Ronaldo’s effect? Ticket prices for the World Cup in football fall after the exit of the USA and Portugal | Football news

Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (7) (AP Photo)

The quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are set to kick off this week, but ticket prices for one of the biggest knockout games have dropped significantly following the elimination of co-hosts the United States and Portugal. According to secondary market TickPick, the ticket price for Friday’s quarter-final between Spain and Belgium has dropped dramatically from around $2,950 to almost $1,200 as of Tuesday afternoon. The sharp drop comes after the United States suffered a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16, ending the World Cup co-hosts’ campaign. A potential quarter-final involving the home team would likely generate much higher demand among fans. The exit of Portugal also played a big role in the drop in prices. Spain’s 1-0 win over Portugal didn’t just end there Cristiano Ronaldo‘with FIFA World Cup career, but also removed one of the world’s biggest attractions of the tournament from the knockout phase. A quarter-final between the United States and Portugal was seen as one of the most important possibilities of the tournament, with the presence Ronaldo and the host country is expected to increase the demand for tickets. Meanwhile, France’s quarter-final against Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough is currently the cheapest round of 16 match on the secondary market. According to TickPick, tickets for the game are available starting at $989. The quarter-finals begin on Friday, with France taking on Morocco after Didier Deschamps’ side beat Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16, while Morocco progressed with a convincing 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada. Spain will meet Belgium in the second quarter-final after the Red Devils eliminated the United States 4-1, with Spain remaining the only team yet to concede a goal at this year’s championship. Sunday’s action begins with Erling Haaland’s Norway taking on Harry Kane’s England before defending champions Argentina take on Switzerland in the last quarter-final. The final four games will be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with the winners advancing to next week’s semifinals.