Tickets are expensive! The Telegraph: The average ticket for the World Cup final is US$3,945, and the opening game is as low as US$370

October 15th The Telegraph reported that the ticketing policy for the 2026 World Cup has triggered strong protests from fans. Its exaggerated prices and complicated purchasing mechanisms may shut out a large number of loyal fans. The "dynamic pricing" system introduced by FIFA is the main reason for the soaring ticket prices.

According to statistics from fan websites, the starting price for the opening game of next year's World Cup is as high as US$370 and the highest is US$1,825. However, during the World Cup in Qatar, these two figures were only US$55 and US$618. Tickets for the finals are even more expensive, with the lowest starting at US$2,030, more than ten times the price three years ago, and the average ticket price reaching US$3,945. The Football Supporters Association pointed out that if a fan wants to follow the team from the group stage to the final, the ticket cost alone will cost at least US$3,180, which is more than twice the cost in Qatar.

In addition to dynamic pricing, FIFA’s official resale platform is also controversial. The platform allows tickets to be sold at prices above face value, and more importantly, FIFA charges both buyers and sellers a 15% fee on each transaction. This means that for a £100 ticket, FIFA earns £30. In addition, one platform requires fans to purchase tokens of up to $999 before they can qualify to purchase tickets, but it is said that the platform releases mostly the most expensive tickets.

In response to these criticisms, FIFA defended itself by saying that its pricing model reflects the market practices of the host country and can effectively combat scalpers and ensure that funds remain within the football system for global development. The agency also emphasized that fixed-price tickets will be reserved for specific groups of fans, and that the low-price ticket seat maps circulating online do not truly reflect the actual number. Nonetheless, for the average football fan, the dream of attending the World Cup in person has become more expensive than ever.