How the FIFA World Cup is becoming exclusionary

By Leila Ebrahim

Art by Reena Hamad

This summer, the FIFA World Cup is coming to the United States for the second time in its history. Set to be the largest World Cup yet, the tournament will include a record 48 teams across a total of 104 matches. The U.S., Mexico and Canada will play host to the world’s largest sporting event to date. For soccer fans around the world, this summer will be one to remember. And even for those not familiar with the game, the hype around the six-week tournament will not go unnoticed.

FIFA, or the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the world-recognized governing body of soccer, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It oversees soccer events throughout the world, from small competitions to large ones. FIFA’s most well-known tournament, the World Cup, has been in existence since 1930, first held in Uruguay. And every four years since (except in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II) the competition has taken place without fail.

The World Cup isn’t just about watching soccer — yes, the competition follows teams as they knock each other out in hopes of advancing to the final. But at its very core, the tournament is a way for entire countries to unite, celebrating their own unique cultures. In 2010, when the World Cup was held in South Africa, vuvuzelas were a common sound heard in stadiums. The distinct, horn-like buzz spoke to the country’s Zulu traditions. In Qatar’s 2022 World Cup, fans from various countries were spotted wearing traditional Arab headgear and garb. Even Argentine soccer star, Lionel Messi, donned a Qatari bisht as he raised the trophy for the world to see.

It is a celebration of music too: For each World Cup, FIFA collaborates with famous musicians to create a unique album for the specific tournament. Many of these soundtracks often pull their sound from the country in which the year’s World Cup is taking place. “Waka Waka” by Shakira, a song created specifically for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, features Freshlyground, an Afro-fusion pop band from Cape Town. Since its release, the song has garnered almost 4.5 billion views, becoming the eighth-most-viewed music video on YouTube. Whether you’re a soccer fan or not, it’s almost a certainty you’ve come across this universally known tune.

Since it’s existed, the World Cup has brought together fans from countries all over the world in a peaceful, festive way. The tournament has always been about the love for sport, music, art and culture: a time where people forget their gripes with one another and entire governments pause their conflicts. And if the tournament is known for one thing, it is that it is catered to everyone. The World Cup is marketed for all, with tickets accessible for any fan to buy. Soccer, unlike many other sports, is not historically known as being elitist. Instead, it is recognized and applauded for its encompassing nature, its accessibility and affordability for the general population. In Qatar’s 2022 tournament, the cheapest ticket recorded was $11, and the most expensive ticket for the final itself was $1,607.

But as sales come to a peak for this summer’s upcoming World Cup, fans are angry. Ticket prices are hitting record highs: $60 for the cheapest ticket, and $10,990 for the most expensive one recorded so far. And while $60 may be considered affordable, these tickets are highly limited. Most of them sold out in the pre-sale phases (only open to Visa holders or through a highly randomized and unreliable lottery), and the tickets that are left are outrageously expensive.

In comparison to Qatar’s most expensive final ticket of $1,607, the cheapest final ticket for this 2026 tournament in the U.S. is priced at more than $2,000. And this doesn’t even include travel, hotel and food costs. This is the first time such high prices have been seen in the history of the tournament. It’s unprecedented and completely at odds with what soccer stands for.

This isn’t the only controversy surrounding the upcoming World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino came under fire earlier this year for his latest creation: the FIFA Peace Prize. Described as an award to recognize “exceptional actions for peace and unity,” Infantino awarded the prize to U.S. President Donald Trump. Many have expressed anger and annoyance at this action, accusing FIFA of inventing an award specifically for Trump for no valid reason. Even more importantly, many have stated that the U.S. president has done nothing to warrant the reception of a prize that recognizes peace, as many of his actions have only furthered wars and other global issues.

Fans around the world are noticing these controversies surrounding the upcoming World Cup. Many are scared to come to the U.S. out of fear of encountering U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers or other forms of law enforcement that might be present at games. Concerningly, when asked about presence at the World Cup, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons stated that they would play a “key part” in the tournament’s security.

So, while the upcoming 2026 World Cup is an exciting event for many to look forward to, lately, it hasn’t always been a hot topic for positive reasons only. FIFA’s shocking dynamic pricing, coupled with the current social and political atmosphere in the U.S., is slowly making what is supposed to be an inclusive event into an elitist, exclusionary tournament only for the privileged and wealthy. It’s a worrying phenomenon at odds with what the World Cup has always stood for. After all, it is only truly the “World” Cup if it includes the world: no matter race, culture, religion or socioeconomic standing.

Fortunately, people are taking note of FIFA’s questionable actions. Many are refusing to buy tickets, even boycotting the competition and merchandise all together. We cannot lose sight of who truly holds the power: the fans. It is the fans’ duty to make their frustration known by standing up against these practices in an impactful way, whether that is in the form of boycotts, protests or petitions. Without public support, FIFA and their exclusionary World Cup will be largely unsuccessful. It is up to people all over the world to show that they, and the sport of soccer itself, will not tolerate any form of discrimination that renders the tournament purely for the elite.