FIFA raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 during a glitch-hampered reopening of sales Wednesday after the 48-team field was finalized. The previous highest price was $8,680 when FIFA sold tickets following the tournament draw in December.
Key Takeaways
FIFA raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 during a glitch-hampered reopening of sales after the 48-team field was finalized.
- FIFA increased prices across various categories for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
- Dynamic pricing is being used for the tournament, which will be played in 11 U.S. cities plus three in Mexico and two in Canada.
- Some fans reported glitches and misdirection on FIFA's ticketing website during the sales phase.
- Fan groups have voiced concerns over soaring costs for resold tickets.
The increases affect various categories for the July 19 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Category 2 tickets rose to $7,380 from $5,575, and category 3 increased to $5,785 from $4,185. Tickets were listed for only 17 of the 72 group-stage matches by Wednesday night, with none available for knockout stage games.
The tournament will be played in 11 U.S. cities plus three in Mexico and two in Canada using dynamic pricing. For example, tickets to see the United States play Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California remained unchanged from December at $2,735. The tournament opener between Mexico and Saudi Arabia on June 11 in Mexico City saw prices rise to $2,985 from $2,355, while Canada's first game against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto increased to $2,240 from $2,170.
The sales phase was marked by technical issues. Some users were directed into a queue for the "PMA late qualifier supporters sales phase" instead of the intended "last-minute sales phase." FIFA acknowledged the problem but stated that links were working properly around noon. The governing body also noted that not all remaining tickets are being put on sale at once, with additional tickets to be released on a rolling basis.
This was the fifth phase of ticket sales following previous draws and availability periods. For the month-long sales phase after the December 5 draw, tickets were priced between $140 and $8,680. After complaints, FIFA announced that $60 tickets would be made available to each participating national federation for their most loyal supporters.
The use of dynamic pricing has drawn criticism. 69 Democratic members of Congress wrote a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressing concerns about the accessibility and inclusivity of the tournament. Fan groups have also voiced concern over soaring costs for resold tickets, with one filing a formal complaint to the European Commission last month.
FIFA has defended its practices, stating that it is engaged in legal commercial activity under U.S. law. Some European countries have laws that can restrict resale by requiring tickets to be sold for face value or only by authorized partners of the event organizers.
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