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Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup reached record levels on Wednesday, as FIFA launched its fourth and final round of sales for the summer tournament. With soccer's governing body sticking to a dynamic pricing model, fans appear to have little choice but to spend thousands of dollars simply to get through the stadium gates.
The steepest price jump was seen for the 2026 World Cup final, scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Premium Category 1 tickets—covering seats in the stadium's lower two tiers—went on sale at $10,990, more than 70% above the original $6,370 price tag from October when sales first launched. Category 2 and Category 3 seats opened at $7,380 and $5,785, respectively, compared to $4,210 and $2,790 back in October.
Have tickets to the championship match of football's biggest event always been this costly and out of reach?
Here, Sports Illustrated looks back at ticket prices from previous World Cup finals to put the staggering cost of the 2026 edition into perspective.
2022 Qatar World Cup: Argentina vs. France
A Category 1 ticket to witness Argentina's penalty shootout victory over France in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final at Lusail Stadium averaged $1,607, according to Statista—far more affordable than what's being charged for the 2026 World Cup final. Category 2 tickets were priced at $1,003, while Category 3 came in at $604.
2018 Russia World Cup: France vs. Croatia
A Category 1 ticket for the 2018 World Cup final at Luzhniki Stadium in Russia, where France claimed glory with a 4–2 win over Croatia, averaged $1,100—more than $500 less than a comparable ticket for the 2022 edition, per Statista. Category 2 seats were priced at $710, with Category 3 at $455.
2014 Brazil World Cup: Germany vs. Argentina
Tickets to watch Germany take on Argentina at the Maracanã Stadium in the 2014 Brazil World Cup final were already pricey, running around $6,000, according to a CBS News report from April 2014.
Even when adjusted for inflation, however, a 2014 final ticket would still come in below 2026 prices, valued at approximately $8,271 in today's dollars.
2010 South Africa World Cup: Spain vs. the Netherlands
The top-tier seat for the 2010 South Africa World Cup final at Soccer City in Johannesburg was initially listed at $900 in the year leading up to the tournament, according to CNN.
Tickets for the final, which Spain won 1–0 against the Netherlands, were available for as little as $150, according to Reuters.
2002 Korea Japan World Cup: Brazil vs. Germany
Tickets for the 2002 World Cup final in Japan were priced at $575 a year before the tournament, with the most affordable option at $230, according to the BBC.
Those figures—for Brazil's 2–0 triumph over Germany—translate to $1,080 and $432 in current dollars.
1994 U.S. World Cup: Brazil vs. Italy
The last time the U.S. hosted the tournament was in 1994, and tickets to the World Cup final at the Rose Bowl—where Brazil defeated Italy on penalties—cost fans over $1,500, equivalent to roughly $3,300 today, still considerably less than what FIFA is asking for seats at the upcoming U.S.-hosted final.
1970 Mexico World Cup: Brazil vs. Italy
Tickets to watch Pelé guide Brazil to a 4–1 victory over Italy in the 1970 World Cup final at the Estadio Azteca ranged from approximately $125 to $160, based on two separate ticket stubs.
That price range is equivalent to between $1,047 and $1,340 in today's money.
1950 Brazil World Cup: Uruguay vs. Brazil
One known ticket for the 1950 World Cup final at the Maracanã—where Uruguay stunned host nation Brazil with a 2–1 win—was priced higher than the Mexico final two decades later, at around $600 based on an auctioned stub, which translates to $8,136 in today's terms, still notably less than 2026 World Cup final pricing.
1934 Italy World Cup: Italy vs. Czechoslovakia
While ticket pricing for the very first World Cup final in Uruguay in 1930 is hard to come by, the second-ever World Cup final in 1934 at the Stadio Nazionale PNF in Rome was priced at around 60 lira, per the Los Angeles Times—just over $3 at the time, which would be worth approximately $73 today.