FIFA has raised the top ticket price for the 2026 World Cup final to $10,990, marking a significant increase as the governing body released a new batch of tickets on Wednesday.
The price surge comes after the 48-team lineup for the tournament was finalised and is likely to intensify criticism that fans are being priced out of football’s biggest event.
For comparison, the most expensive ticket for the 2022 World Cup final was around $1,600, highlighting the scale of the increase.
The latest pricing also reflects a rise from the previous sales phase, when the top-tier final ticket was priced at $8,680.
Lower-tier tickets have also seen notable increases. Category 2 tickets are now priced at $7,380, up from $5,575 in December, while Category 3 tickets have risen to $5,785 from $4,185.
FIFA is using a dynamic pricing model for the tournament, allowing ticket prices to fluctuate based on demand. The approach has drawn widespread criticism from fans and political figures.
In a letter sent last month, 69 Democratic members of the United States Congress said the pricing system contradicts FIFA’s commitment to making football accessible and inclusive.
They warned that the 2026 tournament could become “the most financially exclusionary and inaccessible” World Cup to date.
Despite the backlash, FIFA has defended its approach, stating that revenue generated from the tournament will help fund grassroots football development globally.
Tickets for the final, along with 17 group-stage matches, were made available in the latest sales phase. FIFA said additional tickets will be released in stages throughout the tournament.
However, the sales process faced technical issues. Fans reported delays and difficulties accessing the ticketing platform, with some waiting hours to enter the system.
FIFA did not specify in advance which matches or ticket categories would be available, requiring users to search through options once they gained access.
This phase marks the first time fans can select specific seats rather than applying for tickets within a general price category.
Tickets will also be available on a resale platform, where FIFA will take a 15 per cent commission from both buyers and sellers.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino previously said demand for tickets has been exceptionally high, describing it as equivalent to “the request for 1,000 years of World Cups at once".
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin on June 11 and will be hosted across cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The final is scheduled to take place in New Jersey on July 19.
