Will African fans be priced out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States? — Opinion

Mexico, one of the three host nations, will play its first game against South Africa on that day. Canada and the United States will face Bosnia and Herzegovina and Paraguay, respectively, the next day. 

But as excitement builds ahead of the tournament, there are a few things that might put a dampener on how fans and die-hard supporters, especially from Africa, or even tourists, experience this global spectacle.  

Out of the ten African countries that have qualified for the World Cup, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal face a partial suspension of visa issuance following the coming into effect on January 1, 2026, of the Presidential Proclamation 10998. 

A note on the US embassy in Senegal’s website reminds Senegalese that in line with the Presidential Proclamation, Senegalese “may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.” 

While securing a visa is key to experiencing the tournament, it might probably be a less herculean feat compared to securing a ticket to enter a stadium in any of the 11 host cities in the United States. 

Billed as the biggest World Cup tournament yet, with 48 teams and over 100 matches, it has also been described by critics as the most expensive. Following a reported surge in interest for tickets after the group stage draw in December last year, ticket prices are said to have doubled or, in some cases, tripled compared to pricing for previous tournaments. 

With three main price tiers or categories of tickets, fans can expect to pay from as low as $400 (Category 3) to as much as $2,735 for a ticket for a group stage match, depending on one’s preference. There are also limited $60 tickets for supporters and another category, the Front category, whose group stage prices go as high as up to $4,000.  

If these figures feel a bit over the top, you’re not the only one feeling that way. Last Thursday, the New York Post published a story about its interview with US President Donald Trump about the cost of tickets for the country’s opening game against Paraguay on June 12. Tickets for that match start from around $1,120. 

“I did not know that number,” the New York Post quoted President Trump as saying about the cost. “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”  

Resale prices for tickets to the final match are reportedly available for a little over $2 million dollars per ticket. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has defended his organisation’s ticket pricing regime, was quoted by the New York Post as saying he would personally deliver “a hot dog and a Coke” to anyone who shelled out millions for the final match.

A press release in April from the U.S. Travel Association indicated that its research showed that the World Cup had the “extraordinary potential to deliver major economic gains for communities across the country.” The release also noted that “safety concerns, policy perceptions and entry barriers could limit America’s ability to fully capitalise on the opportunity.”

Besides concerns raised about the potential for a terror attack during the tournament due to the war between the US, Israel and Iran, since January, there have been calls for a boycott of the event, largely from figures in Europe, including former FIFA President, Sepp Blatter. Most of these calls are based on US military action in Venezuela, immigration enforcement, and visa restrictions, which affect countries like Cote d’Ivoire, Haiti, Iran and Senegal, countries that have all qualified for the tournament. 

A report on the World Cup hotel outlook by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) released on May 4 noted the anticipated demand for hotels in the United States “has not translated into strong hotel bookings”. 

The report, based on a survey of hoteliers across the 11 host cities in the US, found that domestic travellers “are outpacing international visitors.” The report identified FIFA room block cancellations, international travel barriers, and broader geographical concerns as “key drivers of softened hotel demand”. Hotels with leisure demand or those operating in cities with confirmed team base camps have, however, seen a meaningful increase in demand. 

New York City, one of the host cities, appears to be somewhat in the middle of the pack of cities doing okay with international visitors. In an emailed response to my query, the New York City Hospitality Alliance sounded upbeat despite the outlook from AHLA.

“We’re confident the World Cup will bring energy, visitors, and economic activity to New York City. Bars and restaurants will be at the centre of that experience, with locals and visitors gathering to watch matches and celebrate. We’ll continue working with the City and our partners to ensure small businesses are prepared to make the most of this opportunity,” said Andrew Rigie, Executive Director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance.

While the US is not the only host nation, it has the most host cities - 11 of 16 - of the three countries hosting the tournament. This means, invariably, each of the ten African countries participating in the tournament will play at least one match in the United States. What does that then mean for countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal?

They may have to depend on their diaspora populations in the US to cheer them in the manner only Africans can. But that may probably be a luxury some of these diasporan fans may not be able to afford, considering the ticket prices and the location of their matches.

For instance, for Senegalese living in New York’s Harlem, a train ride to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey should not be a problem at all. But the real question is, would that fan be willing to cough up at least $500 to pay for a ticket to see the Teranga Lions play France in a stadium, or would they rather opt for the nearest bar or viewing centre to cheer them on?  

The opinions and thoughts expressed in this article reflect only the author's views.

Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey is an award-winning international journalist, writer, and host of the A55 Podcast. Nii Akrofi has worked with local and international media in Ghana, Congo and the United States. He has contributed to news platforms like Zenger News, Africanews, W42ndST, and foreignpresscorrespondents.com.