FIFA President Discusses Ticket Resale Concerns for 2026 World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated that many fans who secured tickets for the 2026 World Cup are likely to attempt to resell them at a profit on secondary markets. This trend is expected to significantly raise ticket prices for the upcoming tournament set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Infantino noted the extraordinary demand for tickets, which has necessitated a lottery system for allocation. He acknowledged that resale prices are likely to exceed original costs, warning fans of the potential for inflated ticket prices on resale platforms.

Currently, on FIFA’s dedicated resale marketplace, tickets for the final match are being listed at prices as high as $230,000. While FIFA does not directly handle ticket resales or set prices on its platform, it does benefit by taking a 30% commission from each sale.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Infantino remarked that in the United States, it is legally permissible to resell tickets, thus necessitating the acceptance of this reality. He assured that all 104 matches of the World Cup would sell out, predicting that tickets obtained through the lottery system would be resold at even higher prices—a phenomenon that reflects the immense popularity of the event.

Infantino pointed out that, over nearly a century of World Cup history, FIFA has sold approximately 50 million tickets. However, for the upcoming World Cup, ticket requests have surged to the equivalent of 1,000 years’ worth of tickets within just four weeks of sales. This unprecedented demand is remarkable.

This situation may lead to many disappointed fans turning to resale sites, where tickets are often priced significantly above their original value. Many fans have expressed outrage over FIFA’s pricing strategies, with ticket prices reaching up to $8,680. In response to criticism, FIFA announced it would provide a limited number of tickets priced at $60 for each of the 48 participating national federations.

The secondary market is well-established in the U.S., with tickets frequently being sold for much higher prices than their original values. For example, tickets listed for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 have a list price of $8,680, but dynamic pricing could change that. On FIFA’s marketplace, the lowest listed price for a similar ticket was $16,000—almost double the original price.

A fan advocacy group, Football Supporters Europe, has accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” regarding its pricing practices and resale system. Executive Director Ronan Evain noted that a significant number of tickets listed on the resale platform appear to be solely for profit.

FIFA maintains that its resale platform offers fans a secure method to resell tickets. In contrast to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where FIFA imposed lower resale fees and regulated ticket prices, this year’s model allows sellers to set their own prices.

In a statement, FIFA explained that the current approach reflects the legal frameworks governing the secondary ticket market in the U.S. and Canada, differing significantly from other regions.

Infantino defended FIFA’s pricing model as a reflection of market practices for major entertainment events. Despite facing criticism, particularly from fans in Germany and England, ticket requests indicate a strong interest from American fans, followed closely by those from Germany and England.