The 2026 World Cup Is Not About “Snooping Around”

Almost a year ago, the football public in the country was taken to great heights, nearly reaching the peak of euphoria. The Indonesian national football team was quite close to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Indonesian football fans have already envisioned coming directly to the arena of the 2026 World Cup to support their own country. Some domestic supporters and the Indonesian diaspora have begun to prepare to fill the stands of the stadiums in the host country.

However, what can we do, Indonesia failed to qualify. "If the Indonesian national team had qualified for the World Cup, I would have definitely gone to the trouble of buying a ticket even if it was expensive," said Arpan Ramadhani (41), an Indonesian citizen living in Houston, Texas, United States.

In the end, Indonesian citizens have once again become supporters of traditional teams, such as Argentina, Portugal, Brazil, England, and the Netherlands. However, the soaring prices of plane tickets and match tickets have dampened the enthusiasm to watch live in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Moreover, this World Cup is taking place amid a very complex global dynamic, particularly in the United States.

According to the official FIFA website as of May 25, 2026, the lowest ticket prices in the group stage are observed in the range of 201-1,792 US dollars (Rp 3.5 million-Rp 31.8 million). In the knockout stage, ticket prices soar even higher. In fact, for the final match, ticket prices range from 8,786-43,482 US dollars (Rp 156 million-Rp 773 million).

Therefore, the motivation to watch the match live has also changed. Spectators are strategizing, looking for affordable options. For Arpan, for instance, what matters is at least being able to stand once in the stands and immerse himself in the euphoria of the greatest football festival in the world.

Therefore, Arpan chose the option to watch the match between the non-favorite teams, one of which was Saudi Arabia against the debuting team, Cape Verde, taking place at NRG Stadium, Houston. He purchased two tickets for himself and his 10-year-old child. The two tickets, priced at 500 US dollars or equivalent to 8.8 million IDR, were bought in April 2026.

With that price, he could only watch from one of the cheapest categories, namely the highest tier in the NRG Stadium, which has a capacity of 71,000 seats. "Yesterday I checked again, the tickets have reached around 400 US dollars. Although the view is quite far from the field, the important thing is to experience this rare euphoria," said Arpan, who has been living in Houston for a year.

In essence, the NRG Stadium, located approximately 24 kilometers from Arpan's residence, has become a venue for several strong nations, including Portugal, which is bolstered by Cristiano Ronaldo. However, due to various considerations, Arpan chose to watch only one match.

"The ticket prices for the match between Portugal with the same seating position are already above 1,000 US dollars. It is better to watch it on a screen," he said.

Indeed, for some fans, the 2026 World Cup is special because it may serve as the grand stage for the last appearances of two global megastars, namely Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Undoubtedly, Yori Sodanango (40), a Catholic priest who has lived in the United States for 10 years, plans to watch the match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at NRG Stadium.

"I've made an appointment with a pastor from Congo who wants to see his country and watch Ronaldo's last World Cup," Yori said.

However, Yori and his colleague decided to abandon their plans. One of the reasons was that the tickets to sit in the stadium with its four-tiered stands were excessively expensive. The cheapest ticket for the match was 683 US dollars or 12 million rupiah.

The transportation costs from Phoenix to Houston are not cheap due to the rise in global crude oil prices following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war in Iran. Airfare can reach 300-400 US dollars.

Normally, Yori said, the ticket price is only around US$150-200. "Plane tickets and movie tickets are too expensive. If I saved it up to go home, I could feed a whole village in Kupang," said Yori, from East Nusa Tenggara.

A similar decision was made by Erik Maiseni (26), a student from Central Papua who is currently studying in Seattle, Washington, USA. Erik was initially enthusiastic about wanting to watch at least one match live at Lumen Field Stadium in Seattle. Moreover, during his four years living in the USA, Erik has also attended several local league matches.

The couple had incurred several thousand US dollars in debt to finance their month-long visit to the US.

However, Erik feels that the ticket prices for a single match in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup are unaffordable for him. "I checked the prices, and they are above 500 US dollars. That is too expensive. In the past, when I watched the Seattle Sounders, I could sit in the stands for 100-150 US dollars," he said.

Yafi Fayruz (36), an Indonesian diaspora in Los Angeles, California, even canceled the ticket he had purchased for March 2026, which was for the match between Belgium and Iran at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles. He regrets having bought the ticket that cost 700 US dollars (Rp 12.4 million).

He felt like the fans were being deliberately emptied of their money. "My friends who like football even said it would be better to watch at a bar. I can also imagine how congested the roads will be on the way to the stadium," he said.

Not only the Indonesian diaspora, but the surge in ticket prices for matches and transportation has also perplexed fans from participating countries who wish to witness the historic World Cup in North and Central America. However, for die-hard supporters, "backing down" is not in their vocabulary when it comes to supporting their beloved team in competition.

According to a report from The Athletic, some Argentine fans are willing to do anything to watch this World Cup. Moreover, the 2026 edition will be the "last dance" for their beloved superstar, Messi.

A number of Argentina supporters have strengthened their resolve to travel directly to America despite the poor domestic economy. The average monthly income for registered workers there is around 1,200 US dollars or Rp 21 million. Almost half of the workforce in Argentina is employed in the informal sector with lower wages.

However, Matias Celestino (43), an Argentine citizen, remains determined to support Messi directly in America. For him, watching Argentina live in the stadium is a ritual that must not be missed. He has not missed any of Argentina's 18 matches in the qualifying round.

In America, he will even bring his beloved drum along with his wife and child. The ticket prices for Argentina's matches in the group stage, ranging from 644 to 1,026 US dollars (Rp 11.4 million to Rp 18.2 million), are not a hindrance for him.

His wife, Micaela, plans to quit her teaching job to attend the World Cup. The couple has incurred several thousand US dollars in debt to finance their month-long visit to the United States.

Celestino has already reached the maximum limit on several credit cards, held a lottery, and sought assistance from friends and neighbors. He is waiting to purchase tickets in the hope that prices will drop as the match day approaches.

Alejandro Solnicki (41), an Argentina supporter who also works at a casino, devised a strategy to cut costs. Instead of purchasing a plane ticket to the United States, he plans to undertake a long overland journey lasting five days before arriving in Missouri for Argentina's first match.

Savings will also be made in the selection of accommodation during the time in America. This step was taken when supporting Argentina in the qualifiers. During the match in Colombia, he shared a hotel room with 10 other people. "We all slept while sitting," he said.

For fanatics, cost is not a barrier to supporting their favorite team. High expenses can still be managed with various strategies. "We spend whatever is necessary. We do not use rationality," Solnicki expressed with pride.