The World Cup began with empty seats - FIFA counts the money, the fans stay home

The football World Cup kicked off across North America with 104 matches at 16 stadiums, but the first image isn't packed stands - it's empty seats. The culprit has a name: FIFA introduced dynamic pricing for the first time, so starting tickets of $60 jumped to a minimum of 140. For the USA vs. Paraguay match in Los Angeles the cheapest entry cost $2,735, and a single final ticket on resale reached 143,750. The result: around 180,000 unsold tickets, and yet record revenue for FIFA. When the organizer earns the most on a half-empty stadium, the question isn't whether the fan matters - it's whether the fan is even in the equation.

Mourinho reshapes Real - Bernardo Silva arrives for free

Real Madrid got Bernardo Silva from Manchester City as a free agent, on a two-year deal with an option for a third. The 31-year-old Portuguese is Jose Mourinho's third summer signing, after Konate and Dumfries, and comes at the coach's express request. Barcelona and Atletico were also chasing him, but Mourinho won that race - a signal that the new Real is building control of the ball, not just a galactic spectacle. Silva will play in midfield, probably alongside Tchouameni. The question is as old as Mourinho himself: is the mastery of one experienced midfielder enough to catch Barcelona, or is Madrid again buying a name instead of a system?

Modric goes where he began to become a legend

For Croatia this World Cup is the end of an era. Luka Modric, at 40, is playing his last World Cup after two deep runs in a row - a final in 2018 and bronze in 2022. With him goes the golden generation that turned a small country into a permanent finalist, something the whole Balkans quietly rooted for even when they didn't want to admit it. Croatia opened the tournament against England. What an ending it would be - the last dance of one of the last true masters of the game, against the favorites themselves.

Bosnia returned to the big stage, Sarajevo celebrated till dawn

Bosnia and Herzegovina opened its first World Cup in 12 years with 1:1 against Canada in Sarajevo. Jovo Lukic brought the lead in the 21st minute, Kyle Larkin equalized late, but the point was enough for hundreds of fans to take to the streets and sing late into the night. "I'd trade this goal for a win against Canada," Lukic said, but added that the point might prove precious. Coach Sergej Barbarez was sober: "A draw is deserved, a good point, but we won't relax after one match." For a region that rarely reaches tournaments like this, one night in Sarajevo is worth a whole group.

England had its boots stolen ahead of the Croatia clash

While Croatia was preparing for the opener against England, the English camp got an unforeseen problem - during transport from Florida to the base in Missouri, part of the equipment went missing. Among the stolen items are the boots of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, official balls, training gear, analytics technology, and even coach Thomas Tuchel's tactics boards. Of all the balls, only one remained. Suspicion fell on the drivers, and the English federation is working with local police. Tuchel's people are, to put it mildly, shaken - a few days before kickoff they have to replace equipment that should have been packed long ago. On the pitch favorites, in logistics - beginners.