As excitement builds ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ticket prices on the tournament’s official resale marketplace have surged dramatically, with some seats now fetching many times their original face value, sparking frustration among football supporters around the world.
Ticket prices on FIFA’s official Resale/Exchange Marketplace have skyrocketed since the end of the main sales phase, with seats for several highly anticipated matches listed at figures far above their original cost.
For many fans, the inflated prices reflect growing concerns that the global sport’s flagship event is becoming increasingly inaccessible to everyday supporters.
While resale prices vary based on demand, location and match importance, the marks on the official platform have confirmed widespread concern about pricing inequality.
In some rare cases, tickets for less high‑profile fixtures have seen modest price drops on resale, but these instances remain exceptions rather than the rule.
A Category Three ticket for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa is listed at $5,324, up from $895.
Even worse, a Category Three seat for the World Cup final is going for $143,750, over 41 times its original price of $3,450. The cheapest final ticket available is $9,775
Fan groups have condemned the high costs, saying that inflated ticket prices ultimately harm the supporters the World Cup is meant to celebrate.
Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for a French supporter’s association, said the inflated listings are “confirmation of what we know and what we fight against,” arguing that such pricing benefits resellers more than passionate fans.
FIFA Defends Ticket Pricing Policy
FIFA has defended the resale marketplace’s structure, saying it only acts as a facilitator for fan‑to‑fan sales and that prices are set by individual sellers, not the governing body itself.
The global football organization also stressed its focus on fair access, even as many tickets are listed well above face value and as it continues to manage record demand, with millions of ticket requests registered.
Critics argue that high resale values exploit fans and push the dream of attending a World Cup out of reach for many. Many calling for more equitable pricing structures as the competition draws closer.
As FIFA prepares for the next phases of ticket distribution and resale, fans across the globe — including in Nigeria — are watching closely, weighing their hopes of attending matches in person against the reality of rising resale costs and the challenges of securing seats without being priced out.
Planning on Attending the World Cup?
The games will be played across 16 cities in the three host countries, divided into three regions:
- Western Region: Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles
- Central Region: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City
- Eastern Region: Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey
This edition will feature a record 48 teams and 104 fixtures, over 60% more than the previous tournament in Qatar. Argentina is the current defending champion, while Brazil holds the record with 5 World Cup victories.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, and it’s going to be huge! The tournament will be played from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
For Nigeria, her World Cup hopes are still alive, but it’s a bit of a long shot. They lost to DR Congo in the CAF qualification playoff tournament final on penalties, 4-3, after a 1-1 draw.
The Super Eagles had a great run, defeating Gabon 4-1 in the semifinals, but it wasn’t enough.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has filed a petition with FIFA, claiming some DR Congo players were ineligible, so there’s still a glimmer of hope.
If FIFA rules in Nigeria’s favor, Nigerians may have yet the rare chance to watch their national team play in the world’s greatest football stage in June.
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