The World Cup 2026 excitement is palpable, yet ticket sales for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) opener against Paraguay on June 12 are lagging behind expectations. Recent data reveals that only 40,934 tickets were purchased for this much-anticipated match at SoFi Stadium, compared to more than 50,661 tickets sold for a later match featuring Iran and New Zealand.
This alarming discrepancy has prompted concerns among local organizers. A document shared with them outlined ticket sales as of April 10, suggesting that many seats are still available, although the exact number of unsold tickets remains unclear due to possible allocations for hospitality and other purposes. FIFA has refrained from clarifying these figures, stating that “ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup remain strong”.
Investigating Ticket Sales for the USMNT vs. Paraguay
When FIFA first opened ticket sales back in October, the pricing for the USMNT opener was set significantly higher than most matches—being the third most expensive of the entire tournament. Category 1 tickets are going for $2,730, while Category 2 tickets are priced at $1,940. These steep prices may be another reason for the slower sales, as many fans are stepping back from buying tickets due to the cost.
While other matches have experienced a surge in ticket sales, this opener has shown a lack of interest. Even with FIFA raising prices for numerous matches due to “unprecedented” demand, the pricing for the USMNT vs. Paraguay game has remain unchanged. This indicates that fans may view the prices as excessive.
Secondary Market Trends Raise Concerns
There are indications that ticket demand is not just slow on the primary market. Many tickets are listed on resale sites at prices below face value. As of this Sunday, over 4,000 tickets are available on FIFA’s resale platform. This trend suggests a significant lack of interest and raises the possibility that FIFA may need to lower prices as the opener nears to avoid empty seats.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reported that around 5 million out of the estimated 6.7 million tickets expected to be available have been sold globally. While this statistic sounds promising, it doesn’t seem to hold for the USMNT opener, highlighting a potential misjudgment of the team’s popularity in the United States.
Fans Shift Focus to More Affordable Matches
It appears many fans are opting to seek less expensive tickets for other matches within the tournament. In fact, only 8,487 of the ticket buyers for the USMNT vs. Paraguay match were identified as “local.” In contrast, more than 17,080 tickets were sold for the Iran-New Zealand match.
This situation also sheds light on a recurring issue for the USMNT, particularly in Southern California, where a considerable number of matches have failed to attract large local crowds in the past years. With ticket sales, it’s clear that price sensitivity plays a significant role in fans’ decision-making processes.
What Lies Ahead for World Cup 2026?
As the tournament draws closer, FIFA may need to reevaluate its ticket pricing strategies. With slow sales for high-cost matches and a rise in available tickets on the secondary market, the organization could find itself in a precarious position heading into World Cup 2026. Fans await further announcements regarding ticket availability, especially around matches that have not sold out.
The Bottom Line
While the World Cup 2026 promises to be a monumental event for soccer lovers in the United States, the current ticketing situation highlights significant challenges that FIFA must navigate as it moves forward. As fans hope for a thrilling tournament, how navigated ticket sales will impact attendance remains to be seen.
