FIFA's official resale platform is listing four tickets for the World Cup final at nearly £1.7 million, sparking debate over affordability and fairness. The seats, located behind a goal in the lower deck at MetLife Stadium for the 19 July showdown, are priced at just under $2.3 million (£1.71 million).
FIFA's Resale Model Under Scrutiny
FIFA does not control the asking prices on its marketplace but charges a 15% fee to both buyers and sellers. In a statement, the governing body defended its approach: 'FIFA has established a ticket sales and secondary market model that reflects standard practices for major sporting events across host countries. The applicable resale facilitation fees are aligned with industry standards in North American sports and entertainment sectors.'
'Our variable pricing ticketing approach aligns with industry trends, where price adaptations optimise sales and attendance while ensuring fair market value,' the statement added.
Price Variations Across Seats
Other listings on the site show stark disparities: an aisle seat in the lower deck is listed at $207,000 (£153,600), while a category two seat in the uppermost third deck's last row is priced at $138,000 (£102,400). Nearby, another seat carries an asking price of $23,000 (£17,000). The cheapest available tickets for the final are just under $11,000 (£8,200) for four seats near the top of the upper deck behind a goal.
Infantino Defends Pricing
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the steep prices, emphasising that the World Cup is the organisation's primary revenue source. 'What many people don't know is that FIFA is a non-profit organisation. All revenue we generate is invested in organising the game across 211 countries worldwide,' Infantino said. 'Three-quarters of those countries would probably not have organised football without our grants. We always try to find the right balance.'
He added: 'The main, and so far only, revenue-generating event for FIFA is the World Cup.'
New Pricing Category Sparks Backlash
FIFA released another batch of tickets on Wednesday, including Categories 1, 2, and 3, alongside the newly introduced 'front category' pricing. This has drawn significant online criticism, with fans alleging that better seats in categories they had already purchased were withheld, leaving them with less desirable locations.
Additional reporting from AP.
