Thiago Pessao grew up devouring World Cups. By 2018 he had attended 40 matches across tournaments, and he had hoped to add more in Qatar 2022 before Brazil’s early exit and family plans stopped him. For 2026, however, the largely U.S.-based, expanded event has made attending far harder to justify.
Pessao estimates he has already spent $30,000–$40,000 on this edition: tickets for Brazil’s group games in New Jersey, Philadelphia and Miami and a likely round-of-32 match in Houston pushed individual game costs past $4,000; a return flight to Brazil ran about $5,000; and internal flights, hotels and other expenses continue to mount. By contrast, he says he spent roughly $10,000 in Qatar and less at earlier tournaments. If Brazil reaches the final, his total will climb further — and those figures don’t include the neutral matches he usually attends.
High ticket prices, dynamic pricing and a new resale system have left some supporters reluctant to commit. Pessao and other fans say FIFA’s ticket exchange has low demand, there are multiple fees, and purchases must be made before full fixture lists are known, creating uncertainty. “I love to watch a lot of games. But for this World Cup, the tickets are too expensive, so my plan right now is only to follow Brazil,” he said.
Concerns extend beyond cost. Some fans fear a less welcoming atmosphere because of increased immigration enforcement. Pessao worries about Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence in stadiums and cities dampening the matchday mood. Adaer Melgar, a U.S. resident near MetLife Stadium, said he had been saving monthly since the bid, but final expenses surprised him: six tickets to two non-U.S. matches totaled $3,400. He criticized charges for fan zones and other paid services, saying the tournament feels like “a big money grab,” and said he has ethical qualms about boycotting the event over U.S. political stances and FIFA’s conduct.
For supporters from lower-income countries the financial barrier is steeper. Bengt Kunkel, who organizes German fan groups, estimates the average German fan will spend €5,000–€8,000 to attend three group games. He and others also cited new social-media screening requirements for U.S. visitors as another deterrent. “As an ordinary person you really have no chance of affording this tournament,” he said.
Fan organizations and consumer advocates are challenging FIFA’s commercial approach. Euroconsumers and Football Supporters Europe have filed an EU competition complaint alleging abuses of a dominant market position. They point to high pricing, FIFA’s resale platform — which charges both buyer and seller a 15% fee — dynamic pricing and marketing that created a sense of artificial urgency, pressuring supporters into quick purchases.
Travel and visa hurdles add another layer of complexity. Past World Cups used temporary, fast-track visa schemes; for 2026, FIFA PASS offers expedited interviews but warns that tickets do not guarantee entry. Fans from some first-time qualifying nations, including Jordan, report visa delays and rejections as embassy closures and heightened security concerns complicate processing. Jordanian supporter Ghazi Al Samouee said applications have stalled without answers.
U.S. policy changes have also affected access. The State Department added 12 countries to a list requiring visitors to post bonds up to $15,000; Tunisia was a recent addition. Some national teams were already on lists that make travel more difficult. Other supporters are outright excluded by U.S. travel bans tied to prior policy: fans from Senegal, Haiti and Ivory Coast on the Trump-era list cannot enter unless they hold alternative passports. That stands in contrast to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s 2025 assurance that “Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year.”
At the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, a Senegal fan warned that exclusion of supporters undermines the sport: “If we’re not accepted as supporters, our teams shouldn’t go and neither should we. We are the strength of these competitions. Without spectators, there’s no one. Without spectators, there is no sport, there is no entertainment.”
FIFA and Infantino have repeatedly stressed the World Cup’s role in bringing people together and the importance of fans. But between steep costs, worries about enforcement and safety, visa delays and travel bans, many supporters around the world say they are struggling to feel welcome in the U.S. for 2026.
Reporting contributed by Dana Sumlaji and Thomas Klein. Edited by Chuck Penfold.