Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have climbed to shocking levels on FIFA’s official resale platform, with some listings reaching as high as $143,750. The tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is already generating massive excitement. However, the soaring resale prices have sparked concern among football fans worldwide.
As of February 11, a Category 3 ticket for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City was listed for $5,324. The original face value of that same ticket was $895. Even more surprising, a Category 3 seat for the final scheduled for July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, appeared on the resale marketplace for $143,750, far above its original price of $3,450. The lowest resale price for the final was still a hefty $9,775.
Not all matches have experienced sharp increases. For instance, a ticket for Austria’s group-stage game against Jordan at Levi’s Stadium in California was listed at $552, slightly lower than its earlier $620 price. Despite a few price drops, overall demand remains extremely high. FIFA has reported receiving around 500 million ticket requests so far.
Fan groups have criticized the inflated resale figures, arguing that loyal supporters are being pushed out by extreme pricing. Representatives from supporters’ associations say they would prefer tickets to go directly to real fans rather than being resold at huge markups. FIFA, however, stated that its platform only provides a marketplace for resale and charges a 15 percent service fee, while sellers decide their own prices.
