Kick Into Summer | Where Legacy Takes Shape

KICK INTO SUMMER
On the Field. Off the Field. One Summer.

Kick Into Summer is the SDH Network’s home for the buildup to the full experience of the 2026 World Cup. We tell the story of soccer’s biggest summer through the game itself and the cities shaping what this moment becomes.

The World Cup is often framed as a month of matches. But the truth is, it is a long season of preparation disguised as a tournament.

This week was a reminder that 2026 is already arriving, not in scorelines, but in decisions. Where teams choose to live and train. How cities decide who benefits. What fans are asked to pay. What kind of legacy is being built beneath the spectacle.

Base camps are being selected like chess squares, with geography and recovery treated as competitive edges. Atlanta is not just preparing to host, but asking how the tournament can strengthen neighborhoods and small businesses after the visitors leave. Ticket prices are sparking backlash, but they also reveal something else: demand is enormous, and the World Cup on this soil will test the balance between access and exclusivity.

These are not side stories. They are the shape of the summer ahead.

The World Cup will be played on the field, of course. But it will also be lived in infrastructure, in economics, in culture, and in the choices made right now.

June is coming quickly.

And the tournament has already begun.

What’s happening in the game, and why it matters.

The 2026 World Cup begins in June, but the tournament is already being played in a quieter arena: the map.

The U.S. Men’s National Team is expected to establish its base camp at Great Park Sports Complex in Irvine according to reporting from Sports Business Journal, a choice that reveals how much of modern international football is decided before the first whistle. This isn’t just a training ground. It’s a strategic command post. Irvine keeps the Americans anchored to the West Coast for a group stage that runs through Los Angeles and Seattle, and it offers the possibility of continuity deep into the knockout rounds if the U.S. wins its group.

That’s the real story here: base camps are no longer logistical footnotes. They are competitive infrastructure. In a World Cup stretched across an entire continent, the teams that minimize travel fatigue, control recovery cycles, and build stable environments will gain an edge long before tactics enter the conversation.

And the U.S. is not alone in treating this as high performance geography.

Switzerland has chosen San Diego, pairing elite training conditions with a secluded setup. Qatar will prepare in Santa Barbara, using the calm of the California coast as a controlled runway into the group stage. Saudi Arabia will base in Austin, positioned near key match sites in the South. Ecuador will operate out of Columbus, embedding inside an MLS performance complex built for elite preparation.

Then there are the contrasts. Uruguay’s decision to base in Playa del Carmen signals the resort-model approach: isolation, recovery, and an integrated environment built to survive the grind. Croatia, meanwhile, chose Alexandria, Virginia, emphasizing efficiency, balance, and travel practicality over spectacle.

Taken together, these choices show what 2026 will demand: not just talent, but systems. Not just players, but environments.

For the U.S., Irvine is more than a home base. It’s a declaration of seriousness.

This World Cup won’t be won only on talent.

It will be won on preparation.

How cities are preparing to welcome the world, and what lasts after.

Atlanta is leaning into the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an emphasis that is less flash and more foundation. As a host city for eight matches, including a semifinal, the city is not only preparing stadium operations and transit plans. It is preparing local businesses to benefit from the global moment.

In early February, Mayor Andre Dickens announced a coordinated suite of new small business resources through city efforts like Showcase Atlanta and partners including Invest Atlanta. The goal is straightforward: ensure that local entrepreneurs are not sidelined by the surge in visitors, but positioned to be part of the economic opportunity it brings.

That support comes in multiple forms. A low-interest loan program and grant opportunities are now available, plus expanded support for pop-up vendors during the eight World Cup match dates this June and July. There’s also a Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator for Atlantans under 21 to learn how to formalize and scale businesses tied to the influx of fans and cultural energy.

Beyond funding, Atlanta is building digital and tactical capacity. An expanded vendor directory and readiness training will help small businesses prepare for increased customer flow, licensing needs, and marketplace exposure. These tools are meant to turn a short window of global attention into something more durable.

For Atlanta, the objective is not only temporary tourism dollars. It is economic inclusion and resilience. The World Cup will arrive for a month, but the city’s challenge is to make sure the benefits extend well beyond it.

If Atlanta gets this right, the legacy will not just be what happens inside Mercedes Benz Stadium. It will be what grows across neighborhoods long after the final whistle.

With summer just around the corner, excitement for the 2026 World Cup is rising quickly. Unfortunately for many fans, ticket prices are rising too, and social media has been a forum for that frustration.

Early reported seat prices for marquee matches have drawn attention. Early resale listings show Category 1 seats for the final in New Jersey in the $2,000 range and hospitality packages exceeding $100,000. For the opening match, early pricetags near $1,000 have circulated, up significantly from the Qatar 2022 opener, which had a baseline around $618. That has prompted viral posts on Instagram and other platforms with fans calling the tournament out of reach and labeling soccer a “rich man’s game.” Fans have also posted screenshots comparing current pricing to bid documents that projected lower costs. Some say fan culture is being priced out.

The negativity is real and worth acknowledging. Online complaints echo replies seen in other major markets, including England where England’s Supporters Travel Club struggled to sell its allocation for the final after prices crossed $4,000 per seat, forcing FIFA to release a limited share of lower-priced seats in response to backlash. The issue is not only about ticket cost. In the New York/New Jersey region, fan festivals in some host cities will require paid entry, a first in World Cup history and a sore point for soccer communities that expect free public spaces. A number of other host cities including Atlanta have affirmed they will keep festival spaces free to attend, but nine cities have not yet confirmed their plans.

However, fan frustration tells only part of the story. There is another truth that sometimes gets lost in the viral cycle: interest in these tickets remains extremely high. According to price listings of group stage games, there are still affordable options available if fans are flexible about matches and locations. For example, some group stage games show base prices well below marquee dates, with a handful at significantly lower levels depending on the fixture and seating category.

The economic reality is simple. A tournament of this scale across three countries, with 104 matches and eight host cities, creates enormous supply and demand pressures. Resellers and secondary markets routinely drive prices upward for high interest events. That is not a justification so much as a market fact fans encounter in all major sports.

So yes, social media is full of criticism about ticket pricing. But the larger context shows demand is healthy and interest remains robust even at high price levels. In other words, while costs are proving a barrier for some, the appetite to attend a World Cup on American soil is as strong as any measured in recent memory.

(Ayah Mateen contributed to this report)

The early signals from 2030, and what they tell us about where the game is headed.

Five quick global notes that reinforce this is a world story, not just a local one.

King County, Washington
As King County, Washington prepares to host World Cup matches in Seattle, economists and civic leaders are projecting a significant economic windfall tied to increased tourism, hotel bookings, and spending in hospitality sectors. Early forecasts estimate tens of millions in incremental local economic activity during the tournament window, with particular upside for restaurants, transportation services, and cultural attractions. At the same time, community advocates are raising questions about workforce housing pressures and transit capacity during peak match days. County officials are balancing excitement about the financial boost with commitments to mitigate congestion and support equitable access to services for residents.

Madrid, Spain
Streaming giant DAZN has secured exclusive rights to broadcast all 104 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on pay television in Spain via a deal to distribute Mediapro’s World Cup channel, ensuring live and on-demand coverage for Spanish fans. Spanish public broadcaster RTVE will also show a selection of key matches including Spain’s games and the final.

Minneapolis, Minnesota
James Rodríguez, the Colombian national team captain and one of the most recognizable stars of the game, has signed with Minnesota United FC in Major League Soccer on a contract running through June 2026 ahead of this summer’s World Cup. Rodríguez brings global experience and creativity as Minnesota aims to meld local ambition with international talent.

Accra, Ghana
The Ghana Football Association has expanded the Black Stars’ technical team with five experienced appointments to support Head Coach Otto Addo as the four-time African champions prepare for the 2026 World Cup. Additions include a French assistant coach, analytical and performance specialists, and medical staff to deepen preparation and match readiness.

Kansas City, Missouri
Local leaders in Kansas City are already mobilizing small businesses ahead of the 2026 World Cup as the city prepares to host six matches. Kansas City’s Economic Development Corporation recently launched tailored support initiatives that include marketing toolkits, vendor readiness training, and a small business directory to help neighborhood shops capture spillover economic activity from match days. Restaurants, galleries, and local retailers just outside the stadium footprint are planning extended hours and special promotions to tap into the anticipated arrival of international visitors. According to local stakeholders, the goal is not only to benefit during the tournament but also to strengthen downtown business corridors for long-term foot traffic and cultural vibrancy.

The legacy of 2026 is being built now, not after the final whistle. Host cities like Atlanta are treating the World Cup as an economic and cultural project, investing in small businesses and community benefit that can last beyond a single summer. But legacy is not only civic. It is competitive, too. The legacies of teams and players will be shaped by choices made long before kickoff, in base camps selected for recovery, stability, and travel advantage. Even the debate over ticket access is part of the record this tournament will leave behind. June 2026 will define memories, but the foundations are being set today.

Days to kickoff: 123
What that means: The World Cup is close enough now that every decision, from base camps to city planning to ticket access, is no longer theoretical. The tournament is already taking shape in the choices being made today.

This is not just a tournament build. It is a legacy taking shape in real time, through the choices of players, federations, host cities, and communities that care enough to do it well.

The World Cup will arrive in June. What it leaves behind will depend on what happens now.

Thanks for being part of how this summer will be remembered.

Jason Longshore
SDH Network

Kick Into Summer is part of SDH Network’s 2026 coverage, telling the story of soccer’s biggest summer with clarity, context, and community, starting in Atlanta and reaching everywhere the game lives.