World Cup Returns to America: How Much Has Football’s Biggest Tournament Changed Between 1994 and 2026?

URMILA KHATRI,kathmandu-After nearly 32 years, the FIFA World Cup is set to return to the United States, bringing football’s grandest spectacle back to North America on an even larger scale. Having hosted the tournament for the first time in 1994, the United States will once again take center stage in 2026, this time alongside Canada and Mexico as co-hosts of what is expected to be the largest World Cup in history.
Scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, the upcoming tournament is expected to differ significantly from the 1994 edition in terms of scale, ticket prices, technology, tournament format, fan attendance, and overall management.
The 1994 FIFA World Cup was widely regarded as a major experiment for football in the United States. At the time, football (soccer) had not yet gained the level of popularity enjoyed by sports such as basketball, baseball, or American football. However, the tournament proved to be a major success, helping boost the sport’s profile across the country.
That edition featured 24 national teams, matches played across nine stadiums, and an average attendance of approximately 68,000 spectators per game, making it one of the most well-attended World Cups in history at the time.

In contrast, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to become the biggest edition ever held. For the first time in World Cup history, 48 nations will participate, significantly expanding the tournament’s global reach. Matches will be played across 16 state-of-the-art stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with organizers estimating that between 60 and 70 million fans could attend matches throughout the tournament period, alongside billions watching worldwide.

Ticket Prices Have Skyrocketed
One of the clearest differences between the two tournaments is the dramatic rise in ticket prices.
In 1994, tickets for first-round matches ranged between $25 and $75, while opening match tickets cost between $40 and $120. The final, held at California’s iconic Rose Bowl Stadium, had ticket prices ranging from $180 to $475.
However, the 2026 World Cup comes with significantly higher costs for fans. During FIFA’s initial phase of ticket sales, prices for group-stage matches reportedly ranged from $140 to $2,735, while tickets for the final were priced between $4,185 and $8,680. More recent reports indicate that premium final tickets could rise as high as $10,990, reflecting growing demand.
Unlike in 1994, ticket pricing in 2026 will largely follow a demand-based pricing model, meaning marquee matches could become even more expensive depending on fan interest.

A Historic Expansion in Tournament Size
The 1994 World Cup marked the final edition featuring only 24 teams. Beginning in 1998, FIFA expanded the tournament to 32 teams, a structure that remained in place for decades.
The 2026 edition introduces another major shift, expanding participation to 48 teams for the very first time. This expansion is expected to make the World Cup more inclusive by giving more countries an opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage.
As a result, the number of matches will also increase considerably. Under the new format, a team reaching the final will now have to play eight matches instead of seven, with a newly introduced Round of 32 knockout stage adding extra excitement to the competition.

Rules and Technology Have Evolved
Football itself has undergone major changes since 1994. At that time, teams had limited substitution options, whereas modern football now allows for additional player substitutions, especially to protect player fitness in high-intensity matches.
Likewise, water breaks have become common in tournaments played under extreme heat conditions—something that was not part of the game in 1994.
Perhaps the biggest transformation has come through technology. The use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system has changed the way crucial decisions are made, helping referees review controversial moments more accurately. Back in 1994, such technological assistance was unimaginable.
In addition, digital ticketing systems, artificial intelligence-based security, smart stadium operations, and enhanced global broadcasting technology are expected to make the 2026 World Cup more modern and fan-friendly than ever before.
Football analysts believe the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be far more than just a sporting event. It is expected to become a global celebration of sports, tourism, business, entertainment, culture, and technology. As America prepares to host the tournament once again, the contrast between 1994 and 2026 clearly shows just how dramatically the world of football has evolved.