With just over 50 days until the World Cup kicks off, excitement around the host nation, the United States, may not be matching expectations. Instead of a surge in demand, early signs suggest U.S. fans have been slow to secure tickets for the team’s opening match against Paraguay.

According to The Athletic, ticket sales for the June 12 game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have stalled. The match currently ranks among the lowest-selling games scheduled at the venue, an unexpected development for a host nation debut.

Recent figures cited in the report show that 40,934 tickets have been sold so far for the U.S. men’s national team’s opener. That total trails other fixtures at the same stadium, including Iran vs. New Zealand, which has already surpassed 50,000 tickets sold out of a 69,650-seat capacity.

High ticket prices emerge as a key factor

The Athletic points to one major reason behind the sluggish demand: pricing.

Tickets to see the USMNT’s first match are significantly more expensive than those for other games. In some cases, they cost two to three times as much as seats for matches like Iran vs. New Zealand.

A check of FIFA’s official ticketing platform by AS USA confirms that availability remains across multiple premium categories. Current listed prices include:

• Category 1: $2,944
• Category 2: $2,088
• Category 1 front section: $4,416
• Category 2 front section: $2,506

Those figures place the U.S. opener among the most expensive entry points of the tournament so far, potentially pricing out a portion of the fan base.

FIFA remains confident in eventual sellout

Despite the slower pace, FIFA is not expressing concern publicly.

In comments shared with The Athletic and The New York Times, a FIFA spokesperson emphasized that overall ticket sales remain strong and interest across all matches is high.

“Ticket sales for the World Cup continue to be solid, with strong interest in all matches, including those mentioned,” the spokesperson said.

New ticket release aims to boost demand

In an effort to increase attendance, FIFA announced on Tuesday, April 21, that a new batch of tickets for all 104 World Cup matches will go on sale starting April 22.

The move appears designed to stimulate demand, particularly for games that have not yet reached expected sales levels, including the U.S. opener.

However, pricing for this new release has not yet been disclosed. That detail could prove decisive in determining whether ticket sales pick up or continue to lag as the countdown to kickoff drops below 50 days.

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