FIFA president Gianni Infantino (R) presents US President Donald Trump a FIFA world Cup ticket for the final match in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 22, 2025. Trump announced the 2026 World Cup draw will be held on December 5 at Washington's Kennedy Center. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
It's supposed to be for everyone to enjoy in person.
However, we have been reminded that 2026 FIFA World Cup has turned into the rich people's game.
Since October, tickets have been on sale through the official FIFA website through exorbitant prices.
Several news websites recently have reported tickets for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. going for as much as $2,299,998.85 a ticket, on FIFA’s Resale Marketplace website.
That's no typographical error; that's $2,299,998.85.
The resale website allows ticket holders to resell their seats, whether they want to make a profit or just to break even. It should be noted that FIFA does not control the prices on that website. However, FIFA will take a 15-percent fee from the seller and purchaser of tickets. If they are sold, FIFA could earn nearly $600,000 in additional money from the purchase price of those aforementioned tickets.
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Adidas Trionda ball is seen at the store in Mexico City, Mexico on October 30, 2025. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
"FIFA’s Resale Marketplace provides a safe, transparent and secure environment for fans to sell or transfer tickets to other fans,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
“The applicable resale facilitation fees are aligned with industry standards across North American sports and entertainment sectors.”
On Tuesday morning, this writer checked out the FIFA's resale platform and could not find those $2M-plus tickets. They likely were lowered or perhaps purchased by a millionaire or billionaire.
There still were some eye-popping prices. According to the resale platform, ticket prices for the final ranged $9,888.85 to $11,499,998.85, although the latter amount could not be found.
However, there was one field-level seat in Category 1, Block 104, Row 1, Seat 3, which is just to the left of one of the goals, that has a price of $989,405.39. It may not be $2 million, but it was expensive enough for most fans.
If there isn’t a market for those high-priced tickets, holders can lower the costs on the resale website.
“FIFA’s pricing strategy spans a broad range of price points and categories, reflecting market demand for each match,” the governing body told CNN.
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 15: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Etihad Stadium on March 15, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has lamented the high cost of attending a World Cup match.
“I remember the World Cup—years, years, years ago — [it was] was like a celebration of the joy of football for the nations going there,” he told reporters recently.