- 10-point drop in World Cup ticket interest occurred between Oct 2025 and Apr 2026
- Two-thirds (64%) of Americans who tried to buy World Cup tickets were successful
- 80% of soccer fans would accept free tickets
The Seton Hall Sports Poll finds a decline in FIFA World Cup ticket interest in six months. In April 2026, the Poll asked Americans if they had tried to buy tickets to any match, with ten percent reporting they had. In October 2025, the Poll asked Americans if they plan to try to buy tickets, with 14 percent reporting so.
The four-point drop among Americans is even more prominent among subgroups. Self-described soccer fans fell from 40 percent to 30 percent, self-described sports fans fell from 21 percent to 16 percent, and self-described avid sports fans fell from 33 percent to 25 percent during the same time period.
“Across three lotteries and a general sale, FIFA has made buying tickets to the World Cup incredibly difficult,” said Daniel Ladik, Ph.D., Methodologist of the Seton Hall Sports Poll and Associate Marketing Professor in the Stillman School of Business. “Beyond the complexity of purchasing tickets, there are many group stage tickets priced at Super Bowl levels—something most Americans cannot afford.”
These results are derived from a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted April 2nd through 9th among 1,601 U.S. adults. The Poll, which is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute within Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business, features a nationally representative sample from YouGov Plc., weighted on U.S. Census Bureau figures for age, gender, ethnicity, education, income and geography with a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percent.
Who’s got tickets?
The ten percent who reported that they tried to buy tickets in April 2026 were then asked whether they acquired tickets to any match. Among those who tried, two-thirds (64%) say they were successful and have tickets. Similar ratios follow in the subgroups with two-thirds of both soccer fans (66%) and sports fans (67%) with tickets. This increases to nearly three-quarters among avid sports fans (74%).
“Of those that took the time, money, and effort to get tickets, many will feel vindicated as they walk into MetLife or AT&T Stadium or any of the 11 U.S. venues in June or July to watch a World Cup game,” said Professor Ladik. “Despite this, there are still those who tried to jump through all of FIFA’s hoops and will be stuck at home.”
What If?
To gauge overall interest in watching a World Cup game in-person, the Poll asked respondents if they would go to a game in a perfect scenario of receiving free tickets. Forty percent of Americans say yes while more than half of sports fans (55%) and avid sports fans (68%) would as well. This dream come true is hardly a question for soccer fans with 80 percent reporting that they would attend.
April 2026 Seton Hall Sports Poll Results
Daniel Ladik, Ph.D., Methodologist – daniel.ladik@shu.edu
This Poll was conducted April 2nd through April 9th and includes responses from 1,601 U.S. adults with a margin of error of +/- 3.0%. The sample mirrors the U.S. Census percentages on age, gender, income, education, ethnicity, and region.
Q1. Which of the following statements best describes you?
*Note: Presented in each table, Avid + Casual = total sports fandom in the data. Some tables break out the Avid and Casual segments.
How interested, if at all, are you in each of the following? For each row, please select your level of interest.
Q2a. Soccer (i.e., any professional leagues in the U.S. or around the world, as well as international competitions)
The 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup Tournament will begin on Thursday, June 11th
Q7a. Did you try to buy tickets to the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup?
Q7b. I have tickets to one or more matches
Q8a. If you were given two free tickets, would you attend a 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup game?
Q12a. Tickets for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will go on sale in October. Will you try to buy tickets? [October 2025]
