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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be the most costly edition of the tournament for fans in history, with spending thousands of dollars becoming almost unavoidable for supporters wishing to watch their team compete live.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber has no issue with that.
For the first time in the tournament's nearly century-long history, FIFA has introduced "variable pricing," aligning even group stage ticket costs with market demand rather than setting a fixed rate from the start. The result is that the most in-demand matches—such as the opening game, clashes between high-profile nations, and knockout stage fixtures—carry eye-watering price tags.
As an illustration, a Category 1 seat for Miami's group stage clash between Portugal and Colombia was listed at $890 on Wednesday when FIFA launched its fourth and final sales phase—compared to the average $220 fans paid for a Category 1 group stage ticket at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, according to The Sporting News. A Category 1 ticket for the 2026 World Cup opener at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca was priced at $2,985—nearly five times the cost of a premium seat at the 2022 Qatar opener. Tickets to the 2026 World Cup final at East Rutherford, N.J. soared to a staggering $10,990—more than four times what fans paid to attend the 2022 Qatar final between Argentina and France.
Fans have voiced fury over FIFA's alleged "price gouging"; nevertheless, Garber came forward on Saturday to defend the governing body.
What Did Don Garber Say?
Speaking at the grand opening of Inter Miami's Nu Stadium on Saturday, Garber weighed in on FIFA's ticket pricing strategy, expressing his view that the costs reflect the tournament's prestige and exclusivity, drawing comparisons to the steep prices seen at other major American sporting events.
"I think the president of FIFA has been pretty clear to say [the matches are] going to be [like] dozens and dozens of Super Bowls, and nobody seems to have issues with championship events that have ticket pricing that's appropriate for the exclusivity and nature of that event," Garber said, per The Guardian, referencing the dynamic pricing model employed for the NFL's Super Bowl, which drove secondary market ticket prices to a range of $4,000–$30,000 for this year's title game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, per CBS News.
"So, FIFA has been smart. They have variable ticket pricing, and I'm hoping they'll be providing access to anybody that wants to buy a ticket. It's not really for me to comment on pricing. [MLS] has nothing to do with that, it's FIFA decision. But I think it's going to be a premier event and premier pricing Americans are used to."
While the 2026 World Cup is set to be held on American soil this summer—co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada—the debate persists over whether the tournament should be treated as an inherently "American" event governed by North American standards and pricing, or as the truly global spectacle it presents itself to be.
On a separate note, the quintessential "American" event Garber references—the Super Bowl—has never prioritized the average fan when it comes to seat allocation. The overwhelming majority of tickets are distributed before ordinary supporters ever get a chance, going first to players and team staff, league personnel, NFL-affiliated corporations and sponsors, and celebrities, before a highly competitive lottery opens up to regular fans. The New York Times estimates that only around 25% of Super Bowl seats are made available to everyday fans.
Regardless of how the 2026 World Cup is ultimately categorized, Garber is hopeful that MLS—the top flight of American soccer—will benefit from hosting the sport's biggest stage on home soil, as he continues his efforts to expand the league's reach.
"We're going to be present during the games," Garber said. "We've just finalized the last shoot for major advertising campaigns. It's the first time we've ever produced anything like that. We'll be advertising in the final and semi-finals with some of our biggest stars that we think will resonate around the world. It's important to us. We've got our teams activating in every market. We have fan fests in every market, whether they're in host communities or not."