Team USA’s loudest supporters say FIFA pushed them to upper deck for World Cup

Article excerpt

FIFA relegated Team USA's most vocal fan groups to upper-deck seats at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a move the supporters say was designed to muffle their noise. The American Outlaws and other organized fan clubs had counted on generating atmosphere from prime locations near the field, where their coordinated chants and songs typically drive momentum. While some grumbled about the demotion, many acknowledged gratitude for securing tickets at all in a tournament with sky-high prices, a tradeoff between ideal placement and actual access.