The World Cup is fast approaching. From June 11 to July 19, the United States, Canada and Mexico will host the 23rd edition of the World Cup, the first with 48 nations. An expanded competition which promises a spectacle of unprecedented scale.
But this edition also promises to be particularly costly for supporters, especially for the most prestigious matches. On Wednesday, Fifa reopened an official ticket resale platform, and the prices observed for the final quickly reached dizzying levels.
According to the Associated Press, four Category 1 seats for the July 19 match at MetLife Stadium are priced at nearly $2.3 million each, or approximately €1.97 million. These seats, located closest to the pitch, behind one of the goals, are among the most popular in the venue. Although Fifa does not set prices on this resale platform, it does charge commissions of 15% on both purchases and resales, which represents considerable gains on the highest transactions.
A surge in prices that fuels the anger of supporters
Ticket prices for the World Cup are constantly rising, creating discontent among fans. On Thursday, on the resale site, the cheapest ticket for the final cost 10,923 dollars (9,349 euros). During the last sales phase, at the beginning of April, the most expensive place reached 11,000 dollars (9,414 euros). During the first phase of sales, the amount to be paid to attend the last match of the competition went up to 6,730 dollars (5,760 euros).
The surge in prices is not new. On the secondary market, the cheapest ticket for the final now exceeds $10,000, while the first waves of sales already offered prices considered high by supporters. Beyond tickets, travel costs are also fueling the controversy, with significant increases on journeys to the stadium from New York.
