2026 FIFA World Cup Tickets listed on FIFA’s official resale platform have climbed to extraordinary levels, with some seats for the World Cup final now priced as high as $143,750, according to listings available as of Wednesday, February 11. The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first three-nation World Cup in history.
One of the most striking examples involves a Category 3 ticket for the final match on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Originally sold for $3,450, the same category seat is now being offered at nearly 42 times its face value. Even the cheapest available ticket for the final on the resale platform stood at $9,775, well beyond the reach of many fans.
Prices for earlier matches have also surged. A Category 3 ticket for the opening game between Mexico and South Africa, scheduled for June 11 at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, was listed at $5,324, up sharply from its original price of $895.
Not all listings show upward movement. Some group-stage matches have seen modest drops. For instance, a ticket to Austria’s group game against Jordan at Levi’s Stadium in California was priced at $552, down from $620, suggesting fluctuating demand depending on teams and venues.
Fans Push Back
Supporters’ groups have reacted angrily, warning that football’s biggest event is becoming inaccessible to the very fans who give the sport its soul. Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for French supporters’ group Irrésistibles Français, said the trend was deeply frustrating.
“These prices don’t surprise me anymore,” he said. “In the end, it’s the passionate supporters who suffer. Tickets should benefit real fans, but that’s clearly not what’s happening.”
FIFA Responds
FIFA has defended its role, stressing that it does not set resale prices. The governing body says its platform simply enables fans to resell tickets legally and securely, while individual sellers determine the cost. FIFA takes a 15 percent service fee on resale transactions.
Despite widespread criticism, demand remains overwhelming. FIFA says it has already received around 500 million ticket requests, highlighting the global appetite for what is expected to be the largest World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams and matches spread across 16 host cities.
For many fans, however, the dream of watching football history live is quickly colliding with an uncomfortable truth: the 2026 World Cup may belong more to those who can afford it than those who love it most.
Source: Africa Publicity
