World Cup Ticket Prices Raise Concerns About Accessibility

New York, New York — As excitement builds for the upcoming World Cup, many fans are expressing concerns over the steep ticket prices. With the ticket sales phases already underway, the question arises: Who can really afford to attend this global event?

For months, friends and family have been asking for ticket availability. Although FIFA had previously announced an average price of $305 for group stage tickets for the 2026 World Cup, inflation has made many speculate that prices could be significantly higher.

Nineteen friends, including myself, entered the Visa pre-sale lottery. Out of 4.5 million applicants, only two of us secured a time slot to buy tickets. The initial excitement quickly turned to frustration as we faced an array of technical difficulties. One friend spent two hours navigating a countdown queue, only to find the category 4 tickets sold out. Even after selecting category 3 tickets, a banking issue blocked his order.

I also encountered trouble when I finally logged in for my chance to purchase tickets. Most category 3 tickets were unavailable, and the cheapest option left for games in New Jersey was $465. Adding parking and other expenses, attending an event could easily total $2,000.

Realizing the financial burden, I decided not to proceed with my purchase but offered the tickets to my soccer league teammates. Out of 28 interested individuals, only one accepted my offer, citing the arrival of friends from England as motivation.

After purchasing four tickets for $1,860, my troubles continued with transferring the tickets to my friend’s account. It took nearly two weeks to successfully complete the transfer, during which I received no confirmation or notification that the transaction had gone through.

The upcoming phases of ticket sales are set to continue, but the high costs raise pressing questions about who will actually attend the matches. With tickets sold primarily to those with disposable income, could this World Cup become an event exclusive to the wealthiest fans?

Many passionate fans, including a local teacher desperate for tickets for her soccer-loving son, are left disappointed. “No,” she said when I told her about the ticket prices. “No.”