World Cup 2026 Tickets Reach Eye-Watering $143,000 On FIFA Resale
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI
TICKET resale prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have reached staggering levels, prompting criticism from fan groups and highlighting challenges in access for ordinary supporters. Weeks after the main sales window closed in January, some tickets now cost more than 40 times their face value.
A category three ticket for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on 11 June is currently listed at $5,324, up from $895. Meanwhile, a category three ticket for the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 19 July has soared to $143,750, compared with the original $3,450. The least expensive final ticket still carries a price tag of $9,775.
Some tickets for other matches have slightly decreased in price. For instance, a ticket for Austria’s group game against Jordan at Levi’s Stadium in California now costs $552, down from $620, though these reductions remain modest in the context of global demand.
Demand vs. Affordability
Fan groups have voiced concerns about the prohibitive costs of attending matches. Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for French supporters group Irresistibles Français, criticised the system, saying that “passionate fans pay the price” while tickets fail to reach the people who follow their teams most faithfully.
FIFA reports that around 500 million ticket requests have been made for the 2026 tournament, reflecting extraordinary interest. However, supporters say the inflated resale prices put genuine fans at a disadvantage, limiting access to the world’s most prestigious football event.
FIFA’s Secondary Market Model
FIFA has explained that the resale platform is intended to facilitate a secondary market, applying a 15% service fee while individual sellers determine prices. According to FIFA, this approach mirrors practices common in U.S. and Canadian entertainment events, where resale pricing is largely unregulated. In Mexico, resale above face value is only prohibited when tickets are purchased in local currency.
Despite FIFA’s clarifications, fan groups like Football Supporters Europe have criticised the pricing approach, calling it a “monumental betrayal.” To partially address concerns, FIFA has offered a limited number of $60 tickets for official supporters’ groups — a gesture that critics argue is insufficient given the scale of the price surges.
As the countdown to the tournament continues, ticketing remains a flashpoint, illustrating the tension between high demand, secondary market speculation, and fans’ ability to access the 2026 World Cup matches without paying exorbitant sums.
