World Cup comes to ‘Soccer Town USA,’ but locals priced out
KEARNY, United States: Anthony Duro had hoped the World Cup coming to his football-mad New Jersey town would mean watching games at nearby MetLife Stadium, but sky-high ticket prices are beyond his budget.The 20-year-old is one of many people in the industrial suburb of Kearny, nicknamed “Soccer Town USA” for its footballing history, priced out by the FIFA tournament facing criticism over soaring costs.“It’s annoying because it would be nice to go to see a country play here, especially since I live so close to the stadium,” Duro told AFP at a football field flanked by a scrapyard and warehouses.“For me, it’s ridiculous,” the goalkeeper added, taking a break from palming away shots struck by friends wearing colorful Brazil and Barcelona jerseys.The most expensive face value ticket for the 2026 final at MetLife Stadium is more than $30,000 — well above the peak of around $1,600 for the 2022 final.
