Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 6
FIFA Leaves Thousands of U.S.-Paraguay World Cup Seats Unsold as Cheapest Tickets Near $900
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 6

FIFA Leaves Thousands of U.S.-Paraguay World Cup Seats Unsold as Cheapest Tickets Near $900

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 6

Summary

  • $900 tickets are still leaving thousands of seats available for the United States' opening 2026 World Cup group match against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
  • The weak take-up is striking because the U.S., Canada and Mexico tournament was expected to capitalize on soccer's much larger North American audience than when the U.S. last hosted in 1994.
  • FIFA's pricing has drawn political backlash, with Keir Starmer calling it unacceptable and the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey criticizing impossibly high prices.
  • The ticket controversy is landing alongside wider criticism of FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his ties to Donald Trump and the political shadow hanging over the North America-hosted tournament.

Insights

With FIFA targeting record profits, will sky-high ticket prices lead to a World Cup played in front of empty stadiums?
As host cities face massive deficits, what are the hidden geopolitical and security risks of this hyper-commercialized World Cup?
Has FIFA's profit-first strategy permanently damaged the World Cup's identity as a unifying global celebration for average fans?