World Cup 2026: Fans Face Soaring Costs, Visa Hurdles, and Safety Worries for Expanded Tournament
As the final qualification spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are hotly contested, dedicated football supporters worldwide are already grappling with the significant financial and logistical challenges of attending the expanded tournament, predominantly hosted across the United States. From substantial financial commitments to the uncertainties surrounding visa applications and safety concerns, the dream of witnessing the global spectacle is becoming increasingly complex for many avid fans.
The Astronomical Price of Fandom
For passionate supporters like Thiago Pessao, a Brazilian football aficionado, the World Cup is more than just a tournament; it’s a lifelong obsession. Having attended a remarkable 23 matches in Brazil in 2014 and 17 in Russia in 2018, Pessao’s dedication is unwavering. While his attendance in Qatar was curtailed by Brazil’s early exit and a pact with his wife, his commitment to following his national team remains. However, even for a seasoned and well-resourced fan like Pessao, the prospect of the 2026 World Cup, largely centered in the US, presents a daunting financial hurdle.
Pessao estimates his current expenditure for the 2026 tournament has already reached an eye-watering $30,000 to $40,000 USD. This includes:
- Match Tickets: Tickets for Brazil’s group stage matches in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Miami, along with a potential round-of-32 fixture in Houston, have already cost upwards of $4,000 USD.
- Air Travel: A round trip to Brazil is estimated at $5,000 USD.
- Ancillary Costs: Internal flights, accommodation, additional match tickets, and general spending money are rapidly escalating the total bill.
This sum significantly surpasses his spending in Qatar, where tickets were a primary differentiator, and even more so compared to previous tournaments. If Brazil progresses to the final, Pessao anticipates his expenses will climb even higher, excluding the neutral matches he typically attends as part of his World Cup ritual.
“I love to watch a lot of games,” Pessao shared. “But for this World Cup, the tickets are too expensive, so my plan right now is only to follow Brazil. A final ticket is costing $4,000 or $5,000 [the current cheapest ticket is $4,185]. I think it’s too much, but my feeling is that if Brazil is in the final, I have to be there. Maybe other people will think differently, but for me, the motivation is there.”
Dynamic Pricing and a Hostile Atmosphere
The pricing strategy for the 2026 World Cup has drawn considerable criticism. Pessao noted that the dynamic pricing model, coupled with a lack of demand on FIFA’s new ticket exchange portal to absorb the high current prices and fees before fixtures are finalized, has made him hesitant to commit to future matches. He is now adopting a “wait and see” approach.
While Pessao’s financial capacity allows for such flexibility, this is a luxury far beyond the reach of many fans, particularly those from countries with lower average incomes. Typically, World Cup attendance is somewhat mitigated by more affordable ticket and travel packages for fans of nations that have followed their team through the qualification process. Although FIFA introduced a limited number of $60 tickets in December following fan pressure, Pessao anticipates a potential absence of the vibrant fan marches, dances, and songs that usually define a World Cup. He also harbours concerns about the political climate and its potential impact on foreign visitors.
“Compared to other World Cups, I’m a bit more concerned about how the hostility and the surroundings will affect things,” Pessao stated. “I think that the presence of ICE in the stadiums or in the cities will bring the atmosphere down.”
This sentiment is echoed by US fan Adaer Melgar, who began saving $100 a month when the World Cup was awarded to his homeland eight years ago, anticipating high prices. Despite residing close to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, minimizing travel costs, he was still taken aback by the overall expense.
A “Money-Grab” Tournament
“I feel like I went into the ticket buy-in process with a level head, with the understanding that it was going to be pretty expensive, but it’s still greatly exceeded my own expectations,” Melgar commented. He revealed that his six tickets for two non-US matches alone cost him $3,400 USD.
Melgar expressed his ethical reservations, contemplating a boycott due to the current political administration and FIFA’s operational practices. “For example, they’re charging to get into the fan zone. That’s never been done before. I feel like it’s a big money grab.”
While Pessao and Melgar are navigating their reservations, for some, the relentless expense and perceived hostility have led them to decide against attending. Bengt Kunkel, a prominent fan leader for the German national team, has made this difficult choice. He estimates the average cost for German fans to attend their three group stage matches ranges from €5,000 to €8,000.
“As an ordinary person, you really have no chance of affording this tournament,” Kunkel said, also citing new social media checks for visitors to the US as a contributing factor to his decision.
Kunkel’s reservations are not isolated. Recently, European consumer group Euroconsumers and fan group Football Supporters Europe lodged a complaint against FIFA, alleging breaches of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits abuses of a dominant market position. The complaints specifically target pricing, FIFA’s resale platform (which charges both buyer and seller a 15% fee), dynamic pricing, and what they describe as high-pressure sales tactics.
“Emails to fans claimed ‘exclusive access’ to a ‘limited’ ticket window that doesn’t reflect reality. By creating artificial urgency, FIFA pressured fans into making rushed decisions,” the statement read.
Visa Delays and Travel Bans Frustrate Global Fans
The previous two World Cups benefited from a streamlined, temporary visa process. While the new FIFA PASS offers “the opportunity to obtain an expedited visa interview, if needed,” FIFA has made it clear that tickets do not guarantee a visa. This has created significant problems for fans, particularly those from first-time qualifiers like Jordan. Several Jordanian fans reported their visa applications being delayed or rejected. With the US embassy currently closed due to the ongoing conflict, hope for these fans is diminishing.
“We ask for help from the US Embassy to look closely at the Jordanian fans’ applications. We applied, but we didn’t hear any answer until now. Our applications are stuck there,” said Ghazi Al Samouee, a Jordanian fan.
Adding to the complexity, the US State Department recently added 12 countries to a list from which visitors are required to post bonds of up to $15,000 USD. Tunisia, a World Cup qualifier, was among these, while Algeria and Cape Verde were already on the list.
Furthermore, some fans face insurmountable barriers to even applying for a visa. Individuals from Senegal, Haiti, and Ivory Coast are currently included on travel ban lists and will be unable to attend the tournament unless they possess alternative passports. This is despite FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s promise in 2025 that, “Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year.”
“If we’re not accepted as supporters, our teams shouldn’t go and neither should we as supporters,” a Senegalese fan expressed earlier this year. “We are the strength of these competitions. Without spectators, there’s no one. Without spectators, there is no sport, there is no entertainment.”
Infantino and FIFA have consistently emphasized the crucial role of fans in the World Cup experience. “The world needs occasions of unity, of bringing teams together, of bringing people together, of bringing fans together,” Infantino stated last year.
However, whether due to travel bans, safety concerns, visa rejections, or prohibitive costs, a growing number of fans worldwide are struggling to feel welcomed in the host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
