World Cup Ticket Prices: Fans Slam FIFA Greed

Ticket prices for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup have skyrocketed ‘five times’ compared to the previous tournament. There is strong anger towards the ‘money-mad’ Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

FIFA revealed ticket prices for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup on the 12th. The highest ticket price for this North and Central America World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time in history, is $8,680 (12.8 million won).

Group stage tickets range from $180 to $700 (KRW 260,000 to KRW 1.03 million), and tickets for the final range from $4,185 (KRW 6.16 million) to a maximum of $8,680 (KRW 12.8 million).

This is an increase of up to 5 times compared to $69 to $1,607 at the time of the 2022 Qatar World Cup four years ago. The $21 (30,000 won) tickets that the North and Central American World Cup hosting committee said they would offer are nowhere to be found.

The ticket price for the final is more expensive than the ‘Super Bowl’, the final of the National Football League (NFL), which is considered the quintessential capitalist sports event in the United States. The price of a regular ticket to the Super Bowl held in New Orleans last year was about $4,500 (about 6.6 million won). The lowest price for World Cup final tickets has become similar to Super Bowl economy tickets. This is the first time that the World Cup has surpassed the Super Bowl in general seat prices.

For the first time in history, the North and Central America World Cup will apply a ‘floating price system’. In the case of the finals, where demand is concentrated, there is a high possibility that the price will rise further than the currently set price.

The rate for matches between England and Croatia and Brazil and Scotland rose by nearly 70%. Additionally, tickets to the finals are already being sold for over $10,000 (KRW 14.73 million) on some resale sites.

Group A, where Korea belongs, had the highest ticket price for the match against the host country, Mexico. The lowest price for a seat in the Mexico game is $365 (390,000 won), and the highest price is $700 (1.03 million won).

A minimum of $585 (860,000 won) is required to watch all three group stage games of the European Playoffs (PO), starting with the first match against Pass A, the second match against Mexico, and the third match against South Africa. If you only watch the game from the best seats, you will have to pay $1,650 (2.43 million won).

If you include airfare, lodging and food expenses that reflect the extremely high prices in North America, the total amount becomes much higher.

There is further evidence that FIFA is ‘crazy about money.’ In the past World Cup, seats in the upper section were grouped into ‘Category 4’ and sold at a low price for residents of the host country and low-income, youth, and student soccer fans of the host country. At the time of the last Qatar World Cup, the price of this ticket was about 11 dollars (about 16,000 won). However, in this North and Central America World Cup, the number of seats grouped in ‘Category 4’ has decreased significantly. In the group stage between Korea and Mexico, there are no Category 4 tickets at all.

In response, Football Supporters Europe (FSE), which represents European soccer fans, criticized in a statement, “This pricing is an unprecedented betrayal of the World Cup tradition. The pricing policy must be completely reviewed.”

Britain’s BBC also strongly criticized it.

The media reported, “Soccer fans around the world continue to express their anger about the astronomical cost of watching the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. Soccer fans have criticized ticket prices as a comical insult to fans.”

He continued, “For some small countries, the price of group stage tickets may be higher than the country’s monthly wage. Moreover, this is the price excluding transportation and accommodation costs. For example, Haiti. The average monthly wage in this country is $147 (210,000 won). The cheapest ticket for a game in Haiti, which advanced to the World Cup finals after 52 years, is $180 (260,000 won). To see the entire group stage, you have to pay four months’ salary. “You have to pay,” he added.

He also emphasized, “With ticket prices being revealed, the World Cup fever is cooling down.”

‘BBC’ also included the voice of a Ghanaian fan. The average monthly salary in Ghana is only $254 (370,000 won).

A Ghanaian fan said, “Ghanaian soccer fans will have to cancel their plans to watch the World Cup. This is disappointing news for those who have saved up money to watch the World Cup. I feel angry about this. FIFA has taken away the opportunity for fans from a small country to represent their country.”

This anger is not limited to poor countries. Fans of England, a rich country and the ‘dead end of soccer,’ were also angry.

One British fan interviewed by the BBC raised his voice, saying, “This is my fifth World Cup. I have not missed a World Cup since 2014. I am in contact with British fans all over the country. We are planning to boycott the game. Football is dead.”

Another British fan complained, “I tried to watch the England national team match, but the ticket price is too expensive. The 2026 North and Central America World Cup will be a tournament that only a few people can enjoy, that is, the winners who have sponsors and the money to attend the big game. You can’t buy a ticket at this price.”

On the other hand, FIFA is smiling broadly. FIFA expressed satisfaction, saying, “More than 5 million ticket applications were received from 200 countries in the 24 hours since ticket applications began.”