FIFA World Cup Final: Tickets listed on official resale platform for up to $2.3 million

Price Structure and FIFA's Share

The fact that the highest prices are being asked precisely for seats in the upper tier of the main stand is adding to the controversy. Some of these seats are in the upper tier of the main stand – you can hardly get any further from the pitch. The distance from the action on the field is therefore particularly great, while the price is particularly high.

For comparison: at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the most expensive ticket for the final had cost around $1,600, the top price was still a fraction of the current range. The difference illustrates just how far the secondary market has overshot the original category prices at this tournament.

Reaction from Washington

The issue is also drawing political attention. US President Donald Trump commented on the prices, saying: «Ich würde das nicht bezahlen, um ehrlich zu sein.» He thereby directly addressed the scale of the sums being asked.

The final between European champions Spain and defending champions Argentina is scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. FIFA has already closed sales of the original tickets; the secondary market remains the only official way to still get a ticket.

Open Platform, High Margins

The platform's design is deliberately open: sellers set the price themselves, with no binding cap. This makes the FIFA model different from that of many other major event organizers, which use price ceilings or lottery systems on their resale platforms.

From the association's perspective, the business is lucrative: on every sale, money flows to FIFA from both sides, without the association having to produce additional tickets itself or handle extra logistics. The gap between original price and secondary market price makes the model especially profitable for the world body.

At the same time, it remains unclear whether the extremely high listings will actually be traded. In the past, peak prices on such platforms have been listed that were better understood as tests or speculation rather than realistic offers for sale. Whether a buyer will actually pay $2.3 million for an upper-tier seat is currently unclear.

What is certain: for fans still looking for a ticket shortly before the final, entering the official secondary market comes with costs that are many times higher than the original ticket price. The cheapest ticket costs around $7,200 – already several times more than the most expensive original category.

The reporting on prices comes at a time when FIFA is already under criticism over the awarding and marketing of the tournament. The secondary market prices are intensifying the debate over the accessibility of major events for the fan base.

sid, 17.7.2026