A single match cost me thousands of dollars at 2026's World Cup of the 1% | Leander Schaerlaeckens

"Million-Dollar Tickets, Empty Seats: How Fifa's New Pricing Model is Leaving Fans Behind"

As the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup approaches, fans are faced with a daunting reality: tickets to the tournament are out of reach for all but a privileged few. The World Cup, once an event accessible to people from all walks of life, has become a pricey spectacle reserved primarily for the wealthy and well-connected.

According to Leander Schaerlaeckens, a journalist who attempted to purchase tickets in the first round of sales, the average group stage ticket price is expected to be around $305 - seven years after Fifa initially promised an average price of just $21. The reality, however, is far more expensive, with category 3 tickets costing up to $465 per game.

Schaerlaeckens' experience highlights the challenges faced by everyday fans trying to buy tickets for the tournament. In his case, he managed to secure five group-stage tickets at a cost of nearly $1,900, but then encountered difficulties transferring them to another fan due to Fifa's complex and often glitchy system.

The financial burden is significant, with some games costing upwards of $2,000 per ticket, including parking and other expenses. For fans from lower-income countries or regions, the prospect of attending a game in North America is all but impossible, given the added expense of flights and accommodation.

As Schaerlaeckens notes, Fifa's pricing model seems designed to exclude those who are not already part of the wealthy elite. With millions of tickets sold in the first phase, it remains to be seen whether there will be any sense of community or atmosphere at the games, as they may be filled with attendees from more affluent backgrounds.

Ultimately, the 2026 World Cup appears to be an event for the 1%, leaving a significant portion of the fanbase behind. As one teacher revealed, even those who are passionate about soccer and desperate to attend the tournament are priced out due to the exorbitant cost of tickets. It's a stark reminder that Fifa's new pricing model may be more interested in lining the pockets of sponsors than in creating an inclusive and accessible experience for fans from around the world.

this new FIFA ticket pricing is straight up ridiculous! i mean, $305 avg price per game 7 yrs ago? what happened to that promise? now it's like they're trying to keep it exclusive to super rich folks and middle class people from other countries can't even get in due to those crazy flight & accommodation costs . shouldn't soccer be for everyone not just the elite?

this is literally heartbreaking i mean i get it fifa needs to make some cash but 2k+ per ticket is just insane especially when u gotta factor in flights accommodation etc it's like they're pricing out the very people who love soccer the most unfortunately it looks like only the wealthy and well connected are gonna be able to experience this massive event

I'm so sick of this , it's like Fifa is tryin' to price out the average fan. $305 a ticket? Are they kidding me? That's just ridiculous! They're literally making it impossible for people from lower-income countries or regions to even think about attendin' the game, let alone affordin' flights and accommodation too. It's like Fifa is only lookin' out for their rich sponsors and forgettin' about the rest of us who actually care about the sport . I mean, what's next? Toppin' off a ticket price just because it's a "privilege"? This new pricing model is straight up greedy and it needs to change ASAP

I'm so worried about this... it's like, I get it, FIFA needs to make money, but come on! The prices are just crazy! $2k+ per ticket is insane! How can you even compare that to a group stage ticket price of $21 back in 2018? That was actually affordable for many people. Now, it's like they're pricing out the average fan. I mean, what's the point of having tickets if you can't enjoy the game without breaking the bank? It's not just about the cost of tickets either, it's also the hassle of dealing with FIFA's system... ugh!

You know, I was talking to my friend who's from Brazil and he's really into soccer, but he said that even if he wanted to go to a game in the US, it would be impossible for him due to the cost. That's so sad! The 2026 World Cup should be an event for everyone, not just the privileged few. Can't FIFA find a way to make tickets more affordable? Maybe they could offer more group stage games or something... I don't know, but it feels like they're just looking out for themselves and their sponsors instead of the fans.

I'm going to have to keep following this story and see if anything changes...

omg i was trying to get tix for my bae's birthday and they were like 2k+ per seat lol fifa is literally taking advantage of us fans!!! i mean, what even is the point of having a tournament that's supposed to be all about the beautiful game if u cant afford 2 go?? its not just me, i've got mates who r from lower-income countries and they cant even think about attendin due to flights and accommodation costs. it feels like fifa's more worried about makin money off sponsors than creatin a community feel at the games

this is just so fishy, fifa's been setting prices way too high, like what's up with 7 years between original price and current one? and i'm not convinced that average cost of $305 is even accurate, sounds like they're just making stuff up to make sponsors happy.

i mean think about it, who benefits from this? the ones who are already rich, obviously. and what's with the complexity of their ticketing system? Sounds like a way for them to siphon off more cash from fans.

anyway, it's just gonna be another super exclusive event where only the 1% can afford to attend, leaving out the rest of us. i'm not buying it...

i mean, come on fifa can't just price out regular people like this they say its about bringing in revenue but really it's just making it impossible for anyone to afford a ticket unless you're basically a millionaire or have a ton of connections and what's the point of even having fans if nobody can afford to go? i remember when i was younger my dad used to take me to watch the world cup in england and it was this amazing experience that brought our whole family together now its like fifa is just catering to the wealthy elite and forgetting about everyone else

I don't get why people are making such a big deal about this . If you can't afford to shell out $2,000 for a ticket, maybe soccer just isn't your thing? It's not like it's a necessity or something. And if you're worried about the atmosphere being ruined by only rich fans, how do you expect them to make up for it? I mean, have you seen the prices of tickets at other major sporting events? It's all about supply and demand, folks .

And another thing, what's wrong with Fifa making some real cash from their tournament? They've been losing money hand over fist for years, so maybe this is just a necessary evil. Plus, think about all the resources they can put towards improving the game itself, not just lining sponsor pockets .

I'm calling BS on this "prices are too high" narrative . If you're not willing to pay, don't go. It's that simple .

omg this is so sad!! fifa needs to do something about this pricing model ASAP! $2k+ per ticket is just crazy! what's the point of even having a 'world cup' if only the rich can attend? i feel for all those fans from lower-income countries or regions who will never get to experience the magic of the world cup in person. it's just not right

I just can't believe how crazy it is that people are being priced out of the World Cup ! I mean, who thought it was a good idea to charge $2,000+ per ticket? It's like they want us to feel left behind . And don't even get me started on the fact that flights and accommodation prices are already super steep - it's like trying to attend an exclusive club . I've seen people going crazy for tickets online, only to have them sold out in minutes . It's just not right, you know? As a huge soccer fan myself, I hate seeing the sport being turned into some sort of elitist event where only the rich can participate . Can't we just enjoy the game without breaking the bank?!

I'm so sad about this . I get it, Fifa needs to make some cash, but come on! The World Cup is supposed to be for EVERYONE, not just the rich folks . I was thinking of taking my kids to a game in 2026, but now I'm not sure if we can afford it. It's not fair that fans from lower-income countries or regions can't even think about attending due to the added expenses of flights and accommodation .

I remember when I was a kid, my friends and I would watch the World Cup together on TV and dream of one day attending a match in person. Now it seems like only the privileged few will get to experience that magic . It's not just about the tickets themselves, it's about the community and atmosphere that comes with watching live football together .

Fifa needs to rethink their pricing model and make sure everyone can enjoy this amazing event, regardless of their background or budget . Anything less would be a huge disappointment for fans all around the world .

I'm so frustrated with fifa's new ticket pricing model, it's like they're intentionally pricing out the regular people. I mean, $2k+ per ticket? That's just ridiculous . And what really gets me is that they're making all this money from sponsorships and whatnot... meanwhile, fans are stuck on the sidelines watching vids online instead of being there in person. It's like fifa thinks we're not even worth the effort to try and get tickets for us. I'm just hoping some grassroots groups or organizations can find a way to make it happen for regular people, not just the ultra-rich who can afford it

I'm really disappointed about this . I mean, who can afford to spend over $1,900 on just 5 tickets? It's not fair to all the fans who are genuinely passionate about soccer . The idea of attending a World Cup game being reserved for the wealthy elite is just ridiculous . I think Fifa needs to rethink their pricing model and make it more accessible to everyone, especially those from lower-income countries or regions . It's not just about the tickets, it's about creating an inclusive experience for fans of all backgrounds . Otherwise, it's going to be a really empty and expensive stadium .

I'm literally fuming about this news, it's just not right. Tickets to the 2026 World Cup are becoming a pipe dream for regular people. $305 a pop? Are you kidding me?! That's like buying a small car! And don't even get me started on the category 3 tickets, that's like throwing money out the window. I mean, what's the point of having a massive event if only the rich and famous can afford to attend? It's so not inclusive. The whole thing feels like a scam. Fifa should be working hard to make sure everyone has access to the tournament, not just lining their own pockets with sponsor money. This is why I'm super passionate about Platform - it's one of the few places where fans can actually have a voice and talk about what matters to them!

it's just not right, you know? fifa used to be about bringing people together from all over the world, but now it's like they're trying to price out anyone who isn't already swimming in cash. $2k per ticket? that's just absurd. i mean, what's next? are we gonna have to pay extra to breathe? or watch the game through a glass window? it's not just about the fans from lower-income countries either, it's about anyone who can't afford to shell out thousands of dollars for a ticket. and what's with fifa's system? it sounds like a joke. all they're doing is making a bunch of money off of us while leaving millions of people in the dust.

Ugh, 2026 World Cup is gonna be a total joke - only rich people get to enjoy it, poor folks are priced out . Fifa's new pricing model is literally designed to screw over normal fans, ya know? $305 for a group stage ticket is insane and if you're from a lower-income country, forget about it, bro . It's all about lining the pockets of sponsors and creating an atmosphere that's more exclusive than inclusive . I mean, who needs community when you can have a bunch of wealthy dudes cheering on their favorite teams in North America? Not impressed, Fifa .

the price of fifa tickets is getting crazy i mean i get it they need to make some money but 2k a ticket thats out of reach for so many people its like they forgot that soccer is supposed to be for everyone not just the rich and what really gets me is the transfer process is so glitchy theyre making it hard for fans to even share tickets with friends who wanna come watch the game together its all about making a buck at fifa's expense

It's not just about the money, it's about the love for the game - The quote is not directly related to this news but kinda makes you think why should soccer be out of reach for so many people?

I'm so bummed about this... I mean, who can afford $2k+ ticket prices? It's like they're speaking a different language, Fifa's pricing model is just ridiculous. I feel for all those fans in lower-income countries or regions, it's just not fair that they can't even consider attending the games due to the added expense of flights and accommodation.

I mean, what happened to the World Cup being for everyone? It was supposed to be this big celebration of football, but now it seems like only the rich folks can afford to join in. I've seen some videos of people trying to buy tickets online, only to get stuck in a glitchy system... it's just frustrating.

I think Fifa needs to rethink their pricing model and make sure it's more inclusive for fans from all walks of life. Otherwise, we might see a lot of empty seats at the games, which would be a shame.