Voices: ‘It isn’t worth it’: Readers slam soaring World Cup and concert ticket costs
As the excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and a new year of concerts, many fans are expressing outrage and dismay over the skyrocketing costs of tickets. Social media and online forums are flooded with comments from disheartened fans who feel priced out of attending these events, lamenting that "it isn't worth it" to spend exorbitant amounts to see their favorite teams or artists.
The upcoming 2026 World Cup, hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, is already generating unprecedented demand, with over 20 million ticket requests submitted during the initial sales phase. While FIFA has introduced a "Supporter Entry Tier" with tickets priced at $60 for all 104 matches for fans of qualified teams, many fans are still facing significant financial barriers. The cheapest tickets for the final are over £3,000. The cost of England World Cup fixtures tickets range from £198 to £523. This initiative aims to make following their teams more affordable. Despite this, prices for other matches, particularly those involving popular teams or later stages of the tournament, remain steep, with some tickets reaching thousands of dollars on resale platforms.
The frustration extends beyond the World Cup to the concert scene, where ticket prices have steadily increased in recent years. Data from Pollstar indicates that the average concert ticket price for the top 100 worldwide tours reached $135.92 in 2024, a 41.3% increase from 2019. While there was a slight dip to $132.62 in 2025, prices remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. For major performing artists, tickets might start around $300 and range up to $3,000 per person.
Fans point to several factors contributing to the high costs. "Dynamic pricing," where ticket prices fluctuate based on demand, is a common practice that can lead to significant price surges. Resale markets also play a role, with tickets often being resold at prices far exceeding their original value. While resale sites like StubHub claim that most tickets are sold for under $100, high-profile events featuring superstars like Taylor Swift or Beyoncé can command prices in the thousands of dollars.
Many fans feel that the current ticketing system is broken, with a significant portion of the revenue not going to the artists themselves. Production costs, venue fees, and ticketing fees further contribute to the overall expense. Some argue that the dominance of companies like Live Nation Entertainment, which controls both ticketing and event promotion, has led to a lack of competition and higher prices.
The high cost of tickets is forcing many fans to make difficult choices. Some are opting to watch events from home, while others are foregoing attending live events altogether. The sentiment shared by many is that the current prices are simply unsustainable. FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets to $60 after global fan backlash. The long-term impact of these rising costs on the live entertainment industry remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: many fans are reaching a breaking point and are no longer willing to pay what they consider to be unreasonable prices.
