Ticket prices for Friday’s FIFA World Cup quarter-final in Los Angeles have dropped sharply following the elimination of hosts the United States and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal from the tournament, Forbes reports.

According to the report, the cheapest resale tickets for the match fell by almost 60 per cent, dropping from $2,950 to about $1,200 on the secondary marketplace TickPick after Monday’s Round of 16 fixtures.

The sharp decline followed the United States’ 4-1 defeat to Belgium in Seattle, which ended hopes of a home-team appearance in the quarter-finals.

Portugal also exited the tournament after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in Arlington, Texas, ending Ronaldo’s World Cup career and removing one of the tournament’s biggest attractions from the Los Angeles fixture.

Forbes noted that the absence of both the host nation and Ronaldo significantly reduced demand for the match, which would likely have commanded far higher prices had either side progressed.

“Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 on Monday, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career and removing a significant amount of star power appeal from the quarterfinal match in Los Angeles, which would have likely had far higher ticket prices if the U.S. and Portugal faced off instead,” the report read.

The report added that average resale prices for all World Cup quarter-final matches have fallen by 31.5 per cent over the past day and 50.4 per cent over the last three days, citing ticket marketplace SeatPick.

SeatPick also reported that the number of tickets available on secondary markets had risen to 49,415, up from 28,285 at the start of the tournament.

Among the quarter-final fixtures, Thursday’s clash between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is currently the cheapest, with tickets starting from $989, according to TickPick.

Despite the decline in quarter-final prices, demand for the final remains high.

Forbes reported that the cheapest resale ticket for the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19 stood at $9,346 as of Tuesday, although the price is expected to fluctuate depending on the finalists.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been widely regarded as the most expensive in the competition’s history, with ticket prices reaching several times those recorded at previous editions, the report added.

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Manchester United have agreed a deal worth up to £50 million to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, according to multiple British media reports, although neither Manchester United nor Chelsea has officially confirmed the transfer.

Sky Sports late Wednesday reported that “Manchester United have agreed a £50m deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos.”

The broadcaster adds that the Brazilian is expected to complete the remaining formalities before the move is finalised.

The Guardian UK reports that United have completed a £48 million deal after earlier revealing Chelsea’s valuation of the midfielder.

The newspaper says the move comes after United stepped up their pursuit of the 22-year-old.

According to The Athletic, as cited by TNT Sports, the clubs have agreed a fee of “£48m plus £2m in add-ons,” with “personal terms agreed” and Santos “granted permission to undergo a medical.”

The Times reports that United have secured a £50 million transfer and says Chelsea negotiated a 10 per cent sell-on clause as part of the agreement.

Similarly, talkSPORT reports that the deal comprises “£48m upfront and £2m in add-ons,” adding that Santos is expected to sign a five-year contract at Old Trafford.

As of publication, neither club has announced the transfer.

Chelsea’s official channels have not confirmed Santos’ departure, while Manchester United have yet to announce his arrival.

Santos joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama in 2023 and spent time on loan at Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg before returning to Stamford Bridge.

If the reported deal is completed, it would bolster United’s midfield ahead of the new season, subject to a medical and the completion of the remaining transfer formalities.

It was with the fellow BlueCo club where he started to make his name, impressing under Liam Rosenior and being brought into the Chelsea squad ahead of the Club World Cup in 2025.

Despite not being a regular starter ahead of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, Santos would make 43 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea last season, scoring three goals.

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The Egyptian football federation said Wednesday it had asked for the officiating team who handled the Pharoahs loss 3-2 last-16 to Argentina to be thrown out of the World Cup.

“Hany Aburida, President of the Egyptian Football Federation, filed a complaint with FIFA, demanding an investigation into the French referee Francois Letexier… after the serious refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards, which caused the Egypt team to lose the match and leave the World Cup,” said a statement from the federation.

On Tuesday evening, Letexes ruled out a Mostafa Ziko goal ruled out when they were leading 1-0 after VAR intervened to spot a foul on Lisandro Martinez much earlier in the move.

A few minutes later, Ziko did put Egyptian 2-0 up and on the brink of a place in the last eight for the first time but there was further controversy in added time, after Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi had brought the champions level.

In the build-up to Argentina’s winner scored by Enzo Fernandez, Egypt believe they should have instead been awarded a penalty for a pull by Alexis Mac Allister on Hamdy Fathy.

“Aburida demanded the investigation of the entire team of referees, including the video technology referees, because of the blatant errors and insisting on not reviewing some of the footage that we believe are in favour of the Egyptian national team, and we see in it the Pharaohs’ right to a correct goal and a penalty,” said the Egyptian statement.

It added that the president had also “demanded the exclusion of the referee and the entire crew from the World Cup after investigating these mistakes and proving the crime of discrimination against the Egyptian national team”.

The statement echoed remarks by Egypt coach Hossam Hassan immediately after the game.

“I do not want to put it nicely and talk about hard luck. We have been cheated unfairly today, we have suffered injustice,” Hassan told journalists.

“We haven’t seen respect or fair play. There has not been respect or fair play.”

Hassan told BeIN: “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running.

“In football, there are sometimes external factors that go beyond the technical aspects. The world champions received support at every level.”

AFP

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