2026 World Cup Final Tickets Skyrocket to Eye-Watering Prices as Resale Frenzy Erupts

Passes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have officially entered resale markets with costs soaring to more than $38,000 for the championship match.

FIFA launched its initial ticket sales window through the Visa presale on Wednesday, allowing a limited group of supporters from the 4.5+ million applicants to purchase passes first.

Primary market pricing already stunned global football enthusiasts. Among opening games in each host nation, Canada's Toronto opener offered the lowest-priced tickets at $355-$1,745. The USMNT's Los Angeles debut featured passes from $560-$2,735, while Mexico's Mexico City match ranged $370-$1,825.

The championship game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., commanded $2,030-$6,370.

Despite these initial costs shocking football supporters globally, resale platforms have witnessed prices surge astronomically into substantial sums, particularly for the final.

FIFA Operates Official Resale Platform in U.S., Canada

FIFA manages an official resale marketplace in the United States and Canada, imposing a 15% charge on both vendors and purchasers, further inflating costs. Mexico's secondary market remains regulated, with FIFA agreeing to cap resale prices at original value through an exchange platform.

According to The Athletic, this percentage mirrors that of StubHub, SeatGeek, GameTime and similar third-party vendors.

Supporters have also turned to these platforms seeking passes, only to discover shocking resale valuations. Simultaneously, tickets from resale websites present fraud risks and complications tied to FIFA's Fan ID registration system.

By Friday evening, no championship match passes remained on FIFA's official exchange, though StubHub listed options from $5,937 for upper corner seating to $38,665 for midfield lower-level positions.

Only one official resale pass existed for Canada's opener at $716, while four USMNT debut tickets were available from $560-$2,740.

Ticketing System Varies From Previous World Cups

Unlike previous World Cups, domestic supporters received no preferential access or reduced pricing, nor did official fan organizations receive substantial allocations.

Each host country's federation obtained 8% of their match tickets, distributing them among family members, officials, alumni and other chosen recipients. This allocation minimally affected the broader marketplace.

"FIFA clearly operates and manages a World Cup while establishing policies, but market forces remain significant for consideration," Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue explained to Sports Illustrated, after launching CanadaRed to distribute portions of the federation's 8% allocation to supporters.

"The premium sports and entertainment market has accelerated significantly recently... We want everyone desiring World Cup experiences to access them, and we dislike when pricing excludes people, creating negative experiences. That's not our goal."

While initial sales and resale pricing have escalated dramatically, costs may fluctuate after the December 6 World Cup draw reveals team matchups and locations.