$1,600 is the average price for World Cup tickets in 2026. Four years ago in Qatar, the average price was just $200. For the first time since 1994, there are World Cup games in the United States. Many students at WCHS thought that they would be able to attend a once in a lifetime event, but unfortunately, several factors, including the price drove them away. WCHS sophomore Ethan Ansah is one of few students who managed to get a ticket despite the complicated process.
“At first it was a raffle,” Ansah said. “You have to enter the raffle to have the chance to buy tickets. If you get into that, then it becomes a whole problem of hospitality, tickets versus regular tickets. It was not a pleasant experience to buy the tickets. The difficult process of buying the tickets inflated the resale market, which denied even more people from going.”
For students who managed to get the tickets, they paid the outrageous amount that is required to go to one of the events. Tickets can range from anywhere from $200 to $10,000. WCHS sophomore Basil Nasser managed to get through the lottery and purchase tickets to a then unkown game, but was frustrated by the cost.
“I would never pay more than $200,” Nasser said. “It is very surprising to me that tickets start at almost $150 or $200. I expected them to be high but not that high. I only know two or three people who were willing to pay that much for tickets. Normally students could go to an NFL game for under $100, it is crazy these games are minimum $200 to $300. Not even an NBA playoff game is that expensive.”
Not many students would consider flying to another country to watch the World Cup. But considering the cost of the flights, tickets and parking, traveling for World Cup matches might be the same price as going to a game in the U.S.
“For some people being only a few hours away from the biggest tournament in the entire world is 100 percent a once in a lifetime opportunity for most students,” Ansah said. “I do not think a lot of students would consider flying to the host country to watch the game. For many students this may be their only chance to watch the World Cup.”
Another reason the tickets are so expensive this year is the implementation of dynamic pricing. Dynamic pricing is the fluctuation of ticket prices based on the demand. For example, a World Cup game between two really good teams would cost more than between two bad teams. The cost of tickets can fluctuate between thousands of dollars, which can make it hard for students to see their favorite team. This new system can make it almost impossible to see competitive teams like France, Germany or Brazil.
“Dynamic pricing helps slightly but just because lower games are less expensive does not make them cheap,” Nasser said. “I do not think it is fair that it [costs] more to see some teams, but I understand that the popularity of the teams means a higher price. For example, my favorite team is Germany, and it costs more for me to go to a game. But I know that they are one of the most popular teams, so there is more demand for the tickets.”
The World Cup is more than just a sporting event, and to families and cultures all over the world, it means so much more than just a mere soccer game. It gives a reason for countries to unite, and brings people and friends together.
“To me, other than being the biggest and my personal favorite in sports, [soccer] means a lot to the people of the host country,” Ansah said. “And it shows how different cultures integrate and unite over just a game of soccer. Me and my family usually try to go to at least one Ghana game. It gives me a chance to be with my family, and is something I look forward to every year.”
