Rabat – FIFA’s latest ticket sales phase for the 2026 World Cup has triggered frustration among fans, as prices climbed again and access to tickets became challenging.
The final sales phase opened on a first-come, first-served basis, replacing previous rounds that relied on lotteries and selective access.
Thousands of fans logged onto FIFA’s platform at the same time, hoping to secure seats for one of the tournament’s 104 matches.
Many, however, faced long delays before even reaching the ticket portal. Some users were redirected to the wrong page and had to start over, losing their place in the queue. By the time they gained access, tickets for high-demand matches were already scarce.
Prices continue to rise
Those who managed to enter the platform saw another increase in ticket prices. The World Cup final now tops the list, with a Category 1 ticket priced at $10,990. That figure has steadily increased over recent months, rising from $6,370 at the start of sales.
Category 2 tickets for the final reached $7,380, while Category 3 tickets stood at $5,785, more than double their original price.
Other knockout matches also saw increases. Semifinal tickets exceeded $3,000 in the top category, and quarterfinal prices followed a similar trend.
Group-stage matches showed mixed changes. Some remained stable, while others increased compared to earlier phases. The Portugal-Colombia match in Miami, one of the most requested matches, rose significantly in price.
Demand and availability
FIFA has not yet disclosed how many tickets remain available in this phase. By the afternoon of the sales launch, many matches, especially those involving popular teams, were already sold out.
At the same time, several games still had available seats, particularly games with lower demand. This contrast suggests that interest varies by teams, location, and stage of the tournament.
Fans could, for the first time, select specific seats instead of only choosing ticket categories. This added more control, but did not ease the overall process.
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UEFA is lobbying FIFA to increase World Cup prize money and overall financial support for federations competing in the World Cup this summer, amid spiraling costs and tax considerations for the teams in the U.S.
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FIFA has introduced a dynamic pricing model for this World Cup, which allows prices to fluctuate based on demand.
This approach differs from previous tournaments, where ticket prices were fixed and announced in advance.
The organization has defended this system, pointing to strong demand and market conditions in North America.
FIFA also said that tickets will continue to be released gradually, even during the tournament.
Still, the lack of transparency around pricing and availability has raised questions, with some fans and groups describing the costs as “sky-high.”The World Cup kicks off on June 11 across 16 cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
With demand expected to remain high, ticket access and pricing are likely to remain central to discussions about the tournament.
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