The excitement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—has just been dialed up a notch. After months of speculation, the first ticket lottery gave lucky fans a peek at the official pricing, and the numbers range from surprisingly affordable to jaw-dropping.
Unlike previous editions, tickets for this World Cup are not sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans have to enter raffles, and if selected, they earn the right to purchase seats. That makes the process both thrilling and stressful, especially when the price tags come into play.
For the group stage, the cheapest available seats start at just $60 USD. However, these bargain tickets are limited in number and mostly apply to games without a host nation. Once you step into matches involving the United States, Canada, or Mexico, the cost skyrockets.
For example, the USA’s opener in Los Angeles features tickets that go as high as $2,735 USD, a staggering fee for a group-stage game. Even matches without host nations but set in major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New Jersey come at a premium. A Category 1 ticket for such games sits around $620 USD.
As the tournament progresses, prices rise predictably. For last-16 and round-of-32 fixtures, the prices remain relatively steady compared to group matches. But starting with the quarter-finals, the numbers jump significantly. In Los Angeles, quarter-final seats begin at $410 USD and stretch up to $1,690 USD.
The semi-finals, scheduled in Dallas and Atlanta, command between $420 USD on the low end and $2,780 USD at the top tier.
When it comes to the grand finale at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, FIFA has set some of the steepest ticket prices in tournament history. Here’s the breakdown:
- Category 4: Starting at $2,030 USD
- Category 3: About $2,790 USD
- Category 2: Around $4,210 USD
- Category 1 (best seats): A massive $6,370 USD
For comparison, the cheapest final ticket is more than thirty times the cost of the lowest-priced group-stage seat. These figures don’t even factor in travel and accommodation, which will push fans’ expenses much higher.
It’s also worth noting that the host nation factor plays a role throughout the tournament. If England, Brazil, or Argentina happen to face off against the United States, expect those tickets to become some of the hardest—and most expensive—to secure.
