Football federations across multiple countries face rising costs for 2026 World Cup tickets in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as dynamic pricing drives up prices for families, guests and officials, according to reports from English media.
A report from The Guardian says several associations struggle to secure tickets for players’ families and entourage members. One official claims they requested hundreds of additional tickets and faced “astonishing” bills. Another executive estimates costs near $3,000 per ticket for family and guest allocations.
FIFA runs a four-phase ticket sales system covering October, December, January and April, plus a late sales window. Federations received their main allocation after the December draw in Washington, with prices rising after that point under what FIFA describes as an adaptive pricing model.
FIFA sources state average federation purchase prices sit well below the $3,000 figure cited by officials. They also argue the rules remained clear from the start and that early buyers avoided price increases. England’s football association secured its allocation in December, which protected it from later price rises.
The report also highlights financial pressure on smaller nations with limited budgets, despite additional support funding from FIFA for participating teams. That includes a rise in participation grants to $12.5 million and extra travel support funding for all 48 teams.
Donald Trump also questioned pricing after citing a $2,735 ticket for a Group One match, saying he would not pay that amount.
Secondary resale data shows some ticket prices dropping on external platforms, including StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats, across several fixtures in North America.
