{"id":1433,"date":"2026-05-05T13:26:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:26:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/?p=1433"},"modified":"2026-05-05T13:26:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:26:51","slug":"world-cup-ticket-interest-drops-by-10-points-among-soccer-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/2026\/05\/05\/world-cup-ticket-interest-drops-by-10-points-among-soccer-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup Ticket Interest Drops by 10 Points Among Soccer Fans"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1434\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-graphic-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"656\" height=\"820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-graphic-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-graphic-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-graphic-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-graphic-560x700.jpg 560w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-graphic-260x325.jpg 260w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-graphic-160x200.jpg 160w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-graphic.jpg 1144w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 656px) 100vw, 656px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>10-point drop in World Cup ticket interest occurred between Oct 2025 and Apr 2026<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Two-thirds (64%) of Americans who tried to buy World Cup tickets were successful<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>80% of soccer fans would accept free tickets<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>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 <em>plan <\/em>to try to buy tickets, with 14 percent reporting so.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAcross three lotteries and a general sale, FIFA has made buying tickets to the World Cup incredibly difficult,\u201d said Daniel Ladik, Ph.D., Methodologist of the Seton Hall Sports Poll and Associate Marketing Professor in the Stillman School of Business. \u201cBeyond the complexity of purchasing tickets, there are many group stage tickets priced at Super Bowl levels\u2014something most Americans cannot afford.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These results are derived from a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted April 2<sup>nd<\/sup> through 9<sup>th<\/sup> among 1,601 U.S. adults. The Poll, which is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute within Seton Hall University\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who\u2019s <em>got<\/em><\/strong> <strong>tickets?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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%).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf those that took the time, money, and effort to get tickets, many will feel vindicated as they walk into MetLife or AT&amp;T Stadium or any of the 11 U.S. venues in June or July to watch a World Cup game,\u201d said Professor Ladik. \u201cDespite this, there are still those who tried to jump through all of FIFA\u2019s hoops and will be stuck at home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>What If?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>April 2026 Seton Hall Sports Poll Results<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Daniel Ladik, Ph.D., Methodologist \u2013 <\/strong><a href=\"mailto:daniel.ladik@shu.edu\"><strong>daniel.ladik@shu.edu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><em>This Poll was conducted April 2<sup>nd<\/sup> through April 9<sup>th<\/sup> 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.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">\n<p><strong>Q1.<\/strong>\u00a0Which of the following statements best describes you?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1435\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"690\" height=\"217\" \/><\/p>\n<p>*Note: Presented in each table, Avid + Casual = total sports fandom in the data. Some tables break out the Avid and Casual segments.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>How interested, if at all, are you in each of the following? For each row, please select your level of interest.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2a. <\/strong>Soccer (i.e., any professional leagues in the U.S. or around the world, as well as international competitions)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1436\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"936\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-2.png 936w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-2-300x68.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-2-768x173.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-2-560x126.png 560w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-2-260x59.png 260w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-2-160x36.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The 2026 Men\u2019s FIFA World Cup Tournament will begin on Thursday, June 11<sup>th<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q7a. <\/strong>Did you try to buy tickets to the 2026 FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1437\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"936\" height=\"181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-3.png 936w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-3-300x58.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-3-768x149.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-3-560x108.png 560w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-3-260x50.png 260w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-3-160x31.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Q7b.<\/strong> I have tickets to one or more matches<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1438\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"936\" height=\"184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-4.png 936w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-4-300x59.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-4-768x151.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-4-560x110.png 560w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-4-260x51.png 260w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-4-160x31.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Q8a.<\/strong> If you were given two free tickets, would you attend a 2026 FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup game?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1439\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"936\" height=\"181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-5.png 936w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-5-300x58.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-5-768x149.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-5-560x108.png 560w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-5-260x50.png 260w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-5-160x31.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Q12a.<\/strong> Tickets for the 2026 FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup will go on sale in October. Will you try to buy tickets? <strong>[October 2025]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1440\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"936\" height=\"181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-6.png 936w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-6-300x58.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-6-768x149.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-6-560x108.png 560w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-6-260x50.png 260w, https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/files\/2026\/05\/world-cup-6-160x31.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; 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&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/2026\/05\/05\/world-cup-ticket-interest-drops-by-10-points-among-soccer-fans\/\">Read more &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5745,"featured_media":1434,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poll-results"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5745"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1433"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1433\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1441,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1433\/revisions\/1441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportspoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}