As the 2026 World Cup hurtles towards its July 19th finale, fans are still grappling with one of the biggest challenges of all – affordability. FIFA's dynamic pricing model has resulted in tickets skyrocketing to nearly nine times their 2018 counterparts, leaving many fans priced out.
The steep price hikes have sparked controversy, with many supporters groups and politicians calling for change. A recent development has seen FIFA pledge a portion of remaining ticket inventory at the $60 price floor – an offering representing just 1.6% of sellable tickets. However, this move may come too late to quell widespread discontent among fans.
Traveling to the United States, Canada, or Mexico for the World Cup is also proving increasingly complicated and costly. US immigration policies have recently tightened, with a new visa ban on citizens from four qualifying countries. In addition, strict entry requirements will be in place for visitors, including social media history checks. Flights to these destinations have soared in price as well, as well as hotel prices in host cities.
The World Cup itself promises an unpredictable tournament, thanks to its expanded 48-team format. Fans are likely to see a lower-pressure opening phase before the knockout rounds kick in, which will certainly inject drama into the competition. However, countries that fail to make an early exit will need to work harder than ever before to reach the latter stages.
Perhaps most surprisingly of all, President Donald Trump has made himself a central figure in the World Cup's lead-up, despite having no formal role in the event. His administration is taking steps to limit the tournament's influence in "blue" cities and has been vocal about critics of the sport. As tensions rise between the US and its international partners, it remains unclear what Trump's involvement will mean for the 2026 World Cup.
Overall, as the 2026 World Cup approaches its climax, fans are facing a perfect storm of financial strain, bureaucratic hurdles, and uncertainty about the tournament's future direction – all set against the backdrop of an increasingly unpredictable global landscape.
The steep price hikes have sparked controversy, with many supporters groups and politicians calling for change. A recent development has seen FIFA pledge a portion of remaining ticket inventory at the $60 price floor – an offering representing just 1.6% of sellable tickets. However, this move may come too late to quell widespread discontent among fans.
Traveling to the United States, Canada, or Mexico for the World Cup is also proving increasingly complicated and costly. US immigration policies have recently tightened, with a new visa ban on citizens from four qualifying countries. In addition, strict entry requirements will be in place for visitors, including social media history checks. Flights to these destinations have soared in price as well, as well as hotel prices in host cities.
The World Cup itself promises an unpredictable tournament, thanks to its expanded 48-team format. Fans are likely to see a lower-pressure opening phase before the knockout rounds kick in, which will certainly inject drama into the competition. However, countries that fail to make an early exit will need to work harder than ever before to reach the latter stages.
Perhaps most surprisingly of all, President Donald Trump has made himself a central figure in the World Cup's lead-up, despite having no formal role in the event. His administration is taking steps to limit the tournament's influence in "blue" cities and has been vocal about critics of the sport. As tensions rise between the US and its international partners, it remains unclear what Trump's involvement will mean for the 2026 World Cup.
Overall, as the 2026 World Cup approaches its climax, fans are facing a perfect storm of financial strain, bureaucratic hurdles, and uncertainty about the tournament's future direction – all set against the backdrop of an increasingly unpredictable global landscape.
. It's like FIFA is trying to price out all the casual fans, you know? I mean, $60 a ticket? That's crazy talk! 
They're just trying to make a buck off the die-hard fans, but what about everyone else who wants to experience the excitement of the World Cup?
. It's like, come on guys, can't we all just get along? Tightening immigration policies and adding social media history checks? That's just a major bummer for fans trying to attend the tournament from abroad.
! The expanded format is gonna be so much fun, and I love how unpredictable it's shaping up to be. Can't wait to see all the drama unfold on the pitch!
. But hey, at least FIFA is trying to offer some tickets at a lower price point, right? Fingers crossed it makes a difference! 
. I mean, I'm all for a good price hike, but nine times more than last time is just crazy. And now they're offering only 1.6% of the remaining inventory at that floor? Not exactly what fans were hoping for.
. It just feels like he's using the World Cup as a way to stir up controversy and divide people. I mean, can't we just focus on the soccer for once? The expanded 48-team format is going to be interesting to watch, but with all these other issues, it's hard to get excited about it right now 
! It's like they're pricing out regular people who just wanna watch a game between their favorite teams. The 60-dollar floor is a small consolation, but it's not gonna make a difference for most fans.
. It's like they're trying to rob us blind. I've seen prices skyrocket just because of the World Cup. It's crazy!
. Can't wait to see which teams will make it to the end!
. Traveling to the US or Canada for the tournament is getting out of control – visa bans, social media history checks... it's just too much 
. And let's not forget about the prices of flights and hotels 
! The 2026 World Cup is supposed to be a celebration of football, not a financial burden 
.
. And Trump's involvement is just... weird 
. Can't he just chill and let us fans focus on the match 
️?
. But until then, I'm just gonna enjoy the tournament and try to stay optimistic 
. Fingers crossed that it's not too late for the fans who got priced out 
. I mean, come on FIFA can't you do something to make it more affordable for us fans? 
I'm not asking for much just a ticket that won't break the bank would be amazing 
. The visa ban is just another layer of stress on top of all this 
. I'm starting to think that maybe we should just stick with watching the games at home instead 
. But at the same time, it would be amazing to experience the energy of a live match with my friends in person 
.
. One thing's for sure though, I'll be keeping a close eye on things and hoping that something changes soon 
If they were offering more affordable options from the start, people wouldn't be so salty now. 
It's like, shouldn't we be welcoming fans from all over instead of making it harder for them?
and 1.6% of sellable tickets at $60 is basically just a drop in the bucket. I mean, what even is that supposed to do? 
It's like they're trying to pacify people instead of solving the real problem.
And don't even get me started on the visa ban - what's next, requiring fans to have a sponsorship deal before entering the US? 
. anywayz, can't wait for the tournament though! 48 teams is gonna be lit 
and on top of that, US immigration policies are already stressing people out, now with social media history checks too?! 
I hope FIFA does more than just pledge a tiny percentage of tickets at a lower price point... fans deserve so much better! 
I swear, it feels like they're trying to nickel-and-dime us fans to death. And what's up with Trump getting involved in all this? Like, can't he just chill for one second? 
... that sounds like way more my speed.
That's not exactly a drop-in-the-bucket, if you ask me.
. And hotel prices in those cities are insane! 
I mean, who can afford that kind of thing? It feels like FIFA is more interested in making money off of fans than in providing them with a good experience.