What is reported below is the result of the experience lived in recent weeks during the Club World Cup that is played in the US and that faces its final and decisive phase in New Jersey, with the semifinals PSG – Real Madrid and Fluminense – Chelsea. Throughout these days we have followed Real Madrid through four cities. In addition to New York, we have traveled to Charlotte, Philadelphia and Miami. In total, more than 7,100 kilometers that should have been translated in 12 and a half hours of flight If everything had left on the provisions of the country that will also host the World Cup in Selections in 2026. Between storms and heat, two of the evils to which a new enemy must be added.
A 12 dollar ticket as compensation
The provisions of US air traffic is the unforeseen. In the internal flights that we have made we have integrated perfectly between the 335 million inhabitants of a country where the cancellation and delay of a route is routine. You just need to see the dozen workers who attend to Miami Airport behind a counter called 'Rebooking Center' (American Reprogramming Center) by American Airlinesthe main company of the country. Travelers are so accustomed to this happens to them that a scream is not heard in a tail that always has 30 people.
Some leave early, desperate and because they are more compensated to take the delayed flight than to demand compensation. In some cases, such as the one we suffer to go to Charlotte, with more than six hours late, putting in line is a way of killing time. If you get to the end they will offer you several options. The first consists of a 'voucher' (ticket) of 12 dollars. As prices are at airports, this minimal compensation will help you buy a pair of nut bags.
Then there is the option to join the auction of the waiting lists. That is, in case you do not want to wait for the flight that has been delayed, you can ask them to sign up in another numerous tail that allows you to enter another plane if there is any traveler who decides not to get on it. A habitual image, but is extreme in North American airports. “Is this every day?” Asks one between curiosity and resignation. The answer you find is very direct: “Toooooooooodes.”
June and August, critical months to fly in the US
One knows when he enters the airport, but not when he will reach his destination in a country where the distances are huge and, therefore, the plane is essential. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), CAda day about 45,000 flights are held in the American airspace. In 2024, up to 2.9 million were transported every day. This calculation includes commercial passenger flights; load; General aviation, as well as private jets. In peak hours, they can be simultaneously in the air inside the US space.
This causes that, every time a delay occurs, for whatever reason, the entire flight plan undergoes modifications. During our stay in the country that lives the Club World Cup and will host the 2026 World Cup, we have suffered two of five delayed routes. That is, 40% of the displacements we have made have been affected for some incidence in the worst time of the year to travel in the US. Most cancellations and delays occur between June and Augustespecially around holidays such as July 4 who had to live closely.
The cancellation reasons expressed by companies are diverse. In our case, technical issues and problems in air traffic were referred to, overcoming the ability of airports to assume such a number of journeys. In the tail to seek a relocation on another flight, other reasons such as the lack of personnel are heard, a problem inherited from the pandemic that affects controllers, crew and pilots. Indeed, there are flights without pilots assigned in some cases of this assumed, but surreal panorama.
Up to 6,000 backward flights every day
Among the cities most affected by the 6,000 delays suffered up to date – being 30% in some airports – are New York, with their three bases: JFK, Laguardia and Newark; Chicago O'Hare; Atlanta; Dallas/Fort Worth and Denver. Of these, New York, Atlanta and Dallas will be headquarters of the 2026 World Cup and two have been from the 2026 Club World Cup, where even the teams like Real Madrid have suffered alterations in their travel plans. The logistics of the team tournament will have nothing to do with the operation that will be deployed for the selection appointment, which will also be played in Mexico and Canada. Cancellations range between 2% and 5% of the total daily. The dead point that already forces to rethink the entire strategy.
In front of the 32 participants in the World Cup, in the World Cup next year there will be 48 selections. And not only that, the difference in attractiveness and monitoring between the two tournaments organized by FIFA will be abysmal. While in which it celebrates its end next weekend the ticket prices have had to lower, in national teams there will be mass displacements. This will cause greater demand and number of parties, so a domino effect could be given that overlap meetings in the group stage.
This can affect the break of the players and alter the plans of the fans of the selections. It will be an inconvenience that will be added to the problems that have generated heat and thunderstorms in the Club World Cup. The team tournament has served as a general trial to think if European teams always have to play in their 'prime time', which coincides with 15:00 or 16:00 in the US. Where there will be a difficult negotiation will be in the protocol for thunderstorms that forced five meetings for federal protocols for hours. An incident cocktail that will mark the most important sport event, next to the JJOO, which will also be held on American soil in Los Angeles 2028.
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