FIFA Opens Final Ticket Sales Phase for 2026 World Cup Amid Growing Price Controversy

By Eppe Franklyne

The road to the 2026 World Cup reached a fever pitch on Wednesday as FIFA officially launched the fourth and final “last-minute” ticket sales phase. This massive rollout involves well over three million tickets for the global showpiece set to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. Fans flooded the official website, FIFA.com/tickets, facing digital queues that lasted several hours for a chance to secure seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

With a total of 104 matches featuring 48 teams, this tournament is expected to shatter the all-time attendance record of 3.5 million set during the 1994 edition. However, the excitement is being overshadowed by a brewing legal battle. Groups like Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and Euroconsumers recently filed a formal complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of abusing its market dominance through “opaque and unfair” pricing. Critics argue that despite promises of affordability, ticket costs have reached exorbitant levels, largely ignoring the average fan.

In response to the backlash, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the pricing, citing “crazy” global demand as the primary driver. While a $60 ticket category was introduced for official supporters’ clubs in December, many fans claim these were sold out before the general public even had a fair chance. Adding to the tension, FIFA’s official resale platform is set to reopen this Thursday. In the U.S. and Canada, the governing body allows a “fan-to-fan market” where sellers set their own prices, whereas Mexican law strictly prohibits reselling tickets above their original face value.

Despite the friction over costs, the demand remains unprecedented. As the countdown to the opening match in June continues, FIFA expects to sell out nearly every seat across the 16 host stadiums, cementing this as the largest sporting event in history.

Do you believe FIFA should be legally required to cap resale prices globally to ensure the World Cup remains accessible to true fans?

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