Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have surged dramatically on FIFA’s official resale platform, with many seats now listed at multiple times their original face value, weeks after the end of the main ticket sales phase in January.
As of Wednesday, a “Category 3” seat for the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa at Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, scheduled for June 11, was listed at $5,324, compared to its original price of $895. Meanwhile, a Category 3 ticket for the final on July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey, was advertised at a staggering $143,750, more than 41 times its face value of $3,450. The lowest-priced resale ticket for the final was $9,775.
In rare instances, some tickets have decreased in price. For example, a ticket for Austria’s group match against Jordan at Levi’s Stadium, California, was listed at $552, down from $620.
Fans and supporters’ groups have expressed outrage at the high resale prices. Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for French national team supporters group Irresistibles Francais, said: “These exorbitant prices unfortunately don’t surprise me. It reflects what we know and what we fight against: many people buy to resell. In the end, who pays the price? The passionate fans who end up with outrageous offers.”
Despite the steep costs, FIFA reports that global demand remains strong, with some 500 million ticket requests received so far. FIFA clarified that the resale platform is only a facilitator, charging a 15% fee, while resellers set ticket prices.
Ticketing has emerged as a major controversy for the World Cup. Fan organizations such as Football Supporters Europe have labelled the pricing a “monumental betrayal”, prompting FIFA to release a limited batch of $60 tickets for official supporters groups. Critics argue that this move does not sufficiently address the accessibility issue.
FIFA has also confirmed that a final sales phase will run from April until the tournament’s end, on a first-come, first-served basis, applying variable pricing depending on demand and availability, though not a fully dynamic pricing model.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, is set to kick off on June 11 in Mexico City and conclude with the final on July 19 in New Jersey.
