World Cup final tickets cross $2 million mark

A limited number of resale tickets for the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 have appeared on the official FIFA Marketplace at extraordinarily high prices, highlighting growing concerns over affordability surrounding the tournament.

Among the listings are four Category 1 tickets located together behind one of the goals, positioned at the top of the lower deck near an exit. Each ticket is priced at $2,299,998.85, bringing the total cost for the set to more than $9 million. By comparison, seats just two rows closer to the pitch in a similar section are being resold for slightly over $16,000, while tickets even nearer to the field are listed at more than $24,000, CNN reports.

Another listing shows a Category 3 ticket—located near the very top of the stadium behind a goal—also priced at $2,299,998.85.

The tickets are being offered through FIFA’s official resale platform, where ticket holders are permitted to set their own prices. FIFA does not regulate asking prices on the marketplace, although it collects a 15% fee from both buyers and sellers.

“FIFA’s Resale Marketplace provides a safe, transparent and secure environment for fans to sell or transfer tickets to other fans,” a FIFA spokesperson told CNN Sports.

“The applicable resale facilitation fees are aligned with industry standards across North American sports and entertainment sectors.”

The platform is accessible to buyers in Canada, the United States, and internationally. However, local legislation in Mexico prevents sellers from listing tickets above face value.

The lowest resale price currently available for a standard ticket to the final is just under $11,000, while the cheapest wheelchair-accessible ticket is listed at nearly $15,000.

The surge in resale prices follows FIFA’s recent release of additional official tickets for the final through its primary sales platform, where prices started at $10,990.

The figures have drawn attention as the tournament had been promoted as potentially one of the most affordable World Cups, adding to broader concerns about travel and accommodation costs associated with attending matches.

“FIFA’s pricing strategy spans a broad range of price points and categories, reflecting market demand for each match,” the governing body told CNN.

“Tickets have been released across sales phases, such as Category 4 at the most accessible price point and a minimum of 1,000 tickets priced at USD 60 for every match via participating teams, including the final.”

FIFA added that it operates as a not-for-profit organisation and that revenues generated from ticket sales would be reinvested into the development of the sport.

By Tamilla Hasanova