment. This is where the road to the FIFA World Cup begins — and it starts with Visa.”

The Visa Presale Draw is subject to the Official Rules of the Visa Presale Draw found on FIFA.com/tickets. Fans must be 18 or older to enter, and no purchase is necessary to enter or win.

Timing of a fan’s entry into the Visa Presale Draw during the entry period will not impact the fan’s chances of success. After a randomised selection process, successful applicants will be notified via email starting from 29 September, and will be given a date and time slot to purchase tickets (subject to availability), with time slots starting from 1 October. A successful draw application does not guarantee that tickets will be available for purchase during the time slot. When ticket sales start, single match tickets to all 104 matches will be made available. Additionally, venue-specific tickets and team-specific tickets will also be made available.

At the start of sale, fans will be able to secure group-stage tickets from just USD 60, offering an accessible entry point to the tournament, while the most exclusive seats will reach up to USD 6,730 for the final – the ultimate global showdown, where the two best national teams will compete for the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy.

Due to the anticipated high demand, FIFA World Cup tickets are released in phases, with the Visa Presale Draw marking the first phase. Further ticket sales will be launched in the coming months, giving all fans the opportunity to apply to experience this unprecedented tournament. Fans who are not eligible to be part of the Visa Presale Draw, were unsuccessful in the draw or would like to make additional purchases will be able to do so in subsequent sales phases.

The additional ticket sales phases will begin in October 2025, through to the final match on Sunday, 19 July 2026:

Phase 2: Early Ticket Draw, with the registration window expected to take place from 27 to 31 October and time slots for purchase from mid-November to early December. Similar to the first phase, this will consist of an application, followed by a randomised selection process. Successful applicants will receive a time slot to purchase tickets (subject to availability).
Phase 3: Random Selection Draw, with registration beginning shortly after the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26. During this phase, fans will be able to submit applications for specific matches after the final draw has revealed most of the group-stage matchups.
Closer to the tournament, fans will be able to buy any remaining inventory on a first-come, first-served basis.

The purchasing process may vary depending on the phase, payment method and ticket products. Additional products, including supporter tickets (for fans who want to sit with others cheering for the same team) and conditional supporter tickets (for supporters who want to reserve a seat for one of their team’s potential matches in a knockout round) are expected to be available closer to the tournament.

Additionally, FIFA will launch a secure, official resale platform for eligible ticket holders at FIFA.com/tickets later this year. This initiative aims to safeguard fans against invalid or unauthorised resale and is available to fans subject to federal and local regulations. Mexican residents will have access to a FIFA Ticket Exchange Platform.

Fans can already purchase single-match and multi-match hospitality packages, inclusive of match tickets, at FIFA.com/hospitality. As always, FIFA encourages fans to purchase tickets only through FIFA.com/tickets, the official and preferred source of tickets for the FIFA World Cup. Hospitality packages and tickets sourced from unofficial sales channels may not be valid.

The post FIFA World Cup 26 tickets: applications for Visa Presale Draw now open appeared first on Cal South.

USWNT Downs Brazil 2-0 on Goals From Trinity Rodman and Lindsey Heaps in Front of 32,303 in Los Angeles

rjohnson — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 16:20:14 +0000

USA Wins First Meeting with Brazil Since 2024 Olympic Gold Medal Game; Rodman Scores in First USWNT Appearance in Eight Months; Team Captain Heaps Nails Penalty Kick to Clinch the Match; Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Defender Avery Patterson Earn First USWNT Caps

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (April 5, 2025) — The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Brazil 2-0 as Trinity Rodman scored early and team captain Lindsey Heaps clinched the game with a second half penalty kick. Rodman was playing her first USWNT match since the 2024 Paris Olympics and picked up right where she left off, scoring in the sixth minute off a precise assist from fellow forward Alyssa Thompson.

Backed by some excellent U.S. defending and a debut shutout for goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Heaps effectively clinched the match with a goal in the 66th from the penalty spot. Midfielder Lily Yohannes, who came on in the 61st minute, drew the foul in the penalty box just minutes after substituting for Ally Sentnor.

The Americans were aggressive on the attack from the very start. In the first half, they tested Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena with five shots on goal and seven attempts. The Americans finished with 12 shots on goal.

The two Olympic finalists brought a competitive energy and bite to the match which saw six yellow cards shown, four to Brazil and two to the Americans.

The match was played in front of 32,303 fans at SoFi Stadium and marked the first-ever women’s professional sporting event at the world-class stadium, which featured a grass system that was being tested for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was the second largest crowd in the Los Angeles area for the U.S. Women’s National Team, not counting the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl.

The 28-year-old Tullis-Joyce had a sparkling debut, becoming the 10th goalkeeper in U.S. history to earn a shutout. She becomes the 16th player to earn a first cap under head coach Emma Hayes. Defender Avery Patterson came on at the end of the match and became the 17th. Tullis-Joyce is the 274th player to earn a cap for the USWNT, now in its 40th year of existence, and Patterson became the 275th.

Next up, the USWNT faces Brazil in the second of the two-match series, meeting at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 (7:30 p.m. PT / 10:30 p.m. ET on TBS, Max, Universo and Peacock).

GOAL-SCORING RUNDOWN

USA — Trinity Rodman (Alyssa Thompson), 6th minute – After a nifty move to beat the defender cutting in from the left side, Thompson found a cutting Rodman in the penalty box with a perfect pass. Rodman then calmly finished into the lower right corner with her fight foot from 10 yards out. USA 1, BRA 0

Just took a shot of espresso at @SoFiStadium! #USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/Dr9roDKjUh
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 5, 2025

USA — Lindsey Heaps (Penalty Kick), 67th minute – Lily Yohannes was chopped down near the top of the penalty box and referee Katia Gacia immediately pointed to the spot. The veteran then blasted her shot into the left corner of the net despite Brazilian ‘keeper Lorena guessing correctly. USA 2, BRA 0

HEAPS FROM THE SPOT! #USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/gWc3TlIBuW
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 5, 2025

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Trinity Rodman’s goal was the 11th of her career. Heaps’ goal was her 37th, moving her pass Tobin Heath into sole possession of 17th all-time on the U.S. goal scoring list.
Los Angeles natives Alyssa Thompson and Tara McKeown, along with Orange County native Trinity Rodman, got the starting nod in front of friends and family.
Forward Catarina Macario earned her 22nd cap, and her first against the country of her birth. Macario moved to San Diego, Calif., from Brazil when she was 12.
Emma Hayes earned her 16th win as the USWNT head coach.
Brazil will host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This week FIFA announced that the U.S. and Concacaf Partners are the sole bidders for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

-U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Women’s National Team vs. Brazil
Date: April 5, 2025
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: SoFi Stadium; Inglewood, Calif.
Attendance: 32,303
Kickoff: 2:07 p.m. local (5:07 p.m. ET)
Weather: 78 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary	1	2	F
USA	1	1	2
BRA	0	0	0

USA – Trinity Rodman (Alyssa Thompson)	6th minute
USA – Lindsey Heaps (Penalty Kick)	66

Lineups:
USA [Cal South alumni in red]: 21-Phallon Tullis-Joyce; 23-Emily Fox (13-Avery Patterson, 88), 4-Tara McKeown, 14-Emily Sonnett, 19-Crystal Dunn; 17-Sam Coffey, 10-Lindsey Heaps (Capt.) (8-Jaedyn Shaw, 85), 9-Ally Sentnor (24-Lily Yohannes, 61); 2-Trinity Rodman (15-Michelle Cooper, 61), 20-Catarina Macario (7-Ashley Hatch, 84), 11-Alyssa Thompson (22-Yazmeen Ryan, 85)
Substitutes not used: 3-Korbin Albert, 5-Alana Cook, 6-Emily Sams, 12-Gisele Thompson, 16-Claire Hutton, 18-Mandy McGlynn
Head coach: Emma Hayes

BRA: 1-Lorena; 23-Isa Haas, 3-Tarciane (15-Fê Palermo, 81), 6-Yasmim (2-Antônia, 73); 9-Adriana, 20-Mariza, 8-Angelina (Capt.) (5-Duda Sampaio, 81), 14-Ludmila (13-Bruninha, 73); 18-Gabi Portilho, 21-Gio Queiroz (7-Jheniffer, 89), 11-Amanda Gutierres (10-Kerolin, 73)
Substitutes not used: 12-Natascha, 22-Camila, 4-Lauren, 16-Kaká, 17-Lais Estevam, 19-Luany
Head coach: Arthur Elias

Stats Summary: USA / BRA
Shots: 16 / 15
Shots on Goal: 12 / 6
Saves: 6 / 10
Corner Kicks: 5 / 6
Fouls: 15 / 18
Offside: 4 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Emily Sonnett (Caution) 45 + 2nd minute
BRA – Tarciane (Caution) 50
BRA – Gio Queiroz (Caution) 58
BRA – Isa Haas (Caution) 68
USA – Michelle Cooper (Caution) 72
BRA – Adriana (Caution) 72
BRA – Antônia (Caution) 83

Officials:
Referee: Katia Garcia (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Sandra Ramirez (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Shirley Perello (HON)
4th Official: Marianela Araya (CRC)
VAR: Diana Perez (MEX)
AVAR: Tatiana Guzman (NCA)

Michelob Ultra Woman of the Match: Trinity Rodman

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SoFi Stadium to Host Concacaf Gold Cup Opening Match June 14

rjohnson — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 01:46:00 +0000

Tickets go on sale starting March 27 at 10 a.m. PT
Gold Cup action returns to SoFi Stadium back-to-back following the 2023 Final
Concacaf Nations League and Gold Cup champion Mexico is set to kick off the tournament in the Opening Match

Inglewood, CA (Monday, March 24, 2025) — Concacaf has announced that the opening match of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup – the 18th edition of the Confederation’s flagship men’s national team competition – has been awarded to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The match on Saturday, June 14, will feature the 2025 Concacaf Nations League champions, Mexico, who will seek to defend their Gold Cup title after lifting the trophy at SoFi Stadium in 2023.

Tickets for the opening match will be made available to the public starting Thursday, March 27, at 10:00 am (local time) via Ticketmaster.com.

The match will see Gold Cup action return to SoFi Stadium after hosting the 2023 Final, which saw Mexico defeat Panama 1-0 in front of a sold-out crowd. Mexico holds a record nine men’s Gold Cup titles, followed by the United States with seven and Canada with one.

SoFi Stadium, a FIFA World Cup 2026 host venue, is home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams, and has hosted some of the world’s most important sporting and entertainment events, including the Gold Cup, Nations League Finals, Copa America, Super Bowl LVI, the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship, and WrestleMania, among others.

“We are very excited to announce that the opening match of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup will take place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, featuring the reigning Gold Cup and Nations League champions, Mexico,” said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani. “The incredible passion for football in Greater Los Angeles was on full display during the recently concluded Concacaf Nations League Celebration Week, where more than 125,000 fans came together for an unforgettable festival of elite football, music, and community events.”

“SoFi Stadium proudly welcomes back the Gold Cup, further strengthening our partnership with Concacaf and showcasing our ability to host world-class international tournaments,” said Adolfo Romero, vice president of programming and booking at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “With the highly anticipated Mexico tournament debut and the excitement building on the road to the FIFA World Cup next summer, SoFi Stadium continues to solidify its position as a global soccer hub in Los Angeles, bringing together passionate fans and elite athletes on the world stage.”

Last September, Concacaf announced that the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup will be played across 14 stadiums and 11 metropolitan areas in the United States and Canada. This includes five FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums – AT&T Stadium, BC Place, Levi’s Stadium, NRG Stadium, and SoFi Stadium – and three first-time hosts. The competition will kick off on June 14 with a 16-team group stage, followed by three rounds of Knockout Stage play. The Final, where the region’s champion will be crowned, will take place at NRG Stadium on Sunday, July 6, 2025.

Just one year out from the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Concacaf Gold Cup will provide a highly competitive tournament for the region’s best teams and an opportunity for even more fans to engage with the sport at a pivotal time for its growth in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

2025 CONCACAF GOLD CUP QUALIFICATION

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Group Stage will include 16 teams—eight that have secured qualification through the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League, seven set to be determined after the 2025 Gold Cup Preliminary Round (Prelims), and Saudi Arabia (guest nation).

The eight Concacaf teams that qualified for the Gold Cup Group Stage are Canada, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, and the United States.

The Gold Cup Prelims feature 14 men’s national teams competing in seven matchups. Following the return leg matches, all taking place on Tuesday, March 25, the winner of each matchup will advance to the Gold Cup Group Stage.

Click here to see the full Prelims match schedule and details on how the matchups were determined.

2025 GOLD CUP DATES AND COMPETITION FORMAT

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup will begin with a 16-team Group Stage – four groups of four teams each. After round-robin play, between June 14-24, the four group winners and four runners-up (eight teams in total) will advance to the Knockout Stage.

The Knockout Stage will commence with the Quarterfinals on June 28 and 29, followed by the Semifinals on July 2, and the Final, where Concacaf’s new champion will be crowned, on Sunday, July 6.

Group Stage: June 14-24, 2025
Quarterfinals: June 28 and 29, 2025
Semifinals: July 2, 2025
Final: July 6, 2025

OFFICIAL DRAW
Concacaf will conduct the official draw for the 2025 Gold Cup on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 7:00 pm ET. More details on the draw are available here.

Media Contacts:
Concacaf: media@concaf.org
SoFi Stadium: press@hollywoodparkca.com

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