We finally got that warm sunshine in New York — the kind that makes for a perfect trip to Yankee Stadium. But the Los Angeles Dodgers seem to be on a personal crusade to convert me, one themed souvenir night at a time. My loyalty (and Kuromi-loving heart) feels fragile. Don’t even get me started on the hoodie people lined up for before the game. Which is absolutely insane… and I need it. If we’re giving flowers this week — even to men — I have to nominate this sports dad who cooked up the most genius and lazy way to “coach” his son. But the biggest bouquet goes to the mom of this MLB player, who asked her on live TV to stop doing this one thing at his games. Her response? Genius. Now, onto the rest of the sports stories that got us talking this week.
— Mallory Simon / Writer / New York, New York
Let's Discuss
The Price Isn't Right
What’s going on: Less than 60 days from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and fans are giving out more red cards than a referee who skipped breakfast. One stadium renovation still isn’t finished, leaving the opening match in limbo — sound familiar? Then there’s the ticket mess that triggers full-on Ticketmaster trauma. Fans who paid up to thousands of dollars for prime seats say they ended up in corners, behind goals, or farther from the action than promised. FIFA added insult to injury after it unveiled a brand-new ticket category, with seats in the first few rows of lower-level sections. The price? Raised to nearly 50% of the original cost in some cases. Not exactly golden behavior. As one fan told The Athletic, many feel misled, confused, or just scammed. FIFA pushed back, citing strong demand and pointing the finger at host nations for distribution issues. Talk about a punt.
Our take: It’s been a minute since the US last hosted the World Cup in 1994 — when tickets ran $25 to $475. Even the Brazil vs. Italy final topped out around $1,500 (about $3,300 today). And it’s not just soccer. The Athletic reports that the average cost to attend an NFL or MLB game has jumped more than 300% since the early ‘90s — FIFA just took that trend and cranked it to 11. We love when global soccer gets its moment in the US spotlight — even if we’re really counting down to the women’s tournament. But no one asked FIFA to make it this inaccessible. The upside? Host cities will have watch parties and free events throughout — arguably just as fun to root against your enemies or for your adopted team. And if you really need to scratch the pitch itch? Tickets for the first-place San Diego Wave (and plenty of other NWSL teams) are still under $75. Just sayin.
