World Cup Ticket Prices Slip Below $100 as Demand Falters

Resale listings on Monday showed a Jordan-Algeria group-stage ticket in San Francisco for $98, the first World Cup ticket under $100. The average cheapest group-stage ticket on secondary markets is $559, reflecting a broader decline as the tournament nears.

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, has been priced at premium levels. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described anticipated interest as “1,000 years of World Cups at once.” Baseline tickets have drawn criticism, including a reported $1,000 price for the U.S. men’s opening match against Paraguay.

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TicketData reported an average “get-in” price of $2,312 for Colombia’s group matches versus $202 for South Africa’s. Over the past 30 days, resale prices fell up to 22 percent, with a 9 percent drop in the last two weeks. The $98 Jordan-Algeria ticket marks the lowest price point.

Newsweek

FIFA has not commented. The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) called for a “welcoming and seamless experience for international travelers” to fill stadiums. The State Department waived the $15,000 visa-deposit for ticket-holding visitors from 50 countries. Hotel forecasts were trimmed: the New York City Hotel Association now expects a 25-50-basis-point RevPAR lift, down from 75-100 points.

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Ticket-talk host Scott Friedman called the pricing a “complete disaster” and warned of forced cuts across all 104 games. Former President Donald Trump said, “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either.” Hotel owners noted that about 80 percent of bookings in U.S. host markets are “tracking below initial forecasts.”

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• “FIFA priced tickets too high for all 104 games, complete disaster, and they will be forced to drop them all greatly in next 30+ days. A terrible overall ticketing distribution execution for the world’s biggest sporting tournament,” — Scott Friedman, Ticket Talk host

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• “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn't pay it either, to be honest with you,” — Donald Trump, former U.S. President

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• “We expect the stadiums will be full, but to fully realize the opportunity, the U.S. and FIFA must ensure a welcoming and seamless experience for international travelers,” — AHLA spokesperson

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• “1,000 years of World Cups at once” — Gianni Infantino, FIFA President

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Sources provide divergent price points: while the average “get-in” price for Colombia matches exceeds $2,300, the lowest resale ticket is $98. No official FIFA response to the market decline has been obtained, leaving uncertainty about forthcoming pricing adjustments.

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Analysts expect further reductions in secondary-market prices as the tournament nears, especially if hotel occupancy and travel demand remain subdued. FIFA’s pricing strategy will likely be reassessed in the next 30 days, with the possibility of broader discounts across all matches.

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