By: Uchechi Ohanusi
Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have surged dramatically on FIFA’s official resale platform, with seats for several high-profile matches now listed at many times their original face value, even though most tickets were only recently distributed after the main sales phase closed in January.
Weeks after FIFA President Gianni Infantino cautioned fans that resale tickets could command “exorbitant” prices, those warnings have materialised — on FIFA’s own sanctioned resale marketplace.
As of Wednesday, a Category Three seat — typically located in the upper tiers — for the tournament’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium on June 11 was listed at $5,324. The original face value: $895.
Even more staggering was the asking price for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A Category Three ticket originally sold for $3,450 was being offered for $143,750 — more than 41 times its face value. The cheapest available resale ticket for the final stood at $9,775.
While isolated cases show modest price drops — such as a ticket for Austria’s group-stage clash with Jordan at Levi’s Stadium being resold at $552, below its $620 purchase price — these examples are rare.
Fans Cry Foul
For many supporters, the soaring resale prices confirm long-standing concerns about ticket speculation and restricted access for genuine fans.
"These exorbitant prices unfortunately don’t surprise me,” said Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for the France national team supporters’ group Irresistibles Francais, which has nearly 2,500 members.
"It reflects what we know and what we fight against: many people buy to resell. In the end, who pays the price? The passionate fans who end up with outrageous offers.”
Aupretre argued that resale profits should not come at the expense of devoted supporters who travel and follow their teams across continents.
FIFA’s Position
FIFA maintains that its resale platform simply facilitates transactions between fans and charges a 15% service fee, while individual sellers determine their own prices.
“Generally speaking, the pricing model adopted for FIFA World Cup 26 reflects existing market practice for major entertainment and sporting events within our hosts on a daily basis,” FIFA said in a statement.
The governing body added that the secondary ticket market has a distinct legal framework in North America compared to many other parts of the world.
“We are focused on ensuring fair access to our game for existing but also prospective fans,” FIFA stated.
The resale market remains largely unregulated in the United States and Canada. In Mexico, reselling tickets above face value is illegal — but only if the tickets were purchased in Mexico using local currency.
Growing Backlash
Ticketing has emerged as one of the most contentious issues surrounding the expanded 48-team tournament. Fan advocacy groups such as Football Supporters Europe have accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” over pricing structures.
In response to criticism, FIFA introduced a limited allocation of $60 tickets reserved for official supporters’ groups. However, critics argue that the small quota does little to counterbalance the broader surge in resale prices.
Despite the controversy, demand remains immense. FIFA reports receiving approximately 500 million ticket requests — a reflection of global anticipation for the first World Cup to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Applicants have been notified since February 5 regarding ticket allocations from the second sales phase, which concluded in January. A final “last-minute” sales window will run from April until the end of the tournament on a first-come, first-served basis.
During official sales phases, FIFA employs what it describes as “variable pricing,” where prices fluctuate based on demand and availability. However, it insists this does not constitute “dynamic pricing,” as prices are not automatically adjusted in real time.
For many fans, however, the distinction offers little comfort.
With resale prices reaching six figures for premium fixtures, the 2026 World Cup — billed as a celebration of global football — is increasingly becoming a showcase of the modern sports economy, where access often depends less on passion and more on purchasing power.
