FIFA has tripled the price of the best available tickets for the 2026 World Cup final, according to a report by ABC. A Category 1 ticket for the match on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, now costs $32,970, up from a previous maximum of $10,990. However, earlier this week, only wheelchair-accessible seats in Category 1 were available at the lower price.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has previously justified the high prices by citing the market realities in the United States, where ticket resale is legal. In late April, four tickets for the 2026 final were listed on FIFA’s resale platform for nearly $2.3 million each. Infantino joked that he would personally deliver a hot dog and a bottle of Coca-Cola to anyone who purchased such a ticket.
In early April, FIFA raised prices for 40 of the 104 matches in the tournament. The increase sparked criticism: the European fans’ group FSE filed a complaint with the European Commission, and U.S. Democratic lawmakers accused FIFA of profiteering. Infantino responded that revenue from ticket sales goes toward developing football worldwide.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 national teams and the first to be hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19.
