With just 100 days to go before the World Cup kicks off across North America, ticket prices range from nearly $900 for the opening match to more than $8,000 for the final — making attendance a costly experience for many fans.
AFP Sport takes a closer look at what it costs to follow the tournament in person.
Ticket availability and demand
World football’s governing body, FIFA, has made almost seven million tickets available overall. Individuals can purchase up to four tickets per match and a maximum of 40 across the entire competition.
Around two million tickets were distributed during an initial lottery in October. A second lottery phase held in December and January drew a record 508 million requests, FIFA said, though it has not disclosed how many tickets were allocated.
Among the most sought-after fixtures are the Group K decider between Colombia and Portugal in Miami on June 27, co-hosts Mexico facing South Korea in Guadalajara on June 18, and the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
Prices soar
The tournament will feature 104 matches — the first World Cup expanded to 48 teams — and prices for high-demand games have surged.
Supporters’ group Football Supporters Europe noted that the North American bid had initially suggested tickets could start at $21. In reality, the lowest-priced seats released have been $60, such as for the Group J opener between Austria and Jordan at Levi’s Stadium in California.
For matches involving top-ranked nations, most tickets cost at least $200. Final tickets begin at $2,000, with premium seats priced at $8,680 — before resale mark-ups are considered.
On FIFA’s official resale platform, one category three ticket for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium was recently listed at $143,750 — more than 40 times its original face value of $3,450.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the pricing, citing overwhelming demand and the use of dynamic pricing in markets such as the United States, where ticket costs can fluctuate depending on interest in a given match.
After criticism over affordability, FIFA introduced a lower-cost category at $60. However, those seats are reserved for supporters of qualified teams and account for only 10 percent of each national association’s allocation.
FIFA is also selling hospitality packages that bundle match tickets with VIP lounge access. For example, packages for France versus Senegal in New Jersey on June 16 range from $2,900 to $4,500.
Resale market and further increases
An undisclosed number of tickets will be released from April onward on a first-come, first-served basis.
Beyond official sales, resale platforms — including FIFA’s own — allow sellers to set their own prices, driving dramatic mark-ups. The resale market remains largely unregulated in the United States and Canada. In Mexico, selling tickets above face value is illegal only if the purchase was made domestically and in local currency.
A category three seat for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11 was recently advertised at $5,324, compared with its original $895 price. Other platforms such as SeatGeek and StubHub have offered slightly lower rates.
Additional expenses
Ticket prices are only part of the financial burden. Many stadiums are located far from city centres, and parking costs can be steep. A parking space for a group-stage match in Atlanta costs about $100, rising to $300 in Los Angeles.
For fans unable to secure tickets, FIFA will host Fan Festivals across the 16 host cities. In Kansas City, the Fan Fest is expected to accommodate up to 25,000 people. In New York, the US Open tennis complex at Flushing Meadows will be converted into a fan zone with capacity for up to 10,000 paying visitors between June 17 and 28.
As excitement builds, so too does the cost of being part of football’s biggest spectacle.