USMNT's Tim Weah Blasts "Outrageous" 2026 World Cup Ticket Prices as Fans Face Financial Squeeze
United States men's national team forward Timothy Weah has expressed his "frustration" regarding ticket costs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, stating that games are financially inaccessible for numerous fans.
Born in Rosedale, New York, Weah is the offspring of 1995 Ballon d'Or recipient George Weah, who played internationally for Liberia. Timothy has netted seven goals and recorded five assists across 47 appearances for the USMNT, yet he worries that countless American supporters and fans of other nations will be unable to attend the upcoming summer competition.
"The cost is excessive," the 25-year-old stated to Le Dauphiné. "Soccer should remain accessible to all. It's the world's most beloved sport. This World Cup will be excellent, but it's becoming more of a spectacle ... I'm simply somewhat disheartened by the ticket pricing. Many genuine supporters will be unable to attend games."
MetLife Stadium, closest to Weah's birthplace, will stage eight contests, including the prestigious World Cup championship match on July 19. After the World Cup draw in December, ticket costs escalated for all fixtures, including the tournament's climax, which FIFA's flexible pricing model increased to $8,680 for a premium category 1 seat, rising from $7,875 in November. A Category 2 seat costs $5,575 while a Category 3 seat is priced at $4,185.
Although other fixtures aren't as costly as the championship game, FIFA has announced unprecedented demand for the competition, revealing Thursday that it received more than 500 million ticket applications. Nevertheless, the governing body didn't disclose precise figures, total sales numbers, or which matches have attracted the least fan interest worldwide.
Beyond ticket expenses, lodging and accommodation rates have also surged dramatically, positioning the 2026 competition as the costliest World Cup ever held.
FIFA Opens $60 'Supporter-Entry Tickets'
FIFA Introduces $60 'Fan-Access Passes'
Following intense criticism regarding ticket costs, FIFA launched a restricted quantity of "fan entry passes" priced at $60 each, allocated through national soccer associations.
For U.S. supporters, American Soccer is distributing these affordable tickets via multiple random selections, with preference granted to three officially recognized fan organizations: the American Outlaws, Barra76 and Sammers, as reported by The Athletic.
Numerous additional tickets under U.S. Soccer's management will be distributed through separate lotteries, primarily obtained by individuals who invest between $45 and $10,000 annually for a U.S. Soccer "Insiders" subscription.
The USMNT is scheduled to begin the competition on June 12 versus Paraguay in Los Angeles, before traveling to Seattle to meet Australia in their second group match on June 19. They will conclude group play on June 25 in Los Angeles against either Turkïye, Slovakia, Romania or Kosovo.