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.

Standard tickets ranged from about $2,800 to almost $4,200 initially, but now resale for almost $11,000.
Fan groups have erupted over the costs: Football Supporters Europe labeled the World Cup pricing structure a “monumental betrayal.”
Even President Donald Trump has said he would not pay the $1,000-plus ticket cost for the United States’ first World Cup match.
Finance student Duro, like others priced out in Kearny, will instead be watching the tournament from his home — around seven miles from the MetLife.
‘Extravagant prices’
Unlike other US towns, football is the dominant sport in Kearny, mostly due to Scottish and Irish immigrants who transplanted the game in the late 1800s as they arrived for factory jobs.
Since then Kearny’s youth system has produced three US men’s national team players including Tony Meola, and the hilly town