With just 100 days to kickoff, tickets for the FIFA World Cup in North America are selling fast — and at staggering prices — as global demand overwhelms supply.
The world football governing body FIFA says nearly seven million tickets are available for the tournament, which runs across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Around two million were snapped up in the first sales window in October, while a second lottery phase later attracted a record 508 million ticket requests, underlining the frenzy.
Prices, however, have become the biggest talking point. The cheapest tickets released so far cost about $60, far above the $21 minimum initially promised by the North American bid. High-profile matches now cost hundreds of dollars, with opening games approaching $900, and tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium starting at $2,000 and climbing beyond $8,000 for premium seats.
On FIFA’s official resale platform, prices have surged even further. One category-three ticket for the July 19 final was recently listed at $143,750, more than 40 times its original value.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the pricing, saying it reflects market forces. “In the US in particular, there is this thing called dynamic pricing, meaning the prices will go up or down,” he said.
While FIFA has introduced a limited batch of lower-cost tickets reserved for fans of qualified teams, they account for just 10 percent of national allocations. Hospitality packages combining match access and VIP lounges now range from $2,900 to $4,500 for selected fixtures.
Beyond tickets, fans face rising travel costs, with parking fees alone reaching $300 in cities like Los Angeles. For those priced out, FIFA is promoting Fan Festivals across host cities, offering large public viewing zones without match tickets.
