FIFA is reportedly facing slower-than-expected ticket sales for a key FIFA World Cup 2026 match. The United States’ opening game has not matched the demand levels seen for other fixtures. A new report suggests pricing may be playing a major role in the lag.
FIFA reportedly having difficulty in selling all tickets for World Cup opener game
A document dated April 10, obtained by “The Athletic”, revealed that 40,934 tickets had been purchased for the U.S. men’s national team’s opener against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium. The venue holds a capacity of 69,650, placing the opener behind other matches at the same location. For comparison, Iran vs. New Zealand, scheduled three days later, recorded 50,661 tickets sold.
The figures do not confirm how many seats remain unsold, as they may exclude hospitality or non-public allocations. Still, the numbers align with broader trends showing weaker demand for the U.S. opener. Another group-stage match featuring the U.S. against Turkey reportedly remained under 40,000 tickets sold, while fixtures like Bosnia vs. Switzerland and Iran vs. Belgium crossed 47,000 and 50,000, respectively.
Pricing appears to be a major factor. Category 1 tickets for the opener cost $2,730, Category 2 tickets $1,940, and Category 3 $1,120. Unlike other matches where prices increased due to demand, FIFA has kept these prices unchanged for the U.S. opener. Meanwhile, other games with lower ticket costs, some as low as $140, have seen stronger uptake.
FIFA has pushed back on the interpretation of these figures, stating that overall ticket demand remains high and the document does not fully reflect real-time sales. President Gianni Infantino recently said around 5 million of the estimated 6.7 million tickets have already been sold, adding that some inventory remains intentionally available for later sales phases.
However, resale platforms and ongoing availability suggest that high prices, combined with travel costs, may be slowing demand for one of the tournament’s marquee opening fixtures.
Originally written by Anwaya Mane on Mandatory.
