FIFA Is Accused Of Using Deceptive Tactics to Inflate World Cup 2026 Ticket Prices
Recently, FIFA launched a “last-minute” ticket sale on a first-come, first-served basis. They emphasized that this sale was the “final chance” for fans to watch exciting matches at the 2026 World Cup. However, many major newspapers have questioned this move.
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Artificial Scarcity?
FIFA’s move is bolstered by earlier statements from President Gianni Infantino. In February, he said: “All the matches are sold out.” This statement, along with FIFA’s campaigns, fueled fans’ desperate search for what they perceived as rare remaining tickets for the finals.
However, contrary to predictions of a fierce ticket hunt, the current supply remains abundant. Publications such as Sport Mail, AOL, the New York Times, and Yahoo Sports all confirm that many matches still have plenty of tickets available.
A recent survey by Seton Hall University supports this observation. The results show that the percentage of fans intending to buy tickets has decreased from 40% in October last year to 30% in April this year. Interest (only among those surveyed who admitted to being passionate about sports) has decreased from 21% to 16%.
These figures completely contradict FIFA’s statements. According to AOL’s statistics, more than 50 group stage matches still have a large number of tickets available. “The question is whether FIFA is being overly confident in the tournament’s appeal and forgetting about fans’ ability to pay?”, the American publication commented.
Ticket Prices Are The Main Barrier
The primary reason for the large number of empty seats is the exorbitant price. For example, to watch defending champions Argentina play Algeria in Kansas City on June 16th, you have to spend at least $770 (over 20 million VND for the cheapest ticket). The England vs. Croatia match has similar prices.
The Brazil vs. Morocco match has a surplus of tickets in the upper stands at the highest prices: from $1,265. The Germany vs. Curacao match is more affordable (approximately 10 million VND) but still has many empty seats.
Even the hosts are feeling the pinch. The US opening match against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium still has over 5,000 unsold tickets at the lowest price of $1,120. The US vs. Australia match in Seattle shares the same fate, although ticket prices have been slightly reduced to $906.
To put it mildly, the home team’s matches are experiencing low ticket sales. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, soccer is still not the number one sport in the United States. Secondly, two of the group stage matches were played in Los Angeles, a city with a large immigrant fan base. These fans are more likely to support their home teams in South America, Asia, or Europe than the US.
Opening Match At The Azteca “Sacred Ground” Between Mexico and South Africa
In Mexico, the opening match at the Azteca Stadium between Mexico and South Africa still has over 1,000 seats available. However, the organizers are adamant about not lowering ticket prices, maintaining them at an astronomical $3,000.
It’s not just football tickets; the service industry is also in a frenzy. A report from the American Hotel Association shows that 80% of hotel owners in host cities are experiencing significantly lower bookings than expected. The number of bookings for the 2026 World Cup also reflects, to some extent, the demand for tickets.
With only 35 days left until the World Cup opening ceremony, despite President Infantino boasting about a demand of 500 million tickets for 7 million slots, the harsh reality on the FIFA website proves otherwise. Could the 2026 World Cup be facing the risk of becoming a tournament exclusively for the elite, instead of a celebration for all football fans?
