Ticket prices, travel hurdles and Trump cast shadow over 2026 World Cup

Six months before the men's 2026 World Cup final, the match is due on 19 July in East Rutherford, New Jersey, capping six weeks of fixtures played across three countries, four time zones and 16 cities. Tickets have been expensive and in high demand: Fifa said more than 500 million requests were made in the most recent sales phase, following claims of 2m tickets sold in the second phase and 1m in the first.

Fifa is using dynamic pricing and operates its own resale platform, charging 15% processing fees; a Guardian analysis found final tickets rose by up to nine times versus 2022 after inflation adjustments. Mexico’s resale laws bar sales above the original price, and Fifa announced 1.6% of sellable tickets will remain at a $60 floor.

Fifa says its policies mirror North American practice and boost revenue for member associations to fund development, while critics say the approach is pricing out many fans. New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani submitted a petition to Fifa to lower prices, and some supporters’ groups have protested pricing for dedicated fans.

Travel presents further hurdles: cost, availability, immigration rules and local infrastructure may complicate getting to host countries, between cities and to stadiums.

Key Topics

Sports, Fifa, Donald Trump, Ticket Pricing, Metlife Stadium, Visa Policy