With just one month to go until the World Cup kicks off across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, a surprising number of tickets are still up for grabs—but don't expect a bargain just yet. Despite high demand, thousands of seats remain unsold, and experts say FIFA's pricing strategy is the main culprit.

Prices have started to dip, but only slightly. According to analysts, if FIFA wants to fill stadiums, it will need to slash costs more dramatically. The governing body opened its so-called "last minute" sales window on April 1, promising fans direct access to tickets without the usual lottery or federation hurdles. But instead of a full release, FIFA has been trickling out inventory in small batches, keeping prices high and fans frustrated.

Some drops are announced in advance—like the ones on April 22 and May 7—but even then, fans wait hours in virtual queues only to face glitches, error messages, or prices that feel out of reach. Other times, tickets appear and disappear without warning, leaving buyers confused about what's actually available.

"It's revenue maximization from FIFA," says Kieran Maguire, a football finance expert. "They've abandoned the traditional soccer fan and are creating artificial scarcity by releasing tickets in small drops."

The irony? Interest isn't the problem. FIFA reported over 20 million ticket requests in January alone. But with prices still steep and availability unpredictable, many fans are left watching from the sidelines—or hoping for a last-minute deal. For now, the World Cup's biggest challenge isn't filling seats—it's making them affordable enough to actually sell.