Football fans will soon crisscross continents to see their beloved national teams compete on the sport’s grandest stage, the World Cup. They’ll pack bars and fan zones, singing chants and debating who is going to win it all.This time, however, it’s different for some superfans, who say organizers have made this summer’s World Cup the least welcoming one they have experienced. Ticket prices, expensive cross-country travel, and concerns about entering the US have prompted some of them to stay home.

Some fans have been priced out of the World Cup in North America, which some critics say is part of a wider shift in sporting culture.

The 2026 World Cup has drawn intense criticism from globe-trotting fans who over the years have helped define the tournament's festive atmosphere

The 2026 World Cup has drawn intense criticism from globe-trotting fans who over the years have helped define the tournament's festive atmosphere

FIFA World Cup 2026 faces fan backlash as high costs and U.S. entry concerns prompt dedicated supporters to stay home.

The World Cup is set to get underway next week, but some hardcore fans won’t be attending this year’s tournament

Political tensions are high in the U.S., where most of the tournament’s matches will be played

Soccer fans are crying foul over the spike in prices for soccer tickets, saying the sheer pricetag is keeping the biggest soccer fans at home.

Football fans' sense of wonder in this year's edition of the tournament is being tarnished by politics

Football fans will soon crisscross continents to see their beloved national teams compete on the sport’s grandest stage, the World Cup. They’ll pack bars and fan zones, singing…

Absolutely nothing about this tournament is fair on ordinary supporters

The World Cup officially kicks off in Mexico on Thursday, but thousands of fans across North America will have already got their opportunity to enjoy the world’s biggest sporting…

The great paradox of this historic, expansive event is that more countries are competing but fewer fans can afford tickets.