Tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have shot up to extremely high prices on FIFA’s official ticket resale platform, angering fans around the world. These resale prices are many times higher than the original ticket costs, even though most tickets were only recently distributed after the main sales period ended in January.

Fans have been trading World Cup tickets on FIFA’s official marketplace, where sellers can set their own prices. But that has led to some very expensive listings, far above what the tickets originally cost. For example, a “category three” seat – the best in the stands – for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11 was listed on the platform for about $5,324, compared with the original ticket price of $895.

Even more eye-popping are resale prices for the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19. One category three ticket was listed at around $143,750 – more than 40 times its original price of $3,450. The cheapest available resale ticket for the final was still listed at about $9,775.

Not all resale listings are higher, however. In a few rare cases, some ticket prices have actually fallen. One ticket for Austria’s group game with Jordan at Levi’s Stadium in California was listed for $552, even though it originally cost $620.

Fans Angry, Critics Speak Out

Supporter groups and fans have responded with surprise and frustration. Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for the France national team supporters’ group “Irresistibles Français,” said the high prices are what many feared. “These exorbitant prices unfortunately don’t surprise me,” he said. He added that many people buy tickets just to resell them, and then “the passionate fans… end up with outrageous offers.”

Despite the high prices, tickets continue to be listed and traded, driven by extremely high demand for the tournament. FIFA has said there were around 500 million ticket requests during the earlier sales phases.

How FIFA Handles Resale

FIFA’s resale platform is officially sanctioned, but the organisation says it only facilitates the marketplace and does not set ticket prices – resellers decide those. FIFA takes a 15% fee on sales as part of its terms.

The resale market for tickets is regulated differently depending on the country. In the United States and Canada, resale prices are not capped, which means sellers can charge as much as they want. In Mexico, resale above face value is prohibited – but only when the ticket was originally bought in Mexican pesos.

Controversy and Criticism

Ticket pricing has become one of the most talked-about issues related to the 2026 World Cup. Fan groups in Europe have even accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” for making tickets so expensive and urged the organisation to reconsider how tickets are distributed and priced.

To address concerns about access, FIFA introduced a limited number of tickets priced as low as $60 for official supporter groups. But critics say that this measure is too small and does not go far enough to help regular fans.

FIFA continues to notify applicants from its later ticket sales phases about whether they secured tickets. A final “last-minute” sales phase, running from April until the end of the tournament, will be based on first-come, first-served access.