Expensive Tickets Leave US World Cup Opener Facing Empty Seats

Rabat – FIFA is facing sluggish demand for the United States’ World Cup opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, despite pricing the match among the most expensive of the tournament.

A planning document dated April 10 shows just over 40,000 tickets sold for the June 12 game, far fewer than the 50,000-plus purchased for Iran’s match against New Zealand at the same venue three days later. 

SoFi’s World Cup capacity is listed at 69,650, though it remains unclear whether the figures include hospitality packages or other non‑public allocations.

FIFA has declined to clarify the numbers, insisting overall sales remain strong. A spokesperson said the document “does not accurately reflect actual sales to date” and warned against treating the figures as fact.

Still, evidence points to weak demand. Since tickets first went on sale in October, the US-Paraguay clash has been priced as the third‑most expensive match of the tournament, behind only the final and one semifinal. 

Category 1 seats cost $2,730, Category 2 $1,940, and Category 3 $1,120. Unlike other fixtures, those prices have not been raised in later phases, and availability has remained steady.

Daily tracking since April 9 shows only modest movement, with a few hundred tickets sold over ten days. Thousands remain listed on FIFA’s portal, while resale platforms now feature more than 4,000 tickets, many offered below face value.

الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا” يواجه صعوبات في بيع تذاكر المباراة الافتتاحية لمنتخب الولايات المتحدة أمام باراغواي في كأس العالم 2026، إذ تم يبع نحو 60% من التذاكر فقط، وفقًا لوثائق حصل عليها موقع “ذا أثلتيك”

تتجاوز أسعار أرخص التذاكر المتاحة لهذه المباراة، المقررة في 12… pic.twitter.com/NgoVZKsLD1

— اقتصاد الشرق رياضة (@AsharqBSP) April 22, 2026

By contrast, most other matches have seen prices climb as demand surged. Mexico’s opener, for example, rose from $1,825 in October to nearly $3,000 today. The U.S. opener is the only co‑host match where prices have stayed frozen.

FIFA’s strategy and market reality

FIFA president Gianni Infantino recently said five million of the expected 6.7 million tickets have been sold, but acknowledged the organization is holding back inventory to release gradually. That strategy has created an appearance of scarcity, though nine matches, including both U.S. and Canadian openers, still show persistent availability.

Local dynamics may also play a role. Southern California crowds have often favored visiting teams, with diaspora communities filling stadiums for matches involving Mexico, Iran, and others. 

The April 10 document noted fewer than 8,500 local buyers for the U.S.-Paraguay game, compared to more than 17,000 for Iran-New Zealand.

The U.S. team’s popularity has long been uneven, with home crowds sometimes outnumbered by opposition supporters. In March 2025, Nations League doubleheaders at SoFi drew sparse attendance for U.S. games, while Mexico’s match later that evening packed the stands.

Fans frustrated by the high prices have shifted focus to more affordable fixtures, such as the U.S. match against Australia in Seattle, where tickets start at a fraction of the Los Angeles opener.

Whether FIFA adjusts pricing closer to kickoff remains to be seen. At last year’s Club World Cup, the governing body slashed rates late in the process, but not enough to avoid empty seats. For now, the U.S. opener remains a high‑priced gamble, with sales lagging behind expectations.

Read also: FIFA Announces New Batch of 2026 World Cup Tickets Available Tomorrow

 

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