FIFA World Cup excitement fades as fans struggle with prices, travel and ticket lottery

With less than two months to go before the FIFA World Cup, concerns are mounting that this year’s tournament may not attract the usual wave of travelling supporters.

Early signs suggest something is off.

Empty hotels raise red flags

Radio hosts in the United States tested hotel availability in a host city for both the opening match and the final, typically the most in-demand fixtures.

Instead of sold-out accommodation, they found large numbers of rooms still open, even in hotels located right next to stadiums.

In one case, more than 100 rooms were still available on the night of the opening game.

That has sparked questions about whether fans are buying tickets and whether stadiums will be filled.

‘It’s complicated and expensive’

Sipho Ncube, a South African living in Seattle who hopes to attend matches, said the process of securing FIFA World Cup tickets is already putting fans off.

“It’s expensive, and it’s a lottery system,” she said.

Fans must first be selected for a time slot before they can even attempt to buy tickets. Those who miss out are locked out entirely.

She added that resale prices are soaring.

“Those that are able to buy are reselling at like $1,000-plus… that’s about R17,000. In this economy? No.”

Travel and total costs add up

Even for those determined to attend, the total cost quickly escalates.

Flights within the United States can cost between $700 and $900 (about R13,000 to R17,000), depending on the route.

Once tickets, travel and accommodation are combined, fans could be spending up to $4,000 (roughly R75,000) for a single trip.

“It’s a lot of money,” she said.

Fans feel pushed out

There is growing concern that the FIFA World Cup is becoming inaccessible to ordinary supporters.

“I feel like it’s catering to the upper middle class, and the actual fans are not getting that opportunity,” she said.

Beyond pricing, visa requirements and travel logistics are also seen as barriers, particularly for international fans.

Less hype, more uncertainty

For many, the usual buzz around the FIFA World Cup appears muted.

Instead of excitement, some fans say the focus feels more like preparation and logistics than celebration.

“There’s more preparation than actual fan anticipation,” she said.

As the countdown continues, organisers will be watching closely to see whether interest picks up, or whether this year’s tournament struggles to capture the global excitement the FIFA World Cup is known for.

More on FIFA World Cup ticket concerns, pricing and fan access

— Several hotel associations are disappointed with World Cup bookings so far

Hotels in host cities still have significant availability just weeks before kick-off, raising fresh concerns about whether fans are actually travelling for the tournament.

— Fans slam World Cup ticket costs as ‘outrageous pricing scheme’

Supporters warn dynamic pricing could push tickets as high as $2,000, sparking backlash that ordinary fans are being priced out of the global showpiece.

For more detailed information, listen to Ncube on 947 using the audio player below: