Thai passport holders reportedly need a B1/B2 visitor visa to enter the United States. Ticket holders may receive access to faster interview appointments through ’s priority system, but that does not guarantee approval.
That distinction creates a major financial risk. Supporters could face airfare, accommodation and ticket costs before knowing whether they can legally travel. For families and younger fans, the uncertainty may be enough to end the plan before it begins.
The expanded tournament will feature 48 teams across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with 11 host cities in the US alone. More matches should offer more opportunities to attend, but following one popular team could require several flights, hotel changes and a longer stay.
The report also says dynamic pricing is pushing listed ticket costs higher when demand rises, while resale prices for major fixtures have reached levels beyond a standard fan budget. Matches involving Argentina, Brazil, England or France are likely to attract intense demand from Thai viewers who have supported those teams for years.
For some supporters, watching in a sports bar or living room is no longer simply the cheaper alternative. It offers certainty: no visa interview, no cross-border travel and no exposure to last-minute ticket inflation.
That matters in a tournament already spread across three countries. The in-person World Cup experience appears to be moving further towards wealthy tourists and corporate buyers, while ordinary fans face more barriers before the first whistle.
The next ticket-release phase and visa-appointment process will determine whether those barriers ease. For Thai supporters, the defining World Cup decision may come well before the group stage: whether to chase the stadium experience or commit to watching the biggest matches at home.