The gap between a costly tournament and an inaccessible one appears to be widening. Reported resale listings for early matches in Los Angeles, Canada and Mexico have reached about $7,000 per seat.
The report also cites a sharp rise in the most expensive final tickets:
For comparison, the highest-priced tickets for the 2022 World Cup final were reported at about $1,600. Even allowing for different ticket categories, the direction is clear: the tournament is moving further from the average travelling supporter.
The financial pressure does not stop at admission. A reported journey from Midtown Manhattan to matches in New Jersey was priced at $150, despite the route costing far less during previous tournaments.
That matters because World Cup attendance has traditionally depended on supporters moving between cities, often across borders and on tight budgets. When transport, accommodation and food are added to the ticket, the event becomes less a shared football experience and more a luxury trip.
The report also highlights a $79 charge to display a message on stadium screens, known as a “Super Shoutout”. Small extras can reinforce the wider impression that fans are being treated primarily as customers.
Football’s governing bodies have long relied on the World Cup’s emotional reach. But that reach weakens when ordinary supporters are priced out while premium products multiply around the stadium.
The next test will come as the tournament approaches and more tickets enter official and resale channels. Transparency, resale controls and affordable supporter allocations will determine whether the 2026 World Cup feels like a mass gathering-or a premium event watched by many, but attended by few.