Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have surged on FIFA’s official resale platform, with some seats listed at several times their original face value, despite most tickets only recently being distributed after the main sales phase closed in January.
Weeks after FIFA President Gianni Infantino cautioned that tickets on resale sites could carry exorbitant mark-ups, those concerns have materialised, including on football’s governing body’s own platform.
This week, a Category Three seat, located in the upper tier, for the tournament’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11 was listed at $5 324. The original price for the same ticket was $895.
Explaining the pricing model, an official noted that while base prices were initially fixed, resale operates within a dynamic pricing system, particularly in the United States, where prices fluctuate according to market demand. Ticket holders are permitted to resell their seats, with prices rising or falling depending on market conditions.
–ChannelAfrica–
