World Cup ticket prices rise again after draw; What each match costs to attend
FIFA has increased ticket prices for most 2026 World Cup games, with some standard group-stage tickets now listed at $700 and a lower-level ticket to the World Cup final priced at $8,680 — about $2,000 more than its October starting point.
These prices, offered to fans during a lottery phase that opened Thursday, mark FIFA’s broad deployment of its variable pricing approach. After the 2026 World Cup draw and schedule reveal, FIFA can now sell tickets to specific matchups and adjust prices based on anticipated demand for each game.
Category 1 prices have risen for many high-profile matchups; for example, England vs. Croatia and Scotland vs. Brazil now cost $700. In total, Category 1 prices increased for 80 of the 104 matches (in some cases by as much as 71%), while 11 matches saw price reductions, according to data tracked by The Athletic.
The current prices will hold through January 13, the window during which fans apply for tickets. FIFA will then randomly select applicants, charge the listed price, and issue tickets in February. Others will receive rejection notices.
Prior to Thursday’s update, FIFA had sold nearly 2 million tickets across two early lottery phases. At that time, most matches were still TBD. In October, prices were set by round and location, and in November some prices were raised in response to strong demand.
December brought FIFA’s first real chance to reset prices according to how popular the participating teams might be. FIFA split the 72 group-stage matchups into four tiers. The priciest tier (Category 1) includes top matchups at $700; Category 2 at $500; Category 3 at $265. The next tier below features prices like $600/$430/$220, and the third tier $500/$400/$180. A fourth tier existed at $450/$380/$140, though tickets in that tier are scarce and largely unavailable in the current sales phase. A few MetLife Stadium games carry the same pricing as last month: $620/$465/$220.
Previously, outside co-hosts (the U.S., Mexico, Canada) and in regions like New York, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area, most group-stage tickets were priced at Category 1: $405–$445, Category 2: $300–$385, and Category 3: $140–$160. Category 4 tickets were as low as $60 but were extremely limited.
On Thursday, FIFA also opened ticketing for registered supporters of participating teams. After months of uncertainty, these supporters learned they would have access to tickets behind the goals, but those prices are typically higher than in past World Cups, aligning with the general market pricing.
The pricing has faced sharp criticism from organized supporter groups, who called it a monumental betrayal of World Cup traditions. FIFA has defended the move as aligning with North American market practices and argues that revenue from the World Cup supports growth across FIFA’s 211 member associations.
Key price highlights include: Argentina, Portugal, and Brazil all seeing Category 1 tickets rise to $700; Category 2 at $500; Category 3 at $265. Some high-profile games in California and other venues saw reduced prices for less marquee matchups. In knockout rounds, prices also increased across the board, with final tickets rising to $8,680 for Category 1, $5,575 for Category 2, and $4,185 for Category 3.
A full listing of prices for all 104 matches is provided in the official rollout. The current lottery phase runs through January 13, after which tickets are allocated or released in a spring first-come, first-served phase. The details and process are outlined in The Athletic’s World Cup ticketing guide.
Do you think this tiered, demand-driven pricing will boost overall attendance and fairness, or does it risk pricing out casual fans? Share your thoughts in the comments.
