New York, United States – February 12, 2026 — Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, have reached unprecedented levels on FIFA’s official resale platform, with some secondary-market listings for the final soaring to $143,750 — more than 41 times the original face value.
The 2026 tournament, the first to feature 48 teams and be staged across three countries, has already generated extraordinary global interest. FIFA has reported approximately 500 million ticket requests to date, reflecting massive demand despite the sharply inflated resale prices that have drawn widespread criticism from fan groups and supporters.
As of February 11, 2026, standout examples on FIFA’s resale marketplace included:
A Category 3 ticket for the opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026, listed at $5,324 — nearly six times its original face value of $895.
A Category 3 seat for the World Cup final on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, advertised at a staggering $143,750, compared to its face value of $3,450. The lowest-priced resale ticket available for the same final was $9,775.
While most high-demand matches have seen dramatic markups, some tickets have experienced slight price reductions. For example, a ticket for Austria’s group-stage match against Jordan at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, was listed at $552, down from an earlier resale price of $620.
Fan organisations have voiced strong opposition to the escalating costs, arguing that the inflated secondary-market prices effectively exclude ordinary supporters and passionate followers who cannot afford to pay thousands of dollars for a single match ticket.
Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for the French national team supporters group Irresistibles Français, expressed frustration over the situation:
“These exorbitant prices don’t surprise me. In the end, the passionate fans pay the price. We would prefer tickets benefit real supporters, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
FIFA has clarified that it does not control or set resale prices on its official secondary marketplace. The platform functions solely as a facilitated exchange for fans who can no longer attend, charging a 15% service fee on transactions while allowing individual sellers to determine their asking prices. FIFA has emphasised that the original ticket allocation was conducted through a transparent lottery system designed to give priority to genuine supporters, national federations, and sponsors.
The resale market dynamics reflect classic supply-and-demand pressures in the context of a global mega-event. With the tournament expanding to 104 matches across 16 host cities in three countries, demand for the most prestigious fixtures — particularly the opening game and the final — has far outstripped available supply, driving prices to levels rarely seen even in previous World Cups.
The 2026 tournament marks several historic firsts: it will be the largest World Cup ever staged, the first to be hosted by three nations, and the first to include 48 participating teams. Matches will take place in major venues across the United States (including MetLife Stadium, AT&T Stadium, and SoFi Stadium), Canada (BMO Field in Toronto and BC Place in Vancouver), and Mexico (Estadio Azteca, Estadio Akron, and Estadio BBVA).
As resale prices continue to fluctuate, FIFA has urged fans to purchase tickets only through official channels or its authorised resale platform to avoid scams and counterfeit tickets. The organisation has also reminded supporters that prices on the secondary market are not reflective of FIFA’s original pricing structure, which was structured in multiple categories to accommodate different budgets.
The controversy over resale prices is likely to persist as the tournament draws closer, with fan groups and consumer advocates calling for greater transparency, stricter resale price caps, or alternative allocation mechanisms to ensure broader access for genuine supporters.
Despite the cost barriers, anticipation for the 2026 World Cup remains sky-high, with hundreds of millions of fans worldwide expected to follow the expanded competition across television, streaming platforms, and stadiums.
