clip from today’s pre-match conference: https://www.youtube.com/live/nTsLZgBaSx4?si=goQUA7O7JRc3mweD
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has secured a rare concession from FIFA after negotiating 1,000 tickets to matches at the upcoming World Cup finals priced at $50, which will be distributed by ballot to local residents.
The 1,000 tickets include five group-stage fixtures, a round of 32 tie and a round of 16 game, but not the final on July 19. It is the only citywide access program of this kind that has so far been announced for the tournament.
The $50 seats are the cheapest available for fans to purchase through the primary ticket market at the World Cup. Buyers will also receive free round-trip bus travel to attend.
The tickets will be apportioned via a ballot and will only be available to New York City residents, following on from Mamdani’s campaign demand during his mayoral run for locals to be given greater access by FIFA to this summer’s tournament.
The Athletic has learned, via sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations, that Mamdani raised the issue directly with FIFA president Gianni Infantino during a meeting at City Hall in Manhattan in March — a meeting in which Mamdani, a lifelong fan of new Premier League champions Arsenal, was also introduced via FaceTime to Arsene Wenger, the former Arsenal manager and now FIFA’s chief of global development.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta asked how he felt on Tuesday:
"You probably don't realise it. It's one of the best feelings I've ever had. I was supposed to be here, at the training ground, watching the game with the boys and the staff because that's what they wanted - but I couldn't. I think 20 minutes before the game I had to leave. I couldn't bring the energy that I wanted, and ultimately it was their moment to watch it together and be themselves.
"I went home, I went outside to the garden and had a BBQ and I didn't watch any of it. I was just hearing some noises in the living room and suddenly the magic happened. My eldest son opened the garden door, started to run towards me, gave me a hug and said: 'We are Champions, daddy!' It was beautiful."
“A civilian girl from Iraq and a sergeant-major figure, berating him and telling him how useless he was, why did he survive, how can he hold his head up when his mates have died, all that sort of thing. Really, deeply negative. And that was with him all the time. The child, there was obviously an incident in Iraq. Something happened and it involved a little girl. And there was a guilt complex around his mates. He didn’t feel lucky to have survived. He said he should have died. That was hard for him to take, because when he went out there he told himself he wasn’t coming back. He was going to be totally committed, and he was. Never missed a convoy, never missed a memorial service for a colleague.”
“We didn’t have any help for him and that was the saddest thing. And there was a limit to what we could do. We’re not experts, we’re not carers, and he’s our son. We couldn’t help our son. It’s not even like your friend or a team-mate, anything like that, it’s your son. The number of nights we cried because we couldn’t get help, the number of times we’ve broken down.”
“Combat Stress and Help for Heroes wouldn’t take him on. He was assessed but they said the condition was too complex and too severe. He needed real professional help from a military expert, but we didn’t have that. So he was referred to the NHS and, bless them, they do a fantastic job but there was no one that was military based or had military experience.”
Nagelsmann confirms Manuel Neuer will be Germany's starting goalkeeper at the World Cup Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has confirmed that Manuel Neuer will start ahead of Oliver Baumann at the upcoming World Cup.
After announcing his international retirement following the Euros two years ago, Manuel Neuer is back in the national team.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann included the 40-year-old FC Bayern Munich veteran in his squad for the 2026 World Cup, which was unveiled on Thursday afternoon.
Julian Nagelsmann also confirmed that the plan is for Manuel Neuer to be Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper at the tournament, meaning Oliver Baumann of TSG Hoffenheim will serve as the backup despite starting throughout the World Cup qualification campaign.
“I plan to use him (Neuer) as the number one," Nagelsmann said when asked about his decision to bring Neuer back into his squad.
"My job was to pick the three best goalkeepers in the country. That’s why we contacted Manuel Neuer and asked whether he wanted to play another World Cup. One of the conditions was also that he keeps playing after the World Cup, and he has extended his contract with Bayern.
“Everyone knows his qualities and what he brings to the team. He has once again committed to playing a tournament. We also have a world-class alternative in Oliver Baumann. That's the decision, and I think it's the right one.”
Baumann left disappointed On how the decision was communicated to Oliver Baumann and how the 35-year-old reacted, Nagelsmann revealed:
“We already told ‘Oli’ in March that I had met with Manu and informed him about various topics. In the end, the decision was obviously a blow for Oli – and that’s understandable.
“At the same time, I really have to take my hat off to Oli because he has had a very good season, even though this topic has been building over the past few weeks. In our phone call, he was also extremely committed to the team.
“In the end, we have a similar situation to Bayern. Manu will help the team, even if he doesn’t play. Those situations can also happen, and you have to plan for them.”
Urbig to travel as training goalkeeper Alongside the three nominated goalkeepers – Alexander Nübel, Oliver Baumann and Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich's Jonas Urbig will also travel to the World Cup, though he will not be part of the official squad.
“We want to have a fourth goalkeeper in training who throws himself into everything and gives maximum effort. He has done very well at Bayern both in matches and in training,” Nagelsmann explained.
“The second point is that we will obviously have to travel long distances. Because of the distance from Germany, it would be very difficult to react to certain situations and call someone up later. Many players also like to stay behind after training to take extra shots on goal, so it’s useful to spread the workload among more goalkeepers.
“Jonas fully deserves to be there. He may not be part of the official squad, but he will fulfil the role very well.”
Source: RTP Portugal