LOS ANGELES — With less than two months until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on American soil, organizers are grappling with unexpectedly sluggish ticket sales for the host nation’s opening match, as high prices appear to be deterring fans from snapping up seats for the United States men’s national team’s June 12 clash against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium.

An internal document dated April 10 and distributed to local organizers showed only 40,934 tickets purchased for the marquee Group D opener, according to a report by The Athletic. That figure lags behind other matches at the same venue, including 50,661 tickets sold for Iran versus New Zealand three days later. SoFi Stadium has a listed World Cup capacity of 69,650, leaving a significant number of seats potentially available just weeks before the tournament begins.

FIFA has not publicly disputed the sales numbers but has declined to provide detailed clarification on whether the figures include hospitality packages or other non-general admission tickets. The governing body announced Tuesday a fresh round of ticket inventory for all 104 matches would go on sale starting Wednesday at 8 a.m. PDT, signaling an effort to boost demand across the board.

When tickets first went on general sale in October following the draw, the U.S.-Paraguay match was priced as the third-most expensive fixture of the entire tournament, behind only the final and one semifinal. Category 1 tickets carried a price tag of $2,730, Category 2 tickets $1,940 and Category 3 tickets $1,120. Those premium prices have remained frozen even as other matches saw adjustments or stronger uptake.

Fans and analysts have pointed to the steep costs as the primary culprit. Many supporters expressed sticker shock on social media and forums, with some opting instead for resale markets where secondary prices have also softened in recent weeks. American Outlaws, the largest U.S. supporters group, voiced frustration over pricing that they say prices out average families and dedicated fans.

The slow sales contrast sharply with the excitement surrounding the expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. opener was billed as a glamorous curtain-raiser in the glittering SoFi Stadium, home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. Yet demand has not matched the hype, raising questions about FIFA’s pricing strategy and a possible miscalculation of the USMNT’s domestic drawing power for a group-stage game against a relatively modest opponent like Paraguay.

Paraguay, ranked outside the top 20 by FIFA, does not bring a large traveling fan base to Los Angeles, further limiting organic demand. In contrast, matches featuring larger diaspora communities or more attractive matchups have moved tickets faster in some host cities.

Broader ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup have shown uneven patterns. While high-profile later-stage games and certain group fixtures with strong international interest have performed well, several opening-round matches — including some not involving host nations — have also lagged. FIFA has responded by launching additional sales phases and introducing new inventory, but critics argue the organization has been reluctant to lower prices on premium categories for high-visibility U.S. games.

The situation highlights ongoing challenges for soccer in the United States. Despite growing popularity of Major League Soccer, the English Premier League and domestic interest in the USMNT during major tournaments, filling massive NFL-caliber venues for every match remains difficult. The USMNT has historically drawn strong crowds for friendlies and Gold Cup games in smaller or mid-sized stadiums, but scaling that enthusiasm to 70,000-seat arenas at premium pricing has proven tougher.

U.S. Soccer Federation officials have expressed confidence that sales will accelerate as the tournament nears and excitement builds. “We’re focused on delivering an unforgettable experience for fans,” a spokesperson said, noting that hospitality and corporate packages may account for some of the discrepancy in reported general sales figures.

Still, the optics are not ideal for a host nation less than 60 days from its opening match. Resale platforms show thousands of tickets listed for the U.S.-Paraguay game, with some Category 1 seats trading below face value in recent days. That secondary market activity suggests FIFA may need to consider further incentives or adjustments to avoid a half-empty stadium for one of the most anticipated games of the group stage.

The pricing controversy is not isolated. Earlier sales phases were marred by website glitches, long virtual queues and frustration over dynamic pricing elements. FIFA has defended its approach by noting that average ticket prices across the tournament remain comparable to or lower than recent World Cups when adjusted for inflation and venue scale. However, the premium positioning of the U.S. opener has drawn particular backlash.

Local organizers in Los Angeles, including representatives from SoFi Stadium and regional tourism bodies, are monitoring the situation closely. A strong turnout for the opener could set a positive tone for the dozens of matches scheduled across California and other U.S. venues. Conversely, visible empty seats could dampen the atmosphere and generate unfavorable headlines as the tournament launches.

The USMNT, under coach Mauricio Pochettino, enters the World Cup with rising expectations after solid performances in recent qualifying and friendlies. Players and staff have avoided commenting directly on ticket sales, focusing instead on on-field preparations. Captain Tyler Adams emphasized the importance of fan support, saying, “Having the home crowd behind us from the first whistle will be massive.”

Paraguay coach has downplayed any advantage from potential lower attendance, calling the match a historic opportunity regardless of the crowd size.

As FIFA pushes the new sales phase, attention turns to whether lower-category tickets or promotional bundles can move the needle. Some analysts suggest that bundling with other group-stage matches or offering family packages could help, though FIFA has given no indication of major price reductions on the flagship U.S. game.

The broader 2026 World Cup ticketing picture remains mixed. Matches in cities with large immigrant communities from participating nations have generally sold better, while neutral or less glamorous fixtures have faced similar headwinds. Overall sales have reached millions of tickets, but the flagship U.S. opener’s performance has stood out as a concern.

With the tournament fast approaching, FIFA faces pressure to fill venues and create the electric atmosphere expected of soccer’s biggest event on home soil for the United States. The coming weeks will reveal whether pent-up demand or last-minute buying surges can close the gap, or if pricing strategy will leave a notable void in SoFi Stadium on June 12.

For now, the slow movement of tickets for the USMNT’s World Cup debut serves as an early test of how effectively the world’s most popular sport can captivate American audiences when ticket costs reach thousands of dollars per seat.

British businesses racing to embed artificial intelligence into their products risk leaving millions of disabled consumers behind unless they bring them into the design process from the outset, according to fresh research from the Business Disability Forum (BDF).

A poll of 1,032 disabled UK adults, conducted with Opinium, found that two in five (40%) believe designing, developing and testing AI products with disabled people is the single most effective way to make the technology genuinely accessible. The same survey identified more user-friendly interfaces (38%), better information about how AI can support disabled users (37%) and stronger onboarding support (36%) as further priorities.

For SMEs in particular, many of whom are weighing how, and how quickly, to integrate AI into customer-facing tools, the findings carry a clear commercial message. Roughly one in four people in the UK will experience disability at some point in their lifetime, representing a significant share of the consumer base and the workforce. Building products that fail to accommodate that audience is, increasingly, a competitive liability as well as an ethical one.

The research suggests considerable optimism about what the technology can deliver. More than a third of disabled adults said AI tools could help by improving communications (38%) and online experiences (34%). Other anticipated benefits included better access to healthcare information (33%), education (32%), digital content (32%), support for independent living (31%), improved customer experience (25%) and better access to employment (24%).

That optimism, however, is tempered by significant scepticism. One in five disabled UK adults (20%) said they did not believe AI products would help them at all, while a further 18% said they simply did not know, a sizeable trust gap that businesses will need to close if they want adoption to follow investment.

A parallel Opinium poll of 2,000 UK adults found broadly similar attitudes across the wider population, with 34% agreeing that co-designing AI products with disabled users would improve accessibility, evidence that inclusive design is increasingly viewed as a mainstream expectation rather than a niche concern.

Lara Davis, communications director at Business Disability Forum, said the stakes were considerable. “There is the potential for AI products and tools to make a radical and positive difference to disabled people’s lives, but there is also the risk that disabled people could be left behind,” she said. “With AI developing at pace and one in four people experiencing disability at some point in their lives, this is not an issue that we can afford to overlook.”

Davis urged firms to “actively consult with their disabled consumers to make sure they are involved in the design, development and testing of AI products”, alongside providing better access to information and advice about the technology more generally.

Lucy Ruck, who leads BDF’s Tech Taskforce, was equally direct. “AI has the capacity to transform lives, but only if we get inclusion right from the start,” she said. “Making sure that disabled people are active participants in shaping this technology isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s how we build AI that genuinely serves everyone.”

The forum has set out four recommendations for businesses and developers. They are urged to involve disabled people throughout the AI lifecycle, on the basis that inclusive design removes barriers for everyone, not only disabled consumers. They should publish clear information about the accessibility features of their AI products, in formats tailored to differing communication needs. Compatibility with assistive technology, on which many disabled users rely daily, must be tested rather than assumed. And ethical judgement and meaningful human oversight should be built into both the tools themselves and the content they generate, with inclusive training data used to reduce bias and stereotype.

For SME founders and product leaders, the message is one that has been heard before in other waves of digital transformation: retrofitting accessibility is invariably more expensive, and less effective, than designing it in from the start.

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FIRST ON FOX – Anheuser-Busch is increasing its U.S. investment to $600 million over two years, expanding brewery capacity, worker training and veteran hiring as the beer giant leans further into domestic manufacturing, Fox News Digital learned. 

“Anheuser‑Busch is doubling down on investing in our U.S. operations because we see strong, long-term growth opportunities right here at home,” Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth exclusively told Fox News Digital. “When we invest in our U.S. operations and expand training for our people and opportunities for our veterans, we strengthen communities and drive real economic prosperity.”

“This $600 million investment is about advancing American manufacturing, strengthening our supply chain, and creating lasting careers and a brighter future for U.S. workers,” Whitworth added.

HEINEKEN TO CUT UP TO 6,000 JOBS GLOBALLY, LOWERS PROFIT GROWTH FORECAST AMID INDUSTRY STRUGGLES

The company said the expansion will increase manufacturing capacity and invest in workforce development through 15 new training centers and veteran programs. The move aligns with broader industry and government efforts to boost domestic production and rebuild the manufacturing workforce, echoing calls from the Trump administration.

Anheuser-Busch will spend the $600 million over two years, from 2025 through 2026, focusing on brewery upgrades, technology, and production capacity. The Wednesday announcement expands upon a $300 million investment announced in 2025. 

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The company said it makes 99% of the beer it sells in the U.S. domestically, including Michelob ULTRA, Busch Light, Budweiser, and Bud Light.

HOW REAL AMERICAN BEER AIMS TO FULFILL LATE FOUNDER HULK HOGAN’S GOAL OF TOPPLING BUD LIGHT, RIVALS

The initiative aims to upskill 90% of its workforce over five years, training employees in digital systems, mechanical and electrical skills, and management systems. 

“By strengthening our manufacturing operations, we are creating sustainable careers – not just jobs – and investing in the people who are vital to our success,” said Whitworth in a press release viewed by Fox News Digital.

“We are proud to continue building the next generation of manufacturing leaders through our new technical training centers while also providing new opportunities in the workforce for our nation’s veterans,” he added.

AMERICA FIRST POLICIES ELECTRIFYING US-MADE BREWS AND BRINGING BEER BOOM TO RED STATE

Anheuser-Busch is expanding veteran partnerships to help service members transition into the workforce. A new “SmartResume” platform will translate military skills and experience for employers.

The announcement follows the Trump administration’s continued push of “America First” policies creating indirect incentives for companies and reshaping trade policy for domestic production.

“This is yet another example of the Trump effect. Thanks to President Trump’s unwavering commitment to rebuilding American industry, companies are investing in the United States, expanding manufacturing, creating good-paying jobs, and driving a new era of prosperity for the American people,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston told Fox News Digital.

In March, 15,000 new jobs were added in the manufacturing sector, according to the White House.

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Trump has also signed various executive orders and actions to revitalize American manufacturing, recently signing a proclamation to strengthen tariffs imposed on imported steel, aluminum, and copper imports to help Americans compete and companies to build factories in the U.S..

Life insurer SBI Life on Wednesday reported a marginal decline in its standalone profit to Rs 805 crore in the fourth quarter. The profit was down about 1% over the previous year quarter. Net premium income, meanwhile, increased 16% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 27,684 crore.

SBI Life retained its leadership in the private market across key metrics during FY26, with a 25.5% market share in Individual New Business Premium and 22.9% share in Individual Rated Premium.

The company reported annualized premium equivalent (APE) of Rs 24,270 crore, marking a 13% increase, while Individual New Business Sum Assured surged 61% to Rs 4.46 lakh crore, indicating strong traction in protection-led offerings.

Persistency ratios also improved, with 13-month and 49-month persistency rising by 53 basis points and 107 basis points, respectively.

Value of New Business (VoNB) stood at Rs 6,670 crore, up 12% YoY, with margins at 27.5%, reflecting stable profitability despite a shifting product mix. Embedded value grew 15% to Rs 80,790 crore, while operating return on embedded value came in at 19.7%. Assets under management increased 9% to Rs 4.9 lakh crore, and the solvency ratio remained robust at 1.90.

MD and CEO Amit Jhingran said the life insurance industry saw improved momentum during FY26, supported by regulatory measures and a shift towards protection-oriented products. He noted that GST exemption on individual policies improved affordability and aided demand. The company maintained a balanced product mix across ULIPs, participating, and non-participating savings products, while the participating and retail protection segments saw strong growth.
SBI Life continued to focus on a balanced growth strategy, strengthening its product portfolio, expanding distribution, and improving operational efficiencies while maintaining prudent risk management. The company reiterated its commitment to improving insurance penetration and delivering long-term value.Also read: Pahalgam anniversary: How the 2025 terror attack triggered Rs 3 lakh crore defence boom and created 3 multibagger stocks

On the business front, Individual New Business Premium rose 13% to Rs 29,780 crore, while protection new business premium stood at Rs 4,622 crore. Gross Written Premium grew 19% to Rs 1.01 lakh crore, driven by a 20% rise in new business regular premium and a 19% increase in renewal premiums.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Shares slump as company updates market

Retailer Shoe Zone has warned it is poised to report an annual loss, citing the Iran conflict and the UK’s recent budget challenges for eroding consumer confidence.

The high street chain, which operates 259 shops and employs over 2,000 people throughout the UK, said the Middle East turmoil was also driving up expenses such as shipping and logistics, which is expected to hit its financial performance.

Shares in the company tumbled by more than a fifth, falling 22%, during Wednesday morning trading as Shoe Zone announced it anticipates swinging to an underlying pre-tax loss of between £1 million and £2 million for the year ending October 3, compared with earlier forecasts of £1 million in profits.

The Leicester-based Shoe Zone said its first quarter had experienced “challenging trading conditions, principally due to a continued weakening in consumer confidence, following on from the Government’s last two budget announcements, and the geo-political issues in the Middle East”.

It added: “These macroeconomic factors have increased customer caution, leading to lower footfall, less discretionary spend and additional costs such as container prices and transportation costs, with a resultant reduction in revenue and profit.”

Budget clothing chain Primark disclosed on Tuesday that it had witnessed softer trading in April as strain from the Middle East conflict dampened consumer sentiment. Shoe Zone has previously condemned “highly adverse” Government policies amid worsening trading difficulties that have driven its share price to its lowest point in over five years.

The retailer revealed profits plummeted by more than two-thirds to £3.3 million in the year to last September, while store sales fell 10.3% as it closed a net total of 28 shops over the period.

The group recently warned that Government policies had damaged consumer confidence and caused business costs to soar.

Shoe Zone operates 53 smaller-format high street stores alongside 206 larger outlets.

The company sells approximately 13.3 million pairs of shoes annually at an average price of around £13.00.

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Trent, the parent company of retail chains Westside and Zudio, on Wednesday declared its first-ever bonus issue, offering shares in a 1:2 ratio to more than five lakh shareholders.

In an exchange filing, the company announced the 1:2 bonus issue along with Rs 6 dividend and Q4 results. The record date to determine the eligibility of shareholders set to receive the bonus shares will be announced later.

The Tata Group company said that it will issue one bonus share for every two shares owned as on the record date, subject to shareholders’ approval. Around 17.77 crore shares with a face value of Re 1 each will be issued as part of the offer.

Trent plans to allot the bonus shares by June 21, utilising share premium worth Rs 17.77 crore. The company’s total share premium available for capitalisation stood at Rs 1,924.3 crore as of March 31, 2026.

This marks the first-ever bonus issue announced by the Tata Group company. Earlier in June last year, the company announced a dividend of Rs 5 per equity share, while it paid dividends of Rs 3.20 in May 2024 and Rs 2.20 in May 2023. In 2016, it announced a stock split in the ratio of 10:1.

A bonus issue consists of free shares distributed by a company from its reserves and is often seen as a sign of strong financial health and growth prospects. While the issue of bonus shares increases the total number of outstanding shares, it does not change the company’s market capitalisation. However, it can improve liquidity and affordability, allowing more investors to add shares of the company to their portfolio.
Only those shareholders who own the shares of the company as on the record date will be eligible to receive the bonus shares. The record date for Trent’s prospective bonus issue is yet to be determined.Trent Q4 results

Trent reported a 26% growth in its consolidated net profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, at Rs 400 crore versus Rs 318 crore in the year-ago period. Its revenue from operations, meanwhile, rose 19% YoY to Rs 5,028 crore in Q4 FY26.

Further, Trent’s board of directors also approved the plan to raise additional funds through the issue of equity shares via rights issue or other methods. The company announced an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) to issue nearly 8.89 lakh shares to its eligible shareholders.

Trent share price

Trent shares have gained around 11% over the past week and 24% in the last month. However, the stock is down nearly 17% over the past one year. In the longer term, it has rallied 219% in three years and over 490% in five years.

Promoters and the promoter group held a 37% stake in the company, while the public owned the remaining 63%, as per the shareholding pattern as of March 31, 2026, on the NSE. Among promoters, Tata Sons held over 32%, while Tata Investment Corporation owned a little over 4%.