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The excitement around the U.S. men's national team's 2026 World Cup opening match against Paraguay has failed to drive ticket sales, with thousands of seats reportedly still up for grabs.
The largest World Cup in history, taking place primarily on American soil this summer, is also by far the most costly. FIFA has faced sharp criticism over sky-high ticket prices that shut out countless fans worldwide, along with inflated resale markets and steep transportation costs.
These concerns were directed particularly at the USMNT's tournament opener at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The match ranked as the third-priciest of the entire event when tickets first went on sale in October, yet the $2,730 Category 1 and $1,940 Category 2 tickets appear to be moving slowly.
The Athletic reports that a document circulated among local organizers showed only 40,934 tickets had been sold for the June 12 match, while SoFi Stadium holds 69,650 fans for World Cup play.
The figures look even worse given that the same document revealed 50,661 tickets have already been sold for Iran vs. New Zealand on June 15, a game also set to take place at the home of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
FIFA Issues Strong Response to the Reported Ticket Sales
The Athletic confirmed it contacted FIFA for clarification on the figures in the document, specifically regarding how many seats remain available to the general public, since it was unclear whether unsold allocated tickets were included in the numbers.
The governing body declined to offer any context before publication, but issued a statement once the article went live on Tuesday. A spokesperson stressed that "ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup remain strong with a high degree of interest for all matches, including the ones you have highlighted."
The spokesperson added that the document "does not accurately reflect actual sales to date" and accused The Athletic of presenting "misleading" figures as established fact.
Hours later, FIFA announced an additional "last-minute ticket sales phase" for this summer's competition. On Wednesday, April 22, more tickets across all 104 matches will be released for public purchase; however, it remains unclear whether prices will be reduced.
Worrying USMNT Trend Seemingly Affecting World Cup Sales
overwhelmingly a pro-Korea crowd in Jersey pic.twitter.com/xOgyr7tje6
While steep prices are likely the primary driver behind the reportedly sluggish ticket sales for the USMNT's opener against Paraguay, another factor deserves attention: The Stars and Stripes consistently struggle to fill some of the largest stadiums in the country.
Time and again, the USMNT finds itself playing in front of crowds that largely back the opposing side, even on home turf. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino previously urged American supporters to "please come more" to matches after the team played before a predominantly pro-South Korea crowd in Harrison, New Jersey last September.
The Argentine repeated that message in November after his squad faced Paraguay in Chesterfield, Pennsylvania in front of just 17,224 fans — fewer than one-third of SoFi Stadium's World Cup capacity. "We need our fans to follow and support the national team. We need to build that relationship. Our fans need to be fans of the USA men's national team and follow our crest, our flag, our colors. That's the most important."
Pochettino's remarks came in the wake of a disappointing attendance for matches against Panama and Canada at SoFi Stadium during the Concacaf Nations League in March 2025, where the Stars and Stripes played in front of largely vacant stands.
The pattern does not paint a promising picture for the USMNT — or for FIFA — heading into the World Cup. The host nation will need the full backing of a passionate home crowd to mount a deep run in the tournament, but prohibitive prices and a broader lack of fan engagement could strip away what should be a significant home-field advantage.