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

For thousands of dollars, a single match ticket to this year's World Cup was mine for the taking – but only if I could stomach the astronomical prices and the chaotic ticket-buying experience that came with it.

FIFA's dynamic pricing model, widely despised by fans, had been in effect since the pre-sale began. When I finally managed to snag a set of tickets for a round-of-32 knockout match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, category 3 seats went up in value from $21 to a whopping $465 per ticket – a whopping increase that left even seasoned soccer enthusiasts like myself questioning the affordability of this World Cup.

My experience is far from unique. A group chat with my friends and I spent hours waiting for tickets, only to face technical glitches and website crashes along the way. When I finally landed on five minutes worth of login time, it felt like a stroke of luck – but even then, it was clear that this World Cup was out of reach for all but the most well-heeled fans.

The real question is, who exactly are we targeting with these exorbitant ticket prices? Is it stockbrokers and lawyers, tech bros and sponsors, or dignitaries filling the stadiums, rather than die-hard soccer enthusiasts from around the world?

As I watched my friend finally manage to transfer the tickets into his account after weeks of frustration, I couldn't help but wonder: who will actually be at this World Cup? Not those with genuine passion for the sport, that's for sure. At a price point that would make even the most hardened NFL fan wince, it's clear that this is a tournament for the 1%.

Meanwhile, everyday fans like my friend's soccer-loving son – who just wants to experience the excitement of the World Cup without breaking the bank – are left out in the cold. It's a worrying trend, one that highlights the stark disparities between the haves and have-nots when it comes to attending this year's World Cup.

As FIFA gears up for another sellout event, the real question on everyone's mind is: who will be there when the games get underway?

Ugh $465 per ticket?! That's just not fair to fans like my friend's son who just wanna have fun ️ without breaking the bank . It's all about the big spenders and not about the passionate fans who actually love soccer .

FIFA needs to rethink their pricing strategy , it's not cool when they're pricing out everyday people . I mean, what's next? Tickets for Mars?! The world is all about football ️, not just the wealthy elite .

I'm worried about the future of soccer fandom , if we can't attend games without bankrupting ourselves , then what's the point of even having a World Cup? It should be for everyone, not just those with deep pockets .

omg can u believe these prices???? its like they wanna price out the fans lol i was trying to buy a ticket 2 last yr world cup and it took me like forever just 2 check if i could afford the tickets i ended up not buying any i feel 4 all the people who cant afford the prices its like they're pricing out the real fans source: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-60153634

ugh those ticket prices are insane i mean come on $465 per ticket?! thats not just for die hard fans its for people with deep pockets only. what about all the kids and families who want to watch the world cup without breaking the bank theyre just gonna be left out in the cold sadly

I FEEL SO SAD FOR ALL THE FANS WHO CANT AFFORD TICKETS!!! IT'S LIKE, THE WORLD CUP IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE WEALTHY ONES!!! I MEAN, WHO NEEDS THAT KIND OF EXCESSIVE PRICE HIKING ANYWAY? IT MAKES ME WONDER IF FIFA REALLY CARES ABOUT THE FANS OR JUST ABOUT GETTING THOSE ENDORSEMENT DEALS AND SPONSORS COVERED . I HOPE THEY START TO LISTEN TO THE FANS AND MAKE SOME CHANGES, LIKE, MAYBE OFFER MORE AFFORDABLE OPTIONS OR SOMETHING!!

omg can u believe those ticket prices?! like i get it fifa needs the cash but come on $465 a pop thats just crazy!! i mean whats next gonna start charging us for breathing in the stadium lol. im just wondering if theyre actually gonna have any fans from normal people lol not those with deep pockets who got lucky and can afford the price tag

ugh I feel so bad 4 fans like ur friend whos just wanna catch a game without breakin the bank these ticket prices r insane & its not fair to everyday fans who cant afford them the 1% shouldnt be gettin all the perks while ppl like ur friend son are left out in the cold FIFA needs 2 rethink their pricing model ASAP

I'm so done with FIFA's dynamic pricing model . Like, what's next? Charging people an arm and a leg to breathe in the stadium? It's just not right, you know? The whole thing feels like a huge joke . I mean, who's really behind these ridiculous ticket prices? Are they targeting those of us who actually care about the game or are they just trying to cash in on the suckers who don't have a clue what's going on? It's all just so... shady .

And can we talk about how frustrating it is for fans like my friend, who just wants to watch some footy with his mates but gets stuck in this never-ending cycle of frustration? I mean, come on, guys! If you're gonna do it right, do it right . Make the tickets affordable and get people in the stadium, not just line the pockets of a bunch of shady profiteers .

I'm so over the fact that this tournament is basically out of reach for anyone who doesn't have a six-figure salary . It's like they're speaking a whole different language or something . And what about all the young fans who just want to experience the magic of the World Cup? It's like their parents are just gonna have to sit them out because they can't afford it . Not cool, FIFA .

I mean, can you believe those prices?! It's like they're trying to alienate all the fans who don't have deep pockets . I'm not surprised the whole thing was chaotic – it's like trying to buy a house in NYC . And yeah, it's clear that this World Cup is for the rich and famous, not for us regular people who actually care about the game ️. It's like they're speaking a different language or something . I'm just hoping my mate gets to enjoy the tournament without losing his mind (or his savings) .

Man I feel you! Back in my day we used to go crazy for the World Cup too, but tickets weren't like this. You could actually buy one without taking out a second mortgage . It's crazy how much more expensive it is now. I mean, 465 bucks for a seat? That's just ridiculous! What's next, VIP access for everyone with a decent job? I'm all for FIFA making some money, but this isn't right. Those everyday fans who want to experience the excitement of the game are being left out. It's like they're not even welcome anymore . I hope someone does something about it before it's too late... or maybe they'll just raise the prices again

I'm so done with these ticket prices . I mean, I get that FIFA needs the cash, but come on! Who exactly are they targeting with these crazy prices? It's like they're saying, "Hey, if you're a wealthy investor or a VIP, we've got a seat for you!" But what about the regular fans who just want to cheer on their favorite teams in person? It's like they're not even worthy of being there . And don't even get me started on the technical glitches and website crashes – it was like they wanted us to give up! . I feel bad for my friend who finally got tickets after weeks of trying, but at what cost?

man i feel u so much about this!!! 1 billion dollars goes into hosting the world cup but what happens to the fans who actually care?? the prices are insane and its like theyre charging us for a privilege not a right lol how do u even get tickets now without losing ur mind or breaking the bank? its all about the profiteers and sponsors, i swear. i hope some fans can still make it but idk man, this world cup is shaping up to be a total elitist event

This price hike is insane!!! Like I was watching a group chat with friends trying to get tickets and it's like a never-ending nightmare technical glitches, website crashes... it's not even about being tech-savvy anymore, you just need to be willing to pay an arm and a leg . And yeah, who exactly are they targeting? Are they serious about making this a super exclusive club or what?!

Ticket prices are outta control! Who's really buying these pricey seats? Rich folks, corporate buyers, or just die-hard fans trying to make a dream come true?

omg, can you even believe those ticket prices?! i mean, i'm not gonna lie, it's crazy how fast $465 goes from being a reasonable price to being way outta reach. like, what's next? $1000 seats for the 1% crowd? meanwhile, casual fans like my friend's son are just gonna have to watch the games on tv , which is a bummer cuz that's where the magic happens! we need more affordable options so everyone can enjoy the World Cup #FIFAWorldCup #TicketGates #SoccerForAll

I'm really disappointed in how expensive tickets are getting for the World Cup . I mean, $465 per ticket is just insane! It's not like that was what they were meant to be - a way for everyone to come together and cheer on their teams. Now it feels more like some kind of exclusive club where only those with deep pockets can join in .

I also think it's kinda unfair that the prices are changing all the time, making it even harder for people to buy tickets . I've got a friend who's been trying to get tickets for weeks and he's still waiting... it's just not right .

FIFA needs to do something about this before the tournament starts, 'cause if everyday fans can't afford to go, then what's the point of even having them in the stadium?

I mean, can you believe those ticket prices are insane . It's like they're pricing out normal people just to make it a high-end experience for the wealthy fans. And don't even get me started on the tech issues – I've been following this story and it sounds like a nightmare for anyone trying to buy tickets.

I think FIFA needs to rethink their strategy and make it more accessible to regular fans. I mean, the World Cup is supposed to be about football, not just some exclusive event for the rich and famous . What's the point of having an international tournament if only a select few can afford to attend?

It's also got me thinking – what's next? Are they going to raise prices even more or start charging extra for food and drinks? It's like they're trying to create this whole VIP experience, but at what cost?