Claim: FIFA has skyrocketed the ticket prices for the matches ahead of the tournament, with World Cup final tickets costing $32,970.

On June 11, the group-stage matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off at Banorte Stadium in Mexico City. A day later, Los Angeles will host its first game of the tournament, with the US national team set to face Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium. However, just weeks before the matches begin, reports suggest ticket prices have skyrocketed.

This marks FIFA’s second major ticket price hike ahead of the 2026 World Cup. According to a report from The Guardian, prices for the final match had already been raised to $10,990 in April. Now, the same media outlet reports that FIFA has increased the cost even further, with tickets for the final soaring to an eye-watering $32,970 for the seats in Front Category 1.

And it’s not only the final that has been affected. Ticket prices for several other matches, including the semi-finals, have also seen sharp increases, leaving many fans frustrated and priced out of the tournament altogether.

Tickets for the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium were listed at staggering prices of $2,735, $1,940, and $1,120. Meanwhile, seats for the Americans’ June 19 clash against Australia in Seattle were priced at $2,715. Ticket costs for the USMNT’s final group-stage game against Turkey in Los Angeles on June 25 were also steep, with prices reaching $2,970, $1,345, $990, and $840.

The semi-finals have seen even more dramatic price surges. Tickets for the July 14 semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Dallas were listed at $11,130, $4,330, $3,710, and $2,705. Meanwhile, seats for the following day’s semi-final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta were priced at $10,635, $3,545, and $2,725.

Our Verdict: True

The new prices aren’t just real. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has now defended those prices in a statement. 

“We have to look at the market. We are in a market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world, so we have to apply market rates,” he said Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills. “In the US, it is permitted to resell tickets, as well, so if you were to sell tickets at the price which is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price. 

“And as a matter of fact, even though some people are saying that the ticket prices we have are high, they still end up on the resale market at an even higher price, more than double of our price. You cannot go to watch in the US a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300.”

Although college football postseason games can have high prices, including ongoing NBA playoffs, they are available for under $300. Additionally, in the resale/exchange markets, tickets for the final game were available for anything between $8,970 to $11,499,998.85. And FIFA, of course, doesn’t control the prices in resale/exchange markets. But they charge 15% resale fee from the seller.

“If some people put on the secondary, on the resale market some tickets for the final at $2m, No 1, it doesn’t mean that the tickets cost $2m, and No 2, it doesn’t mean that somebody will buy these tickets,” Infantino said. “Actually, if somebody buys a ticket for the final for $2m, I will personally bring a hot dog and a Coke to make sure that he has a great experience.”

Politicians raise their voices over potentially deceptive practices by FIFA

New Jersey Democratic representatives Frank Pallone and Nellie Pou have raised concerns over FIFA’s ticketing practices. The lawmakers sent a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday, requesting answers by 22 May regarding dynamic pricing, unsold tickets, future ticket releases, and fees attached to FIFA’s resale marketplace.

“For many fans hoping to attend matches this summer, the ticket sales process has become a major point of frustration,” the representatives wrote. “We are deeply concerned by reports that Fifa is employing opaque pricing, shifting rules, and potentially deceptive practices.”

The lawmakers also accused FIFA of misleading fans through inaccurate seat maps and controlling ticket supply to manipulate demand. 

“Fifa also appears to be restricting ticket supply to shape demand,” they added. “Tickets are reportedly being held back for matches, creating the appearance of limited availability even when large numbers remain unsold.”

Our Fact-Checking Sources:

The Guardian, May 8, 2026. Fifa triples price of top World Cup final ticket to $32,970 as US politicians voice concerns

The Guardian, April 2, 2026. Fifa raises top ticket price for World Cup final to $10,990, up from $1,600 in 2022

ESPN, May 8, 2026. FIFA triples best available World Cup final ticket to $33K

Nellie Pou, May 7, 2026. Pou and Pallone Demand Answers from FIFA Over World Cup Ticket Chaos