Keystone
If you want to sit live in the stadium next summer for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, you’ll need a big wallet. Ticket prices explode after the World Cup qualification is completed.
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Table of Contents
- On the official FIFA resale platform, tickets for the 2026 World Cup are sometimes sold at astronomical prices – up to a million dollars for a semi-final.
- FIFA allows free resale without price caps and charges 15 percent fees from buyers and sellers – even for highly inflated prices.
- In cities like New York, criticism of the price explosion is growing; Local politicians are calling for measures to avoid excluding local fans.
The Swiss national team has confidently qualified for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the USA. But for many Nati fans who want to experience the World Cup games live on site, the anticipation could quickly disappear. Because ticket prices on the FIFA resale platform are exorbitant.
There are already offers of almost $100,000 for the opening game in Mexico alone. Research by “Eurovision News Spotlight” shows that someone is even trying to charge almost a million dollars for a semi-final ticket.
It has long been normal for World Cup tickets to be resold. What is new, however, is that FIFA no longer sets any limits on its own platform. Anyone who has a ticket can freely determine the price. At the same time, some original tickets have variable prices for the first time – so they can become more or less expensive depending on demand.
Official tickets start at around $60. Even such places are now available on the secondary market for several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars.
FIFA also earns money
Particularly tricky: FIFA collects a hefty fee when it is resold. Both seller and buyer must each give 15 percent. At a resale price of $100, this means: the seller only receives $85, the buyer pays $115 – and the world association pockets $30.
FIFA justifies the model with references to international standards in sports and entertainment. Such systems are common in North America. In Mexico, however, excessive secondary market prices are prohibited by law. But according to observers, offers on the platform are also significantly higher than the original price – without any visible intervention.
Criticism from politics
Prices are skyrocketing, especially in metropolises like New York or Los Angeles. This is now also attracting attention from politicians. New York’s newly elected mayor Zohran Mamdani has launched a petition to stop the price trend. He warned during the election campaign that the “biggest sporting event in the world” would take place on their doorstep – but would be unaffordable for many residents.