Fifa has faced a backlash after revealing that parking passes for the 2026 World Cup will cost as much as $175 per vehicle. The prices, first reported by the Athletic, have drawn criticism in the car-dependent United States, where many of the tournament’s venues are not easily accessible by public transport.
A “general parking” pass for the semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on 14 July was listed at $175, while group-stage parking at the same venue cost $75. At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, a quarter-final parking pass was priced at $125, with group-stage passes at $75. The costs are comparable to those for NFL games at the same stadiums, with the cheapest ticket on resale for a Dallas Cowboys match at AT&T Stadium starting at $95 and parking for the Kansas City Chiefs at $69.
Unlike the last World Cup in Qatar, where stadiums were easily reachable by public transport, many 2026 venues lack such access. Fifa has confirmed that shuttle services and rideshares will be available, but the high parking fees have added to concerns about affordability. Only a handful of the 16 venues across Canada, Mexico and the United States had parking passes listed for sale as of Tuesday, with Mexico City and New York/New Jersey yet to release details.
Fifa, which has already faced criticism over ticket prices, is expected to generate more than $10bn from the 2026 tournament. The governing body has stated that the revenue will be reinvested to grow the sport worldwide.
