Football fans around the world have expressed outrage as ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup skyrocket on the tournament’s official resale platform, with some seats listed at more than 40 times their original face value.
Weeks after FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned that resale tickets could carry exorbitant prices, fans’ worst fears have been realized. As of Wednesday, a “category three” seat the highest section of the stands for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11 was listed at $5,324, compared to the original price of $895.
The most extreme example comes from the World Cup final on July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey, where a single resale ticket was listed at an eye-watering $143,750, over 41 times the original $3,450 face value. The cheapest available ticket for the final was $9,775.
While some rare tickets have seen modest price reductions for instance, a ticket for Austria vs. Jordan at Levi’s Stadium in California dropped from $620 to $552 the majority of listings have sparked global criticism.
Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for the France national team supporters group Irresistibles Français, condemned the situation:
“These exorbitant prices unfortunately don’t surprise me. Many people buy to resell, and in the end, the passionate fans pay the price. We would prefer that tickets benefit real fans who come to support their team, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
Despite the outrage, FIFA reports that ticket demand remains high, with some 500 million requests submitted worldwide.
FIFA stresses that it acts only as a facilitator on its resale platform, collecting a 15% service fee, while resellers set prices. The organisation said in a statement:
“The pricing model for FIFA World Cup 26 reflects market practice for major entertainment and sporting events. We are focused on ensuring fair access for existing and prospective fans.”
Resale markets are largely unregulated in the United States and Canada, whereas in Mexico, reselling tickets above face value is prohibited only when purchased locally with Mexican pesos.
Ticketing has emerged as one of the most contentious issues surrounding the 2026 tournament. Fan groups, including Football Supporters Europe, have described FIFA’s handling of ticket pricing as a “monumental betrayal.”
In response, FIFA introduced a limited number of tickets priced at $60 for official supporters’ groups. Critics argue that the initiative is insufficient to address inflated resale prices.
FIFA has already notified applicants from the second sales phase, which ended in January, and plans a final “last-minute” sales phase from April through the end of the competition. During these phases, FIFA applies “variable pricing” based on demand and availability but says it does not use an automatic dynamic pricing model.
Elijah Adeyemi
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