FIFA Resale Tickets for World Cup Final Hit $2.3 Million Each
Uncapped secondary market prices soar far beyond face value as FIFA earns 15% fees on astronomical resale prices
Quick Look
- FIFA's resale marketplace lists World Cup final tickets at nearly $2.3 million each, far exceeding the $10,990 face value.
- The uncapped secondary market, allowed citing US/Canada regulations, generates massive fees for FIFA—$690,000 on a single $2.3m ticket sale.
- Prices range from $10,923 to $2.3m, compared to January's $230,000 high and past tournaments where resale was capped at face value.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
FIFA chose not to cap resale prices for the 2026 World Cup in the US, citing the loosely regulated secondary market in the United States and Canada. The organization claims this would discourage scalpers from using third-party sites like StubHub. Past World Cups capped resale at face value, and for the 2022 tournament in Qatar, FIFA charged only 5% or $0.50 fees.
FIFA's resale site has four tickets on sale for the World Cup final for just under $2.3 million each. The $2,299,998.85 seats for the 19 July match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, are located behind a goal in the lower deck of the arena.
FIFA does not control the asking prices on its Resale/Exchange Marketplace but takes a 15% purchase fee from the buyer of each ticket and a 15% resale fee from the seller. That means FIFA would make $690,000 if one of the tickets for the final sold at $2.3m on resale.
Another seat for the final in the lower deck listed as easy access standard was on sale at $207,000, while a category two seat in the last row of the uppermost third deck was listed at $138,000. A few feet away, another seat has an asking price of $23,000. The lowest-priced tickets for the final listed on Thursday on the Resale/Exchange Marketplace were $10,923.85 for four seats four rows from the top of the upper deck behind a goal.
FIFA did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. FIFA put new blocks of tickets on sale on Wednesday on its direct tickets site. Available tickets for the final cost $10,990.
In January, the most expensive ticket for the final on the Resale/Exchange Marketplace was listed at $230,000. At past World Cups, resale tickets were capped at face value. For the 2022 World Cup, FIFA took a lower cut in fees, charging the buyer and seller the greater of a 5% fee or 2 Qatari Riyals ($0.50).
For this tournament, citing the loosely regulated secondary market in the United States and Canada, FIFA opted not to cap resale prices, claiming doing so would discourage scalpers from using third-party sites such as StubHub.
Tickets were also available from FIFA at $11,130 for the 14 July semi-final in Arlington, Texas, and at $9,660 and $4,360 for the 15 July semi-final in Atlanta. Prices for the US opener against Paraguay on 12 June in Los Angeles were listed at $4,105, $2,735, $2,330 and $1,940, while seats for the Americans' second match against Australia on 19 June in Seattle cost $2,715. Tickets for the US group stage finale against Turkey on 25 June in LA cost $2,970 and $1,345.
Canada's opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12 June in Toronto was available for $3,360, $2,240, $1,645 and $980. No tickets were listed directly by FIFA for the tournament opener on 11 June between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City.
For the quarter-finals, available tickets were $4,200 and $1,610 for the 9 July match in Foxborough, Massachusetts; $5,730 for the 10 July game in LA; $4,770 and $1,815 for the 11 July match at Miami Gardens, Florida, and $4,080 for the 11 July game in Kansas City, Missouri. Tickets for the third-place game in Miami Gardens on 18 July could be purchased for $1,125.
Open Questions
- Why did FIFA choose to implement such high fees (15%) compared to past tournaments?
- Will FIFA face regulatory scrutiny for allowing such extreme price gouging?
- How will this affect fan accessibility to matches?
