The build-up to the 2026 World Cup was dominated by the price of tickets. No shortage of football fans were put off by the prohibitively expensive tickets for the North American World Cup.

And yet, we are nearly two weeks into the tournament and ticket prices on the FIFA resale market and secondary sites continue to go up.

Perhaps it is time to recognise that FIFA actually priced this World Cup accurately for the North American market? And to also consider the consequences of this for future soccer tournaments and indeed European club football.

The World Cup Kicks Off and Ticket Prices Surge

Ever since Mexico beat South Africa in the opening game of the 2026 World Cup, ticket prices have surged.

According to SeatPick data, tracking the secondary market of reliable resale sites, the average get-in price on June 10, 2026, the day before the World Cup started, was $686.

At the time of writing, 13 days later, following nearly two weeks of epic World Cup action, the starting price for tickets on SeatPick for World Cup matches now stands at $1,590.

The average price for a World Cup ticket on the secondary market has also sky-rocketed. From $1,490 on June 10 to $3,394 on June 23.

Data by SeatPick

The Top 10 Most Expensive World Cup 2026 Games Remaining

With the group stage entering its final stretch and the knockout rounds just days away, here is where the biggest money is being spent right now on SeatPick.

Date	Match + Venue	Starting Price ($)
Jul 19	World Cup Final — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey	$8,590
Jul 14	Semi-Final (Match 101) — AT&T Stadium, Arlington	$3,439
Jul 15	Semi-Final (Match 102) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta	$3,436
Jul 11	Quarter-Final (Match 99) — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami	$2,990
Jul 10	Quarter-Final (Match 98) — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles	$2,842
Jul 11	Quarter-Final (Match 100) — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City	$2,741
Jun 27	Colombia vs Portugal — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami	$2,652
Jul 3	Round of 32 (Match 86) — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami	$2,483
Jul 9	Quarter-Final (Match 97) — Gillette Stadium, Boston	$2,411
Jun 24	Brazil vs Scotland — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami	$1,803

Resale pricing sourced from SeatPick listings on June 23, 2026. Prices change frequently, so always check the site for up-to-date availability.

Browse World Cup 2026 Final Tickets →

What Has Driven the Demand for World Cup 2026 Tickets?

Host Country Success: Mexico and USA started with wins and also claimed victories in their second matches too. Canada thrashed Qatar in their second match. Successful hosts can shape an entire tournament. This one has three winning host teams.

The stars have arrived: Every day a global football superstar lights up the tournament. Leo Messi has delivered two stunning performances in Argentina's opening matches, scoring five goals. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have four goals each. Harry Kane starred for England. Lamine Yamal and Mo Salah have also shown their quality.

The expanded tournament has helped drive interest: More games. More football. This could have been problematic for the World Cup but instead it has delivered goals for the stars and still some underdog teams to get behind.

Cape Verde's two draws versus Spain and Uruguay delivered a massive storyline for the tournament. Similarly, Curacao's 0-0 draw with Ecuador also produced a David vs Goliath result.

Do Americans Now Love Soccer? The 1994 World Cup was supposed to ensure soccer would be a high-profile sport in the USA. It made a dent but 32 years on we might be witnessing a true cultural shift. Americans are flocking to the World Cup.

The first 36 matches of World Cup 2026 attracted a total of 2,307,947 spectators. The average attendance stands at 64,100 per match, with stadium occupancy at 99.54% of total capacity, despite empty seats often being visible during television broadcasts.

Americans are willing to pay a higher premium for sports. This remains true for the truly biggest events in NFL, NBA and MLB. FIFA were criticised for their World Cup ticket prices for months before the tournament but they may have nailed the pricing for an American market that is being served some high-class soccer.

The Football Always Wins Out: The build-up to every sports tournament is dominated by issues. Once the first whistle is blown, focus shifts to the action. And World Cup 2026 has been excellent. The officiating has been good. The ball is true. And there have been some fine matches.

The 2026 World Cup became the fastest edition of the tournament to hit 100 goals since 1958, with the landmark reached in only the 33rd game. Matches such as England 4-2 Croatia, Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde and Norway 3-2 Senegal will live long in the memory.

If FIFA Got World Cup 2026 Ticket Prices Correct, Then What Comes Next?

In the final days of the World Cup, Gianni Infantino will proudly proclaim that this tournament was the most financially successful of all time. You only need to go to a single match to see fans queuing up for FIFA merchandise during the actual matches to know this is coming.

FIFA will argue that all the money raised due to high ticket prices supports the grassroots of the game, but there is little doubt that plenty are being priced out too.

Infantino and FIFA will do their very best to get the World Cup back to America. The stadiums are plentiful, the game is growing massively in the USA and high ticket prices for sports are common. We may even see FIFA shoehorn the 2038 World Cup back to America after this gigantic success.

We can also expect more Americans to flood to soccer games. It may be to watch Leo Messi at Inter Miami. Or it could be to see their favourite Premier League and La Liga teams. Every World Cup increases the global football fanbase. The 2026 edition may be doing this at an unprecedented rate.

Browse World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Tickets →

World Cup 2026 vs Euro 2028: The Affordability Gap

Before the World Cup started, UEFA confirmed that Euro 2028 would be much more affordable for supporters. UEFA's resale site for the Euros will be face value, unlike at the World Cup where the seller and FIFA split a 30% cut of 15% each. UEFA also confirmed there will be no dynamic pricing.

Perhaps UEFA will continue to provide affordable tickets, or maybe they will see the money flowing into FIFA and change course? Certainly, the knockout rounds of this World Cup could inform how UEFA approaches pricing for future tournaments, including the Champions League final.

Six years on from a global pandemic where many sporting events were played in front of zero fans, we now might have hit the peak in terms of ticket demand. Or perhaps we are just at the start? Demand to see the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Leo Messi and Harry Kane after this World Cup is hardly going to diminish.

FIFA have set the bar high in terms of ticket prices. The cheapest of 350 available tickets for the World Cup final currently sits at $13,225 on the FIFA website. On SeatPick, you can get in for less than $9,000.

SeatPick has established itself as a platform to find the best-value football tickets. If FIFA did get the prices right for World Cup 2026, and all available evidence points to this, then secondary market bargains are going to be even more valuable in the coming years.

Browse MetLife Stadium Tickets →

World Cup 2026 Ticket Pricing: Frequently Asked Questions

How much are World Cup 2026 tickets on the secondary market right now?

As of June 23, 2026, the starting price for World Cup 2026 tickets on SeatPick's secondary market is $1,590. The average price across all remaining matches stands at $3,394. Prices vary significantly by round, with the semi-finals starting from over $3,000 and the Final from $7,535.

Why have World Cup 2026 ticket prices gone up since the tournament started?

Demand has been driven by strong performances from all three host nations, USA, Mexico and Canada, combined with star players delivering at their best. Leo Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have all hit the ground running. The tournament's expansion to 48 teams has also created more compelling fixtures and a longer window of interest.

Is SeatPick cheaper than buying World Cup tickets directly from FIFA?

Yes. For the World Cup Final, the cheapest ticket listed on the FIFA resale platform is $13,225. On SeatPick, which aggregates listings from trusted resellers across the secondary market, the same match starts from under $9,000. SeatPick compares options across multiple sellers so fans can find the best available price in one place.

Which World Cup 2026 game is the most expensive remaining?

The World Cup 2026 Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19 is by far the most expensive remaining fixture, with tickets starting from $8,590 on SeatPick. The two semi-finals follow closely, with starting prices of $3,439 and $3,436 respectively.

Data by SeatPick