Widely regarded as one of the most highly anticipated events in sports, the FIFA World Cup draws excitement from fans all around the world every four years and is expected to be one of the largest tournaments ever.

However, that excitement has come with its own controversy over the rising ticket prices and travel costs.

What should be an affordable tournament that fans should have the privilege of attending now appears out of the price range for the vast majority of them, sparking an outrage amongst the community.

While 2022 final tickets were far less expensive, prices for the 2026 final have skyrocketed, with premium seats now costing over $10,000.

In addition to ticket prices, transportation costs have also seen a drastic increase with buses and trains to the stadium that would typically cost anywhere from $10 to $15 for a round-trip now is expected to cost around $150.

WJPS 12th grader Matthew Aleksa said, “It’s disappointing to see the World Cup become so expensive that lifelong fans won’t get the opportunity to go.”

WJPS 12th grader Valery Cardona-Calderon stated, “It’s frustrating to me and my family who now won’t be able to go to the World Cup especially when it’s so close to home.”