With just over a year to go before the start of the 2026 World Cup, one of the biggest challenges for FIFA does not seem to be on the pitch, but in the stands. The opening match of the United States against Paraguay, scheduled for June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, has yet to generate the expected level of demand, despite marking the host nation’s debut and being one of the most symbolic fixtures of the group stage.

The main reason behind this situation appears to be the high ticket prices. The cheapest tickets available for the match exceed $2,000 on specialized sales platforms, a figure that excludes thousands of fans and turns what has historically been a popular experience into a luxury accessible to only a few. This has begun to raise concerns about the image of the tournament and the atmosphere that could be seen in stadiums during the opening matches.

A United States debut that still hasn’t filled the stadium

According to documents cited by The New York Times, as of April 10, 40,934 tickets had been sold for the match between the United States and Paraguay. This represents just 58% of the approximate capacity of SoFi Stadium, which can hold around 70,000 spectators. Although there is still time before the match, the pace of sales is below expectations for one of the most important fixtures of the early stage.

The figure becomes even more striking when compared to another match that will take place in the same stadium just three days later. The game between Iran and New Zealand had already recorded 50,661 tickets sold, despite being a matchup that, in theory, should generate less interest among U.S. fans. Even in that case, where the cheapest tickets exceed $400, demand has been considerably higher.

The high cost of experiencing the 2026 World Cup

Since the ticket sales process began last September, prices have been one of the most criticized aspects surrounding the 2026 World Cup. For many fans, it is not only difficult to access a ticket, but also to cover all the additional costs associated with attending a match. In addition to the more than $2,000 required for a ticket to the United States’ debut, there are expenses such as parking, which exceeds $200 at several venues.

There are also transportation costs that further increase the overall expense. For example, round-trip travel from New York to attend matches at MetLife Stadium, located in New Jersey, is around $150. In this context, attending the World Cup has become a significant investment for many people, something that could ultimately affect the atmosphere of a tournament that has historically been defined by bringing together fans from different countries, cultures and economic backgrounds.