GM football fans. It’s Wednesday, Sept. 10 - World Cup 2026 ticket sales start today, Nottingham Forest sack Nuno Espirito Santo, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
TOP TALKING POINTS
World Cup Tickets Open
The first phase of ticket sales for next year’s Fifa World Cup opens on Wednesday (Sept 10) with a 10-day presale lottery allowing applicants to purchase up to four tickets for as many as 10 matches. For this ticket lottery, fans must have a Visa card. The entry period will open at 11:00 ET (17:00 CET / 16:00 BST) on Fifa’s website–see here.
Around 1 million tickets will be available in the first presale phase, which is around one-sixth of the total available for the tournament. Fifa said prices will start at $60 for some group-stage tickets and climb to $6,730 for the final.
One report (paywalled) estimates that Fifa has already made well over $15m, and possibly more than $20m from selling “Right to Buy” digital tokens. These are not tickets, but a guarantee that allows the holder to purchase actual World Cup tickets at a later date. Nevertheless, the revenue is a small fraction of the $3bn Fifa expects to make from all ticket and hospitality sales.
Football Faces Climate Problem
The 2026 World Cup could be North America’s last without urgent climate adaptation, according to a new study highlighting extreme weather threats. The report, conducted by Pitches in Peril, found that nearly 90% of North America’s host stadiums will require adaptation to extreme heat by 2050. Miami, Houston, Monterrey, and Dallas top the list of the most climate-vulnerable stadiums.
The report also found that 10 of the 16 stadiums to be used at next year’s World Cup are at very high risk of extreme heat. It claims that 91% of fans polled across the three host nations want the 2026 World Cup to be a sustainability role model for future tournaments.
Analysis of grassroots pitches played on by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mohamed Salah in their youth found that they already passed unplayability thresholds for multiple hazards. The report says that extreme heat, flooding, drought, and wildfire are reducing pitch playability at both an elite and grassroots level. Grassroots sites in the Global South are reportedly the hardest hit–on average, there are seven times more unplayable heat days than Global North sites.
Forest Sack Nuno
Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Nuno Espirito Santo after 21 months in charge. The decision follows the Portuguese coach admitting that his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated. After just three matchdays, Nuno becomes the first Premier League manager sacked this season.
Nuno guided Forest to 7th in the Premier League last season, their highest finish since 1994-95, and secured European qualification for the first time in three decades. Forest will play in the Europa League this season after being promoted from the Conference League due to Crystal Palace’s expulsion.
Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has been appointed as his replacement, becoming the eighth permanent manager under Marinakis since 2017. His first match in charge will be Saturday’s trip to Arsenal. Dive deeper into whether Postecoglou is the right fit for Forest here.
Nuno’s dismissal is the seventh-fastest in Premier League history, coming just 25 days into the season. See the other earliest Premier League sackings here.
POLL
Are you planning on applying for World Cup tickets today?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> England cruised past Serbia with a 5-0 victory in the Uefa World Cup qualifiers (More) | Erling Haaland has taken his Norway goal tally to 48 goals in 45 games with five goals against Moldova; the match ended 11-1 (More) | See every Uefa World Cup qualifier result (More) and Group Standings (More)
> For the second year in a row, Real Madrid is not expected to attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony (More)
> France coach Didier Deschamps has insisted that his team are not at odds with PSG after the French champions hit out at the national side over injuries to Dembele and Doue (More)
Americas
> Conmebol World Cup qualifier matches will conclude shortly after publication (Live Results)
> USMNT vs. Japan and Mexico vs. South Korea international friendlies will conclude shortly after publication (Live Results) | Canada overcame Wales 1-0 in a friendly as Derek Cornelius scored a spectacular free-kick from 30 yards (More)
> The North Carolina Courage have agreed to trade U.S. midfielder Jaedyn Shaw to NJ/NY Gotham FC for $1.25 million, which would be an intra-league record for an NWSL trade (More) | Bay FC coach Albertin Montoya will resign at the end of the season following a late-season decline (More)
> Suriname scored late to edge El Salvador 2-1 and take the lead in Group A after Panama struggled at home in a 1-1 draw against Guatemala in Central American qualifying for the World Cup (More)
Rest of the World
> South Africa and Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw in the CAF World Cup qualifiers; see every CAF result (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Do you think national team managers should be from their own country?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👍 Yes (49%)
🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🙅♂️ Nope (48%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (3%)
Your punditry takes:
👍 D.R: “I didn’t until recently. The USMNT is a prime example of a manager not seeming to grasp the culture of his squad. The USMNT used to have a style and a way about them, but it’s as if Poch is looking to place a square peg in a round hole. He doesn’t understand what he has, or he is too arrogant to properly adjust.”
👍 T.H: “The managers are part of the team, aren't they? The players must be from their own country, to the extent required by Fifa. Managers should abide by that same requirement.”
🙅♂️ M.T: “It’s a global game. Does it matter where the manager comes from? Especially for countries with limited pools to select from. They are already at a disadvantage because of a smaller player and economic pool. A qualified coach from a different country can help bridge the gap to some degree.”
EXTRA TIME
Heavyweight champion to play in charity football match.
Iconic commentator retires after 23 years.
Ndidi falls during World Cup qualifier walk out.
How Fifa lost their video game franchise.
… and what do Premier League players think of their EAFC ratings?
A-League reveals its official match ball for 25-26.
Ronaldinho’s son is set to join a Championship side.
How Canada women are moving forward after ‘cheating’ scandal. (long read)
GAME FACE ON
Question: Which midfielder finished 16th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings after winning a domestic double?
Clue: One of his teammates finished higher on the list.
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
USL Championship
New Mexico United vs. Detroit City FC (02:00)
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
Granit Xhaka
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
Not everyone has the full picture, but I'm happy that I became a Liverpool player.
