FIFA’s official resale platform sees 2026 World Cup tickets listed at up to 41 times face value, sparking outrage among fan groups over accessibility
TICKET prices for the 2026 World Cup have skyrocketed on FIFA’s official resale platform, with seats listed at several times their face value.
This comes weeks after FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned that resale tickets would likely carry exorbitant price tags.
A category three seat for the opening game in Mexico City was listed at $5,324, compared to an original price of $895.
One ticket for the final in New Jersey was advertised for a staggering $143,750, over 41 times its face value of $3,450.
The cheapest available final ticket on the site was listed at $9,775.
In rare cases, some prices have decreased, such as a ticket for Austria vs. Jordan in California offered below its original cost.
For global football fans, these prices confirm their worst fears since the tournament draw.
“These exorbitant prices unfortunately don’t surprise me,” said Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for a French supporters group.
“It reflects what we know and what we fight against: many people buy to resell.”
Despite the steep costs, sales remain brisk amid massive global demand.
FIFA states it acts only as a facilitator for a 15% fee in this fan-to-fan market.
Resellers are the ones who determine the final ticket prices on the platform.
“Generally speaking, the pricing model… reflects the existing market practice for major entertainment and sporting events,” FIFA said in a statement.
The resale market is unregulated in the United States and Canada.
In Mexico, reselling above face value is prohibited only for tickets bought locally in pesos.
Ticketing has become a highly controversial issue, with fan groups accusing FIFA of a “monumental betrayal”.
This prompted FIFA to introduce a small number of tickets priced at $60 for official supporters groups.
Critics maintain this cut-price category does not go far enough to address the accessibility problem.
FIFA has been notifying applicants since February 5 about tickets obtained in the second sales phase.
A final “last-minute” sales phase will run from April until the end of the competition on a first-come, first-served basis.
FIFA applies “variable pricing” where prices fluctuate based on demand and availability for each match.
However, it emphasizes it does not use a fully automated “dynamic pricing model”.
The Sun Malaysia
