Fans question whether World Cup is worth the hassle
Key takeaways
- Canada and Mexico also are hosting games, but they appear to have generated far fewer complaints.
- FIFA is forecast to rake in at least $11 billion from the games.
- But fans are asking: What, aside from a lot of annoyances, are they getting in return after doling out all that hard-earned cash?
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Fans planning to drive to World Cup matches in Foxborough, Massachusetts, must weigh potential traffic gridlock -- as occurred in a Brazil-France friendly match in March -- against the expense and limited seating on trains and buses. AP Photo/Charles Krupa Anthony Olivieri May 7, 2026, 07:00 AM ETClose Anthony Olivieri is a staff writer for ESPN. He has a degree in communications with a concentration in journalism from Marist College. He's been with ESPN since 2012.Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended ReactionsParking costs more than $200 in one World Cup city, and it's not at the stadium. Train fare is four times that of a normal ride in another city. A matchday hotel room can cost nearly $700 in the highest-priced locale. And one fan group accuses FIFA of "extortionate" ticket costs.
The list of hassles, headaches and rising costs seems to keep growing as the World Cup approaches, prompting fans in 11 World Cup host cities around the United States to question whether viewing the games in person is worth the expense. Canada and Mexico also are hosting games, but they appear to have generated far fewer complaints.
FIFA spokesperson Adam Geigerman, in a statement to ESPN, said revenue generated from tickets is reinvested into the "global development of football." He added: "Unlike the entities behind profit-driven third-party ticket marketplaces, FIFA is a not-for-profit organisation."