Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have surged on FIFA’s official resale platform, with some seats listed at multiples of their original face value just weeks after the main sales phase closed in January.
For the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11, a Category Three upper-tier ticket was listed at $5,324, compared with its original price of $895.
Prices for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium were even more extreme. A Category Three seat was advertised at $143,750, more than 41 times its face value of $3,450. The lowest resale price for the final stood at $9,775.
There have been limited cases of price drops. A group-stage ticket for Austria vs. Jordan at Levi’s Stadium was listed at $552, below its original $620 price.
Fan groups say the resale spike reflects speculative buying. Guillaume Aupretre of the Irresistibles Français supporters group said many buyers purchase with the intention to resell, leaving genuine supporters facing inflated costs.
FIFA reported receiving around 500 million ticket requests, highlighting strong global demand for the expanded tournament.
Although the resale platform operates under FIFA’s authority, the governing body states it only facilitates fan-to-fan transactions and charges a 15% commission, with sellers setting their own prices. FIFA says its pricing model reflects prevailing market practices in host countries and notes that resale markets are largely unregulated in the United States and Canada. In Mexico, resale above face value is prohibited only when tickets are purchased locally in Mexican currency.
Ticketing has become a major flashpoint ahead of the tournament, with advocacy groups such as Football Supporters Europe criticizing FIFA’s pricing policies. FIFA has introduced a limited allocation of $60 tickets for official supporters’ groups, though critics argue this does little to address broader affordability concerns.
Applicants have been notified of second-phase outcomes since February 5. A final last-minute sales window will open in April and run through the tournament on a first-come, first-served basis.
