World Cup buzz fills Raymond James Stadium during U.S. and Uruguay’s friendly match (includes video story)

With less than a year away to go before the 2026 World Cup, fans packed Raymond James Stadium in Tampa this past Saturday for a friendly match between the United States and Uruguay. Fans were eager to celebrate the upcoming tournament, which the U.S. will co-host.

Attendees gathered with flags and barbecues to create a family-friendly atmosphere. Many people were discussing how many matches they plan to attend.

“I’ll go to Orlando or Miami since they’re closer,” ,” said soccer fan Chris Torgusen. “We’ll try to go to all the matches.”

For many, the excitement also meant deciding how much they can spend on a ticket.

“Well, it depends on each person’s passion and their financial situation,” said attendee Rodolfo Fernandez. “I think I’d pay up to $500 because I live and work here, but for others it is going to be tough.”

Inside the stadium, the U.S dominated the match and closed with a 5–1 win over Uruguay.

Patricia Varas is a graduate student in the Spanish-language journalism master’s program at Florida International University. She majored in political science and minored in communications at Florida Atlantic University. She loves to cover breaking news, entertainment and sports, and hopes to pursue a career as a multimedia journalist, anchor, or TV host.