Gear up for the World Cup: Essentials and Messi's Impact
WHO:
Elon University - Caroline Cirby is a ticketing operations manager for FIFA and a graduate of Elon University.
Fox News - The U.S. national soccer team is no longer in the World Cup tournament.
Sportico.com - Lionel Messi, a 39-year-old soccer player, is competing for Argentina in the World Cup.
Sportico.com - Dan Jamieson is the CEO of Icons Memorabilia.
WHAT:
Fox News - Collectors and soccer fans can purchase 25 official World Cup stickers, with over 10,000 sold in the last month.
Fox News - An official FIFA-branded soccer ball for the 2026 World Cup features the World Cup trophy and 2026 branding, priced at $25.
Fox News - A Messi replica jersey, designed to wick away sweat, is being sold at a lower price than the official version.
6abc Philadelphia - Garrett Albert is seeking help to find drinks from 14 remaining countries for his World Cup-themed beer collection.
New York Magazine - The Mayor's Office is restocking 500 World Cup jerseys for sale online, available at 10 a.m. E.T. each weekday from July 8 to July 16.
Sportico.com - Messi's total of seven goals in the tournament ties him with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot trophy.
Sportico.com - Icons Memorabilia generated between $8 million and $10 million in sales during the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
Sportico.com - The partnership with Messi is effectively a lifetime deal that renews every five years on a rolling basis.
Elon University - Cirby welcomed more than 410,000 fans to the Bay Area for the FIFA World Cup matches.
Rolling Stone Lifestyle - LEGO released officially-licensed busts of Lionel Messi last month to celebrate the World Cup, and they are selling out quickly.
Fox News - The World Cup is currently in the Round of 16, with matches ongoing.
Sportico.com - Messi has scored three left-footed goals in the tournament, bringing his total to six goals in the group stage, making him the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 18 goals.
6abc Philadelphia - Garrett Albert has collected 34 beers from various countries participating in the World Cup and is seeking help to find drinks from 14 remaining countries.
New York Magazine - The Mayor's Office in NYC is restocking 500 World Cup jerseys for sale online, available at 10 a.m. E.T. each weekday from July 8 to July 16.
Rolling Stone Lifestyle - LEGO released officially-licensed busts of Lionel Messi last month to celebrate the World Cup, and they are selling out quickly.
The New York Times - TikTok has seen a 320 percent increase in searches in the U.S. using the words "World Cup" since the tournament began.
The New York Times - The hashtag “FIFAWorldCup” had been used 9.4 million times as of June 30, with total posts using “WorldCup” as a hashtag increasing almost 65 percent.
Fox News - The World Cup marks the final tournament for legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa.
Fox News - A Messi replica jersey is being sold at a lower price than the official version.
Sportico.com - Messi has scored three left-footed goals in the tournament, bringing his total to six goals in the group stage.
Sportico.com - Messi's total of seven goals in the tournament ties him with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot trophy.
Sportico.com - Messi earns an estimated $70 million annually from sponsors, including Adidas, Mastercard, and Michelob Ultra.
Sportico.com - The going rate for a standard deal with Messi is around $4 million, with prices increasing based on social posts and appearances.
Sportico.com - Icons Memorabilia has generated nearly 45 million views on Instagram from a single autograph session with Messi.
Sportico.com - The partnership between Icons Memorabilia and Messi operates as a joint venture with a profit-sharing arrangement.
Sportico.com - The partnership with Messi is effectively a lifetime deal that renews every five years on a rolling basis.
Elon University - Cirby has been doing her job with a torn ACL, which she sustained while playing in a rec league kickball game.
Fox News - An official FIFA-branded soccer ball for the 2026 World Cup features the World Cup trophy and 2026 branding, priced at $25.
Fox News - The Mayor's Office in NYC is restocking 500 World Cup jerseys for sale online, available at 10 a.m. E.T. each weekday from July 8 to July 16.
6abc Philadelphia - Garrett Albert is seeking help to find drinks from 14 remaining countries for his World Cup-themed beer collection.
Fox News - Collectors and soccer fans can purchase 25 official World Cup stickers, with over 10,000 sold in the last month.
Fox News - An official FIFA-branded soccer ball, used by Messi, Haaland, and Mbappé, is available for $25.
Fox News - A Messi replica jersey, designed to wick away sweat, is being sold at a lower price than the official version.
Sportico.com - Messi has scored three left-footed goals in the tournament, bringing his total to six goals in the group stage, making him the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 18 goals.
6abc Philadelphia - Garrett Albert has collected 34 beers from various countries participating in the World Cup and is seeking help to find drinks from 14 remaining countries.
New York Magazine - The Mayor's Office in NYC is restocking 500 World Cup jerseys for sale online, available at 10 a.m. E.T. each weekday from July 8 to July 16.
Elon University - Cirby welcomed more than 410,000 fans to the Bay Area for the FIFA World Cup matches.
Rolling Stone Lifestyle - LEGO released officially-licensed busts of Lionel Messi last month to celebrate the World Cup, and they are selling out quickly.
Fox News - The World Cup is currently in the Round of 16.
Fox News - Messi has scored seven goals in the tournament, tying him with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot trophy.
Sportico.com - Icons Memorabilia generated between $8 million and $10 million in sales during the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
Sportico.com - Icons Memorabilia has generated nearly 45 million views on Instagram from a single autograph session with Messi.
WHERE:
Fox News - The World Cup matches are taking place in various cities.
Sportico.com - Messi plays for Inter Miami in the U.S.
WHEN:
Sportico.com - Messi signed with Icons Memorabilia in 2006.
Sportico.com - Messi joined MLS’ Inter Miami in 2023.
Sportico.com - Messi signed with brand partners Stanley 1913 and Lowe’s in 2024.
WHY:
Sportico.com - The interest in Messi during the Qatar tournament helped fuel Icons Memorabilia's best sales result to date.
Sportico.com - Messi's marketability and credibility are unmatched, making him a valuable partner for brands.
HOW:
The New York Times - TikTok has seen a 320 percent increase in searches in the U.S. using the words "World Cup" since the tournament began.
Elon University - Cirby handled validating each seat in the stadium and addressing counterfeit ticket issues during the tournament.
Sportico.com - Icons Memorabilia has an exclusive worldwide deal with Messi that includes a profit-sharing arrangement.
Sportico.com - The company receives roughly 1,000 signatures from Messi about four times a year, with flexibility for more if agreed upon.
Collectors and soccer fans can now purchase 25 official World Cup stickers, with over 10,000 sold in just the last month. Additionally, an official FIFA-branded soccer ball for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, featuring the trophy and 2026 branding, is available for $25, while a Messi replica jersey designed to wick away sweat is being offered at a lower price than the official version. Starting July 8 and running through July 16, the Mayor's Office will restock 500 World Cup jerseys for online sale each weekday at 10 a.m. E.T.