FIFA's 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be the most expensive tournament in history—and not in a good way. The organization has been aggressively raising prices on transportation, hospitality, and tickets, banking on the American consumer's legendary appetite for spending. But there's a major problem: most Americans simply don't care about soccer enough to drop over $1,000 on a single match ticket.

Here's where it gets tricky. Unlike other major U.S. events, the World Cup is a global affair. International fans—who aren't accustomed to American-style price gouging—have options. They can stay home, watch from a local pub, or even travel to one of the other host countries instead. And that's exactly what's happening.

The numbers don't lie. According to a recent report from the American Hotel and Lodging Association, hotel bookings in World Cup host cities are falling dramatically short of expectations. Only Atlanta and Miami are seeing the summer surge they anticipated. Meanwhile, cities like Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle are reporting such low interest that some hoteliers are calling the World Cup a "non-event" for their business.

Of course, FIFA will likely still turn a profit—there are always enough wealthy fans to fill the luxury suites. But for the average soccer enthusiast, this tournament is shaping up to be a financial nightmare. The New York Times recently profiled Argentine fans resorting to extreme measures, packing into cramped hotel rooms like sardines just to afford a trip to the U.S. If FIFA had any sense of shame, this would be embarrassing. Instead, they'll probably be too busy counting their money to notice.