FIFA Raises Top World Cup Final Ticket Price to $10,990

Glitches hamper reopening of ticket sales after 48-team field finalized

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:39pm

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FIFA has raised the top ticket price for the 2026 World Cup final to $10,990, up from $8,680 when tickets were initially sold after the tournament draw in December. The price hike comes as FIFA reopened ticket sales on Wednesday, which was hampered by technical glitches. Tickets for other matches have also seen significant price increases as FIFA employs dynamic pricing for the 48-team tournament to be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Why it matters

The steep price increases for World Cup tickets have drawn criticism from fan groups and members of Congress, who argue that FIFA's dynamic pricing model makes the tournament financially inaccessible for many fans. There are concerns that the high costs will price out loyal supporters of participating national teams and undermine FIFA's stated mission of promoting soccer's global accessibility and inclusivity.

The details

During the glitch-hampered reopening of ticket sales on Wednesday, FIFA listed prices for 17 of the 72 group-stage matches, but no knockout stage games. The top price for the final was raised to $10,990, while category 2 tickets were set at $7,380 and category 3 at $5,785. Prices for other matches also saw significant increases, with the most expensive tickets for the US opener against Paraguay at $2,735, up from $2,355 in December. Tickets for the tournament opener between Mexico and Saudi Arabia and Canada's first game were also more expensive than the initial offering.

  • Ticket sales reopened on Wednesday, April 2, 2026.
  • The 48-team field for the 2026 World Cup was finalized on Tuesday.

The players

Gianni Infantino

The president of FIFA, who claimed in January that the amount of ticket requests FIFA had received was the equivalent of 'the request for 1,000 years of World Cups at once'.

69 Democratic members of Congress

They wrote a letter to FIFA's president criticizing the 'dynamic ticket pricing' for the 2026 World Cup, arguing that it will make the tournament 'the most financially exclusionary and inaccessible to date'.

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What they’re saying

“The employment of dynamic ticket pricing for the 2026 FWC starkly contrasts with FIFA's core mission to promote the accessible and inclusive promotion and development of soccer globally.”

— 69 Democratic members of Congress

“This is unique. It's incredible.”

— Gianni Infantino, FIFA President

What’s next

FIFA said additional tickets will be released on a rolling basis as the tournament approaches.

The takeaway

FIFA's decision to significantly raise ticket prices, especially for the World Cup final, has sparked concerns that the tournament will be financially inaccessible for many fans, undermining the organization's stated goal of promoting soccer's global accessibility and inclusivity.