A growing number of die‑hard soccer enthusiasts in the United States have announced that they will not be attending the 2026 World Cup, even though the tournament will be staged on home soil.
For Don Schneider and his circle of longtime supporters, the decision is not about lack of passion but about the steep price tags attached to the limited tickets that have been released.
Ticket maze and price spikes
Danny Navarro, who runs the online hub TravelFutbolFan, has become a go‑to resource for fans trying to decode the labyrinthine ticket phases and the myriad travel restrictions that accompany the event.
Mike Spracklen, a veteran member of the American Outlaws supporters’ group, discovered that despite being registered in every official fan program, he still failed to obtain a ticket for any of the U.S. matches.
The broader political climate in the United States has added another layer of complexity, with some observers noting that heightened tensions have made the prospect of hosting international visitors feel less inviting.
Nevertheless, many fans remain hopeful that the tournament can still foster a welcoming atmosphere for supporters from abroad, even as they voice disappointment over the current obstacles.