FIFA pushes prices higher for 2026 World Cup tickets
A ticket to the 2026 World Cup final could now cost as much as $10,990, after FIFA raised prices during a new sales period that also managed to produce a fresh batch of website problems. Efficient, if nothing else.
The tournament in the United States begins in just over two months, and after the latest round of play-off matches, all 48 teams for the next World Cup are now known. FIFA reopened its ticket sales portal on Wednesday, but the relaunch did not exactly inspire confidence.
When the World Cup groups were drawn in December, the most expensive final ticket was priced at $8,680. That figure has now jumped to $10,990 for seats in the lower stands closest to the pitch for the match on 19 July.
Even the next tier down is not exactly bargain territory. A Category 2 ticket, which places fans a little farther from the action, now costs $7,380, up from $5,575 in December.
Category 3 seats in the upper tier of MetLife Stadium in New York can now reach $5,785, compared with $4,185 four months ago.
For anyone tempted to compare eras, a World Cup final ticket in Qatar in 2022 would have cost $1,600. That number now feels almost quaint.
The website did its best to make things harder
The price increases were not the only issue. FIFA’s ticket portal also appeared determined to test the patience of anyone trying to use it.
At the time of the sale relaunch, tickets were not clearly listed as available on the website, so fans had to hunt manually for the matches they wanted and hope they were included in the latest sales phase. Always a comforting start to a major global event.
On top of that, some fans were automatically sent to a late qualifier supporters sales phase, which was meant only for the six teams that had just booked their places through the play-offs. FIFA fixed that misdirection by noon on Wednesday, but gave no explanation for how the error happened in the first place.
The organization says more tickets will be released on a rolling basis in the run-up to the tournament.
FIFA has also introduced more tailored seating requests, allowing fans to choose their own seat rather than just selecting a general section. That change may help some buyers, but it comes alongside a dynamic pricing system that has already drawn criticism for making prices swing sharply over recent months.
So far, the message to fans is fairly clear: the 2026 World Cup is getting closer, the field is now complete, and the tickets are getting more expensive, while the website remains committed to keeping everyone alert.
