Why these soccer fans are sitting out the 2026 World Cup : NPR

Key Points:

• Ty Malugani from Alabama, excited to take his children to the 2026 World Cup hosted in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, became disillusioned due to exorbitant ticket prices and confusing sales processes, with family attendance costs reaching thousands of dollars.
• Fans express frustration with FIFA, especially after the organization awarded President Trump the FIFA Peace Prize, which many see as prioritizing political ties over fan experience and the sport itself.
• Despite FIFA's claims of "unprecedented" ticket demand, early indications show softer-than-expected interest, attributed to factors like high airfares, ticket costs, geopolitical tensions, and less compelling early matches; hotel bookings are also below projections due to cancellations and fewer overseas travelers.
• Concerns over U.S. immigration policies, including social media scrutiny and travel bans affecting several participating countries, have deterred some international fans, such as soccer finance professor Kieran Maguire, from attending the tournament.
• While the White House remains optimistic about the World Cup's success and security, disappointed fans like Malugani feel the event has become inaccessible to many and fear it may miss an opportunity to inspire future generations of soccer enthusiasts.