As FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches, Houston is expected to see a surge of visitors from around the globe. But with ticket prices climbing, some are questioning whether many local residents will actually be able to attend matches at the city’s stadium.
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Fans say ticket costs in the United States are significantly higher than in other countries that have hosted the tournament.
“We went to both South Africa and Brazil and never paid more than $125 for decent seats,” said Susan Leining, who has attended past World Cups.
Others are already budgeting hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to see matches.
Carlos Delarosa said he has paid varying prices depending on the game. “$600 to $700 for Portugal tickets, two games, around $400 for Netherlands, $350 for Croatia in Dallas, $500 for a solid knockout game here,” he said.
We asked viewers on social media how much they would be willing to spend on tickets. Responses varied widely, with some saying they would not attend at all due to cost.
Several respondents said they would pay nothing, citing high prices as a barrier. Others shared a range of budgets:
- Joe Gonzales: $5,000
- Manny Mendoza: $1,000 per ticket
- Jonathan Arellano: $500
- JJ Granados: $200
- Wal Ko: $200
- Emmanuel Gonzalez: $100
- Travis Redd: $100
- Juan Castro: $300
- Tiffany Haynes: $2,300 for two tickets
- Mary Platt: $25 to $40
With Houston set to host multiple matches, the question remains: will the stands be filled with hometown supporters, or mostly international visitors able to afford the price of admission?