WORLD CUP 2026 TICKET PRICES SOAR ON FIFA RESALE PLATFORM
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Agency Report
Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have surged dramatically on FIFA’s official resale platform, with seats for several matches listed at multiple times their original face value, despite most tickets only recently being distributed following the conclusion of the main sales phase in January.
Weeks after FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned that tickets appearing on resale sites could carry exorbitant markups, those predictions appear to have materialised, including on FIFA’s own endorsed platform.
As of Wednesday, a Category Three ticket, typically located in the upper tiers of the stadium, for the tournament’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11 was listed at $5,324. The original face value of the ticket was $895.
Even more striking, a Category Three ticket for the World Cup final scheduled for July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey, was being advertised for $143,750, more than 41 times its original price of $3,450. The cheapest ticket available for the final on the resale platform was listed at $9,775.
However, not all resale prices have risen. In a rare instance, a ticket for Austria’s group-stage clash with Jordan at Levi’s Stadium in California was listed at $552, below its original purchase price of $620.
For many football supporters, the soaring resale prices confirm long-standing concerns about ticket accessibility. Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for the France national team supporters’ group Irresistibles Francais, said the trend reflects the prevalence of speculative buying.
“These exorbitant prices unfortunately don’t surprise me. It reflects what we know and what we fight against: many people buy to resell,” he said.
“In the end, who pays the price? The passionate fans who end up with outrageous offers. We would prefer that this benefit real fans who come to support their team, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
Despite the steep markups, demand remains intense. FIFA has reported receiving approximately 500 million ticket requests, underscoring the global appetite for the expanded 2026 tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
While the resale platform operates under FIFA’s endorsement, the governing body states in its terms of sale that it functions only as a facilitator in the fan-to-fan marketplace, charging a 15 per cent fee. Sellers are responsible for setting their own resale prices.
“Generally speaking, the pricing model adopted for FIFA World Cup 26 reflects the existing market practice for major entertainment and sporting events within our hosts on a daily basis, soccer included,” FIFA said in a statement.
“This is also a reflection of the treatment of the secondary market for tickets, which has a distinct legal treatment than in many other parts of the world. We are focused on ensuring fair access to our game for existing but also prospective fans.”
The resale market remains largely unregulated in the United States and Canada. In Mexico, reselling tickets above face value is prohibited, but only if the ticket was originally purchased in Mexico using local currency.
Ticket pricing has emerged as one of the most contentious issues surrounding the 2026 tournament. Fan advocacy groups, including Football Supporters Europe, have accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” over the pricing structure.
In response to criticism, FIFA introduced a limited allocation of $60 tickets for official supporters’ groups. Critics argue, however, that the measure falls short of addressing broader affordability concerns.
FIFA has been notifying applicants since February 5 regarding successful purchases from the second sales phase, which concluded in January. A final “last-minute” sales phase is scheduled to run from April until the end of the competition, operating on a first-come, first-served basis.
During the official sales phases, FIFA applies what it describes as “variable pricing,” meaning prices may fluctuate based on demand and availability. However, the organisation maintains that it does not operate a fully dynamic pricing model, stating that prices are not automatically adjusted in real time.
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