Wright-Phillips also put it bluntly: “O que eu sei é que o futebol é o jogo do povo. É para as pessoas comuns.” That is why the figures around the host cities feel so jarring.
Even allowing for fluctuation in resale markets, that is a serious barrier. A World Cup should feel reachable. When entry, travel and a day out stack up that quickly, many of the fans who create the best atmospheres may simply stay home.
This is not just a debate about optics. Wright-Phillips argued that players need a loud stadium and real pressure from the stands. He has a point. Big international tournaments live on emotion as much as quality. The best World Cup moments usually arrive with colour, tension and a crowd that sounds fully invested.
His other line, “Não me cai bem,” lands because it speaks to something many supporters already feel about elite football: the game is at its best when it still belongs to everyone.
The United States has the venues, scale and spectacle to stage a huge tournament, and other reports suggest Mauricio Pochettino is building toward a major home occasion with the national team. But the real test may be whether the stands feel alive rather than merely full. As kickoff against Paraguay approaches, the next storyline to watch is whether prices soften - and whether genuine supporters can still get through the gates.