FIFA's Expensive World Cup: (Advance Reading)
FIFA's Expensive World Cup: Are Ticket Prices Pricing Out Fans in the United States? As the FIFA World Cup arrives in North America, excitement surrounding the tournament has been matched by growing controversy over the cost of attending matches. For many supporters, the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico has become one of the most expensive World Cups in history, raising questions about accessibility, fan experience, and FIFA's commercial priorities. Record-High Ticket Prices Ticket prices for the 2026 tournament have reached levels rarely seen in previous World Cups. While a limited number of lower-cost tickets were made available through special allocations, standard public tickets for matches in the United States have often cost hundreds of dollars. Premium seats for knockout matches and the final have climbed into the thousands, while hospitality packages can cost tens of thousands of dollars per person. Reports indicate that some hospitality of...