Fans crushed Stu Holden for shamelessly promoting World Cup luxury packages

We're just 65 days from the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. And despite being billed as the most accessible World Cup ever, it has proven to be anything but that. FIFA has seen the U.S. hosting an expanded World Cup as an opportunity to turn the tournament into a money-making machine. The reality? Fans have largely been priced out from tickets, and the phased ticket release has been marred with issues. So, instead of advocating for U.S. soccer fans, Stu Holden — the former USMNT midfielder who is the analyst on Fox's lead World Cup broadcast — instead took money from FIFA to flaunt that wealth disparity surrounding this World Cup. In a tweet on Monday, Holden promoted hospitality packages from FIFA that start at $1,500 per person for single games and get much more expensive depending on the matchup and hospitality class.

Still need tickets for the FIFA World Cup™?

Book an official hospitality package and lock in:

Premium seating Dedicated entry Unlimited food + drinks Extended service

Get better views & more perks for your money!!

Buy here 👉

— Stu Holden (@stuholden) April 6, 2026 The fact that Holden was willing to post that tweet shows the disconnect between the key figures in U.S. Soccer and the average American soccer fan. He even included a "TM" in there. Like, what? Holden — who is supposed to be covering the World Cup, not selling luxury experiences — had to know that his followers would hate that tweet. Yet, it didn't stop him from posting it. The lack of self awareness had USMNT fans calling out Holden. Just mocking us at this point.

Sad watching soccer’s ruling class take the sport further and further from the working folk that made the game the global phenomenon it is.

Having ex-players do this dirty work is especially gross.

— Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT) April 7, 2026 Good news it’ll only cost you the GDP of Fiji

— Zealand (@theoldzealand) April 7, 2026 Sure Holden, let me pay $4,000 to see USA vs. Paraguay 🤡

— Gregg Beerholder 🍺 (@MLShater) April 6, 2026 Thanks Stu! I wasn’t going to purchase the 10k plus package until I saw this tweet and now it all makes sense.

I sold my furniture and car and I will be there ✅

— USMNTrev (@Eyesandvibes) April 6, 2026 fifa so desperate for people to spend 8 gazillion dollars they’re now paying Fox commentators to promote ticket packages#ithoughttheyweresellingout

— cold viet man nascar guy fuotball (blue check) (@maqwelll) April 6, 2026 Someone in US Soccer media selling out? I’ll pretend to be surprised.

— American Ultras Talk (@usmntaut) April 6, 2026 $2,200 for Scotland vs Morocco.

Nah you’re alright Stu

— SPFL Mediawatch (@SPFLWatch) April 6, 2026 It's the ™ in the post that really does it for me.

— Ben Koo (@bkoo) April 7, 2026 *This article originally appeared on For The Win: Fans crushed Stu Holden for promoting World Cup luxury packages*