As the excitement for the World Cup builds, fans in California are experiencing a jarring reality check with soaring ticket prices at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. For many, the cost of attending these matches is becoming unattainable.
On June 12, the United States will face Paraguay in Los Angeles, and the least expensive ticket available is priced at over $1,100. Some tickets for this initial U.S. match are listed as high as $4,000, starkly illustrating the financial barrier for fans eager to witness the event in person.
Looking at the tournament as a whole, the trend is even more pronounced. Tickets for the 2026 World Cup final are averaging a staggering $13,000. This price tag is more than eight times the highest face-value price of the last championship, heightening fears that the tournament is becoming a luxury few can afford.
FIFA has tried to counter these concerns by offering a limited number of low-cost tickets, starting at $60. However, reports suggest that these tickets make up less than 2% of the total available, leading many to argue that the promise of affordable options is largely superficial.
Tickets for the 2026 World Cup final are averaging nearly $13,000, which is more than eight times the top face-value price of the previous championship, fueling concerns that the event is becoming inaccessible to average supporters.
FIFA has pointed to a small batch of low-cost tickets starting at $60, but data indicates fewer than 2% of total tickets were released at that price level, fueling accusations that affordable seats are largely symbolic.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the pricing model, saying the organization is operating within market realities.
“We have to look at the market. We are in a market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world, so we have to apply market rates,” he said Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills.
“In the US it is permitted to resell tickets, as well, so if you were to sell tickets at the price which is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price. And as a matter of fact, even though some people are saying that the ticket prices we have are high, they still end up on the resale market at an even higher price, more than double of our price.”
He added, “You cannot go to watch in the US a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300.”
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
FIFA says it does not control prices on its official Resale/Exchange Marketplace but collects a 15 percent fee from both buyers and sellers on each transaction.
Despite that, resale listings have already reached extreme levels, including one ticket for the final posted at $2,299,998.85.
The controversy has also reached Washington.
US Reps. Frank Pallone and Nellie Pou, both New Jersey Democrats, sent a letter to Infantino demanding answers by May 22 about FIFA’s pricing system, ticket availability, and whether supply is being limited to influence demand.
They accused FIFA of manipulating scarcity.
“FIFA also appears to be restricting ticket supply to shape demand,” they wrote. “Tickets are reportedly being held back for matches, creating the appearance of limited availability even when large numbers remain unsold. This pressures fans to purchase quickly while allowing FIFA to control pricing through staggered releases.”
Beyond ticket prices, fans attending matches in Southern California are also facing high hotel and transportation costs, further increasing the total expense of attending the tournament.
Even the US President has weighed in.
“I did not know that number,” President Trump told The Post. “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”
