# What's the minimum I should expect to pay for a world cup ticket in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** football-soccer-fifa\ **Created:** [December 8, 2025, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515 "2025-12-08T06:07:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/21 "2025-12-10T17:29:29Z")
You couldn’t pay me to go to the U.S. in the current political and institutional climate, World Cup or no World Cup. I’ll wait until 2030 and go to the match in Buenos Aires we were given as sort of a consolation prize. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/22 "2025-12-10T18:49:13Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I’ll wait until 2030 and go to the match in Buenos Aires we were given as sort of a consolation prize. I just looked up where 2030 is set to be hosted. Interesting! Is the era of single countries hosting over? If so, it’s kinda nuts that Qatar will be the last solo host. Who would have guessed! ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/23 "2025-12-11T13:21:04Z")
As a Brit I’ve resigned myself to never seeing a home World Cup in my lifetime. That’s unless I move to Saudi (or another autocratic state which are higher up Gianni’s list, heck North Korea probably stands more chance than England or a combined UK/Ireland bid). ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/24 "2025-12-11T21:29:31Z")
So FTR I just applied to the FIFA “Random Selection Draw”. I applied for tier 3 (which I assume means nosebleed seats behind a pillar) to England-Panama (220$) and Curacoa-Ivory Coast (140$). Two tickets: one for me, one for my eldest. The others are too young to sit through a match and wouldn’t really appreciate it. My eldest is old enough to remember it and hopefully will be a lasting memory of the time she went to a world cup. I assume fairly slim chance of getting either of them. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/25 "2025-12-11T21:31:54Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > As a Brit I’ve resigned myself to never seeing a home World Cup in my lifetime. That’s unless I move to Saudi (or another autocratic state which are higher up Gianni’s list, heck North Korea probably stands more chance than England or a combined UK/Ireland bid). You could move to 5 out of the 6 2030 hosts and experience a home game without living in an autocratic state. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/26 "2025-12-12T01:17:39Z")
For whatever it’s worth, you may want to not rule out too soon the secondary market. I’ve purchased such tickets a few times in my life, including a couple of primo seats at Busch Stadium, via the secondary market. I mean, yeah, you’re paying more than retail - and in this case, capital-C Considerably more than retail - but hey, at least you, you know, _get_ a ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/27 "2025-12-12T01:31:51Z")
Seems like fans are not too happy about World Cup ticket prices. > **[Fans accuse FIFA of 'betrayal' over World Cup ticket prices](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/47277227/soccer-fan-groups-accuse-fifa-rip-pricing-world-cup-tickets)** > > Fans have accused FIFA of a "monumental betrayal" after latest prices for World Cup tickets began to circulate Thursday. Might want to be careful not to bitch too much on social media though, lest their hosts get riled… ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/28 "2025-12-12T07:34:16Z")
I might not have been entirely serious. It does irk me a little that the US has had the World Cup twice during my lifetime and Mexico THREE times since we last hosted it. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/29 "2025-12-12T07:34:59Z")
Yeh 3 grand for the cheapest Final ticket is ludicrous. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/30 "2025-12-12T12:59:56Z")
“When in doubt, host it in Mexico” ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/31 "2025-12-17T15:30:41Z")
> FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams’ most loyal fans following a global backlash and some will get $60 seats for the final instead of being asked to pay $4,185… > > FIFA said Tuesday that $60 tickets will be made available for every game at the tournament in North America, going to the national federations whose teams are playing. Those federations decide how to distribute them to loyal fans who have attended previous games at home and on the road. > > **The number of $60 tickets for each game is likely to be from 400 to 750 per team,** in what FIFA is now calling a “Supporter Entry Tier” price category. > **[FIFA slashes price of some World Cup tickets to $60 after global fan backlash](https://apnews.com/article/fifa-ticket-prices-slashed-73e7147a8843d07af08fcc88068dce80)** > > FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams’ most loyal fans following a global backlash and some will get $60 seats for the final instead of being asked to pay $4,185. So very doubtful the OP would be lucky enough to get one. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/32 "2025-12-17T17:53:32Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > So very doubtful the OP would be lucky enough to get one. Yeah doubtful, though I did click the option that says I will accept a lower category than the one I choose (I choose category 3 which was the lowest but I guess isn’t anymore?). Though from that article it’s not clear if those handful of tickets are available via general lottery or are assigned via the national supporters organization? ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/33 "2025-12-18T10:26:59Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > So very doubtful the OP would be lucky enough to get one I also have the hunch that they will go to their (nat. federation) sponsors to run promotions like giveaways. ( purchase lots of our beer and win two of 10 trips to the USA football world up and get free entrance to game xyc) ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/34 "2025-12-18T12:52:18Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > I also have the hunch that they will go to their (nat. federation) sponsors Oh don’t worry Fifa will have made sure those sponsors have been provided with tickets long before any actual supporters had a chance to sign up 😠 And not just a token handful of tickets like this, a massive proportion of tickets are assigned to corporations who have greased FIFA’s palm (so many are given out that way it’s not easy to work out if world cup matches sell out, as they won’t all get used. So even massively popular big matches will still have empty seats) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515/35 "2025-12-18T13:47:11Z")
you might be quite right there … I do however doubt we will see many empty seats. … anybody remember the WC in Mexico (‘86?) … for reasons I do not recall in detail now (probably also high prices, in a time when intern. travel was way more prohibitive and the local population made the main part of the audience) … well, they had half the stadium empty in the first 20 min. or so, and then opened the entrances to anybody waiting outside without a ticket to avoid showing a “sorry / low turnout crowd” to the TV-cameras. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-minimum-i-should-expect-to-pay-for-a-world-cup-ticket-in-the-us/1025515.md?page=1)