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Mexico Hosts South Korea June 2026; Tickets On Sale

5/21/2026

Summary

Mexico Hosts Korea

Mexico will host South Korea at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on June 18, 2026.
Tickets have been on FIFA.com since September 2025, with the Last-Minute phase starting April 1, 2026.
The FIFA Resale Marketplace reopened on April 2, 2026, staying open until one hour before kickoff, offering ticket categories from Category 4 to Category 1 priced $75–$2,735.
Estadio Akron seats 48,000, with Mexico unbeaten at home since October 2018 (22 matches).

Summary

U.S. Stadiums Empty

Thousands of empty seats remain in U.S. stadiums weeks before the World Cup.
Resale listings fell to $98 for the Jordan-Algeria match and $140 for Paraguay-Australia, the cheapest tickets.
Hotel surveys show 70 percent of properties in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle are under-booked.
Airfare CPI rose 20.7 percent, with fares $350 to New York and $400 to Los Angeles.
A first-class New York-Los Angeles seat for the U.S.–Paraguay match costs 22,000 miles or $1,200 cash.

Summary

Infantino Ticket Surge

FIFA President Gianni Infantino told the Vancouver Congress that 500 million ticket requests have been received for the 2026 World Cup and that 100 percent of inventory—about 90 percent of supply—has been sold.
Infantino noted criticism that ticket prices are higher than those in the original bidding document and exceed tournament prices.
He said the last-minute sales phase is open, offering tickets on a first-come, first-served basis while including expensive and affordable options.

History

Historical Context

The 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, held in 1994, generated $2 billion in tourism revenue and sold 3.5 million tickets. Organizers, led by USSF President Alan Rothenberg, priced average tickets at $125, while the 1998 French bid projected $150 average costs. Similarly, 2026 ticket requests have topped 500 million, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s resale marketplace offering categories from $75 to $2,735 and venues reporting empty seats. The 1994 experience taught organizers that inflated pricing can depress attendance, prompting 2026 officials to balance premium options with affordable tiers to sustain stadium occupancy.

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Mexico Hosts Korea

Mexico will host South Korea at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on June 18, 2026.
Tickets have been on FIFA.com since September 2025, with the Last-Minute phase starting April 1, 2026.
The FIFA Resale Marketplace reopened on April 2, 2026, staying open until one hour before kickoff, offering ticket categories from Category 4 to Category 1 priced $75–$2,735.
Estadio Akron seats 48,000, with Mexico unbeaten at home since October 2018 (22 matches).

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