A lot of them don’t come from the poorest part of those countries. World Cup crowds from “impoverished countries” often include middle-class fans, diaspora communities living abroad, sponsors, journalists, and people who saved for years for one trip.

How fans actually afford it

  • They save for a long time, sometimes for years, and only go to one match or one city.
  • They travel from cheaper nearby countries or from places where they already live abroad, which cuts costs a lot.
  • Some get support from employers, local businesses, fan groups, or family pooling money together.
  • In some cases, the trip is a once-in-a-lifetime splurge, not something they can normally afford.
  • For World Cup host countries and recent tournaments, ticketing and travel deals can still make attendance possible for lower-income groups, though prices can also be very high.

The bigger picture

The phrase “people from impoverished countries” can be misleading because a country can be poor overall while still having a sizable urban middle class and wealthy elite. That means the fans you see on TV are often not representative of the average person in that country. FIFA and host-country policies also shape access, and recent reporting on the 2026 World Cup says ticket prices are pushing many ordinary fans out.

Why it looks surprising

On camera, it can seem like “everyone” from a poorer country is traveling, but broadcasts tend to show the loudest, most visible, and most organized supporters. That creates a distorted impression, because those fans are usually the ones who could afford the trip or found a cheaper route through diaspora networks or group travel.

TL;DR

Most fans from poorer countries who make it to the World Cup are not the poorest citizens; they’re usually middle-class, living abroad, sponsored, or saving heavily for a long time. For many others, especially in 2026, the cost is simply too high.