AM 1575 News — Why World Cup 2026 tickets cost from two to eight thousand euros, i.e., three times compared to Qatar 2022? | June 13, 2026
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The resale market fills up ahead of the opening
The official FIFA portal for ticket resale still shows about one hundred eighty thousand seats available a few days before the start of the tournament. Collected data indicate that the average price of a ticket on the resale site has fallen by twenty percent in the last month, but considering the twenty‑six percent commission applied to transactions, most sales now occur at a loss for those offering them.
Demand and supply vary among national teams
In the opening group, FIFA still lists 176 000 tickets for the group‑stage matches. The distribution is not uniform: while for the matches involving Iran there remain over sixteen thousand unsold seats, the lowest price for a standard position on the market is around one hundred thirty euros. The host nation, the United States, also struggles to empty the stands; for the opening match against Paraguay there are still 4 400 tickets for sale, with an average price of more than 800 euros, while the cheapest ticket still available from the FIFA site starts at about 1 120 euros.
Record prices for the most coveted matches
The highest figures are recorded for the final, which in New Jersey starts at 4 185 euros for the lowest seats, reaches 5 575 euros for standard categories, and exceeds 8 600 euros for premium positions. Comparing them with the top categories of Qatar 2022, which cost around 2 000 euros, the jump is evident: tickets for 2026 can cost up to four times more.
Criticism and investigations by authorities
The use of “dynamic pricing”, with prices adjusting based on demand, has triggered a strong reaction from fans and local political figures. The Attorneys General of New York and New Jersey have launched investigations to verify the legality of rates deemed “impossibly high”. Fan groups estimate that following a team in this World Cup will cost five times more than the 2022 tournament.
FIFA aims for million‑dollar revenues
FIFA, a non‑profit organization headquartered in Zurich, has stated that it has recorded more than five hundred million ticket reservation requests on the ticket site and expects revenues exceeding three billion dollars, almost triple those of Qatar. This expectation explains the choice to set higher prices, in line with local market conditions in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Differences in enthusiasm among national teams
Some national teams still show a sizable supply: for the three Saudi Arabia matches there are on average 3 900 seats free, with prices below nominal value. In contrast, in Mexico demand is so high that only three hundred seats per match remain, priced on average four times the original price. Tickets for Colombia recorded the largest average increase, sold at more than five times the base value, while the Colombia‑Portugal match in Miami is the most pronounced, with an average price of about 3 000 euros.
Strategies to contain costs
In response to criticism, FIFA introduced a small quota of tickets at reduced price, but the bulk of the offering remains subject to the free market, where price fluctuations can be considerable. In cities like Toronto, where local laws prohibit resale above face value, the availability of tickets on the secondary market is almost nonexistent.
Conclusion
The combination of a dynamic pricing strategy, the forecast of enormous revenues, and strong demand from an audience willing to spend astronomically high amounts explains why tickets for the 2026 football World Cup can cost from two to eight thousand euros, three times higher than those of Qatar 2022. The result is a market where scarcity of seats and high costs become the norm, while also prompting debates about the event’s sustainability for fans worldwide.
Rachel’s editorial – When football becomes a visit to the luxury counter
I will now read you my editorial of today.
It is truly surprising that FIFA, that institution that should promote sport for everyone, has decided to turn the World Cup into a treasure hunt for the wealthiest. Three times the price of the Qatar tickets? Yet Qatar, with its sparkling arenas, asked only €2 000 for the highest categories. Is it perhaps a new strategy of “creating demand by placing it a mile beyond the purchasing power of ordinary people”?
And then we find ourselves with 180 000 tickets still available a few days before the start, despite the media hype of “500 million requests”. The question is: who is actually buying these tickets? Die‑hard fans or speculators with more debt than a prison enterprise? If FIFA really wanted to “make the tournament more inclusive”, it could at least have lowered the price by a couple of hundred euros, rather than sending it soaring as if it were a membership fee for the billionaire club.
The authorities of New York and New Jersey have launched investigations into these “impossible” prices. But why not investigate right away the variable pricing model that, like a roller coaster, gives a breath to the rich and leaves enthusiasts watching from afar? It is a bit like organizing a gala dinner where the appetizer costs more than a used car; the result is obvious: nobody really wants to sit at the table.
In the end, the result is a farce: a tournament that should unite the world, but that risks doing so only among the wealthier classes. If FIFA really wants to “launch football to new horizons”, perhaps it should start with the ticket price, not the bank account of those who buy them.
Koan of the day
Monaco: Master, why does FIFA believe football should cost as much as a real‑estate investment?
Master: Because in that market value is no longer measured in goals, but in how many zeros can be printed on a paper ticket.
Monaco: And what truth hides behind selling a dream at a golden price?
Master: That the only certainty is that, when the ball rolls, no one can buy passion, but everyone can buy the right to watch it from an overly expensive seat.
But let’s return to the news.
This is all for now. From the Paris editorial office I’m Rachel Costa: this is Radio Nice with Centrale Milano 1575 kHz.