The biggest World Cup in history is also shaping up to be the most controversial. FIFA’s 2026 tournament, spread across 16 cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico, expanded the field from 32 to 48 teams and added 104 matches to the schedule.
Dynamic ticket pricing has pushed some final-match tickets to $11,000. State attorneys general have launched investigations, and lawsuits are piling up. Meanwhile, US travel restrictions affecting nationals from 39 countries have made it physically impossible for some fans, and even some staff, to attend matches on American soil.
The $11,000 seat and the empty one next to it
The backlash has been loud enough to attract legal scrutiny, with multiple state attorneys general examining whether the pricing practices violate consumer protection laws.
By December 2025, the Trump administration’s entry restrictions covered nationals from 39 countries. For fans from Iran and Haiti, among others, attending matches in the US isn’t a question of budget. It’s a question of border policy. Iran qualified for the tournament, meaning a national team could theoretically play in a country where its own supporters are barred from entering.
