Fan loyalty at stake: Here are the prices for the World Cup 2026 tickets
Early attention turns to 2026
As the domestic football season continues, focus is already shifting toward the next World Cup. The 2026 edition, hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will be the first to feature 48 teams, expanding both the scale of the tournament and the challenge of attending it in person.
While excitement is building around the competition itself, early ticket releases have sparked concern among supporters planning trips well in advance.
Package prices trigger concern
Initial ticket packages released earlier this year bundled multiple matches into premium offerings. According to GiveMeSport, prices began at $3,500 per person and rose to as much as $73,200 for the most exclusive options. The scale of those figures quickly prompted criticism from fans who felt priced out before general sales had even begun.
Standard tickets come into focus
More recently, non hospitality tickets were released to a limited group of fans. According to reporting by The Athletic, most standard tickets are priced in the hundreds of dollars, while upper deck seats for the final are listed at either $2,790 or $4,210.
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FIFA had previously suggested that tickets would be available from $60. Fans who gained early access through a ballot system later found that only a small number of seats were offered at that level, largely for select group stage matches and in less desirable areas of the stadiums.
Group stage pricing varies by venue
Group stage ticket prices in the United States differ depending on location. Matches at SoFi Stadium in Southern California, Levi’s Stadium in the Bay Area and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey are among the most expensive.
According to The Athletic, Category 1 tickets range from $410 to $620, while Category 4 seats fall between $60 and $105. Prices increase further for the opening match in Mexico City, where tickets range from $745 to $1,825.
Host nations come at a premium
Fans hoping to watch one of the host nations face even higher costs. Mexico’s opening match is priced between $370 and $1,825, Canada’s between $355 and $1,745, and the United States’ opener between $560 and $2,735.
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Knockout stage matches raise prices further. Final tickets are listed from $2,030 up to $6,370, while city based packages covering multiple matches can reach tens of thousands of dollars depending on location and level of luxury.
A tournament fans fear losing access to
Reaction from supporters has been swift and emotional. One fan warned that there could be “a lot of empty seats” if prices remain unchanged. Another described the situation as “a disgrace, everything football should be against. Pricing fans out of massive events.”
Others raised broader concerns beyond ticket costs. “Fans won’t get visas, plus too expensive to travel, and tickets cost a fortune. The stadiums are just going to be filled with influencers and sponsor competition winners,” one supporter said. Another was more blunt, stating, “This World Cup is gonna suck.”
With the draw scheduled to take place later this year, attention is likely to intensify. For many fans, however, the conversation has already shifted from anticipation to whether the world’s biggest football tournament is drifting out of reach.
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Sources: GiveMeSport, The Athletic
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