The 2026 World Cup is set to kick off across the United States this summer, bringing the world's biggest soccer tournament to American soil for the first time since 1994. But for many fans—and even the President—the dream of attending a match is being crushed by sky-high ticket prices that rival the cost of a used car.
Over the past few weeks, fans have voiced growing frustration over the soaring costs, especially at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City. A group stage match like Brazil vs. Morocco at that venue? You're looking at over $2,000 just to get through the gates. And it doesn't stop there. The average ticket for the United States' opening match against Paraguay is well over $1,000, while the final is averaging nearly $13,000—a staggering jump from the $1,600 average for the 2022 championship in Qatar.
While FIFA President Gianni Infantino has shrugged off concerns, President Donald Trump had a very different reaction. In a recent interview with the New York Post, Trump—a lifelong New Yorker—admitted he had no idea just how steep the prices were. And even as a billionaire, he said he wouldn't pay up.
"I did not know that number," Trump told the Post. "I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn't pay it either, to be honest with you."
He added that his administration would look into potential ways to bring down the cost. "I haven't seen that, but I would have to take a look at it," he said.
Trump also expressed concern for everyday fans, saying, "If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can't go, I would be disappointed. But, you know, at the same time, it's an amazing success. I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go."
With the World Cup just months away, the question remains: will ticket prices come down enough for the average fan to get in the game, or will this summer's tournament be a celebration only for those with deep pockets? For now, even the President is saying "no thanks" to the price tag.