The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is already generating significant buzz – not just for the football, but for the soaring cost of attendance. Ticket prices for the tournament, the first to be held in North America this century, have become a contentious issue, drawing criticism from fan groups and even comment from former US President Donald Trump.
The pricing strategy, which FIFA announced in March, has been labelled “extortionate” by some fan organisations, particularly given the already inflated prices seen on the resale market. FIFA, for its part, levies a 30% fee (15% from both buyer and seller) on every ticket transacted through its official resale platform, according to SPORTbible.
USMNT opener tickets draw former president’s concern
The USMNT is scheduled to begin its campaign on June 12 (June 13 at 2am BST) with a Group D opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. Tickets for this inaugural match are currently listed at $1,000 on the resale market. This figure caught the attention of Donald Trump during an interview with the New York Post.
“I did not know that number. I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you,” Trump stated, reacting to the $1,000 price tag. He further expressed a desire for broader fan access, adding: “If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can’t go, I would be disappointed, but, you know, at the same time, it’s an amazing success. I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go.”
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The high prices extend beyond group stage matches. Four tickets for the World Cup final, slated for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, were reportedly listed on the resale market for an astonishing $2.3 million, as reported by SPORTbible.
FIFA defends pricing amid ‘extortionate’ fan claims
FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the criticism, defending the organisation’s pricing structure and the dynamics of the resale market. He highlighted a new strategy for the 2026 tournament, where group-stage games are priced based on the popularity of the teams involved — a departure from previous flat rates.
Infantino explained the situation regarding the high resale prices: “If some people put on the resale market some tickets for the final at $2 million, number one, it doesn’t mean that the tickets cost $2 million, and number two, it doesn’t mean that somebody will buy these tickets. In the US, it is permitted to resell tickets as well, so if you were to sell tickets at a price which is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price.”
He added: “As a matter of fact, even though some people are saying that the ticket prices we have are high, they still end up on the resale market at an even higher price, more than double our price.”
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As the tournament approaches, the debate over accessibility and affordability is likely to remain a central talking point, balancing the immense global demand for World Cup football with the financial realities for many supporters.
Sources: www.sportbible.com
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