Football supporters have reacted with fury after discovering a ticket for a 2026 World Cup semi-final being advertised for an astonishing £161,000 on FIFA's own official resale website.
Scandalous Prices on Official Platform
The revelation comes just days before the eagerly anticipated tournament draw on Friday, casting a shadow over the build-up. The ticket in question is a single Category 2 seat for the second semi-final in Atlanta on 15 July 2026. With FIFA's 15% 'facilitation fee' added, the total cost balloons to a staggering £185,485.
England superfan Neal Weekes, a 60-year-old auctioneer from Greenwich, London, did not mince his words. "These are just scandalous prices," he said. "How can a ticket on an official FIFA re-sale site be available for over £160,000? That’s wrong. It’s a disgrace."
He added, "And if it sells for that price FIFA will profit by £24,000 from the buyer and seller. This is what’s wrong with football today." Weekes plans to attend his seventh World Cup with friend Fil Sollof, 60, from Loughton, Essex.
Comparing the Cost: Semi-Finals Outprice the Final
In a bizarre pricing twist, the ticket for the Atlanta semi-final is currently listed at a far higher price than seats for the tournament's showpiece event. The first semi-final in Dallas is available for a total of £34,029, while tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey are priced lower still.
This follows initial shock from fans when FIFA announced primary market prices, which range from £45.37 for group games to £4,817 for the final. This marks a steep increase from the 2022 tournament in Qatar, where a top-category final ticket cost £1,214.
Specific opening matches are also commanding high prices. The US men's national team's first game in Los Angeles costs between £423 and £2,068, while Mexico's opener in Mexico City is slightly cheaper at £280 to £1,380.
Draw Anticipation Overshadowed by Price Row
The controversy erupts as fans from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland await Friday's draw in Washington DC (5pm UK time), where the group stage fixtures for the 48-team tournament will be decided. US President Donald Trump is expected to attend the ceremony.
Home nations could face first-time finalists such as Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Jordan, or Curacao. However, the excitement is being tempered by concerns over affordability for ordinary supporters wanting to travel to matches across the USA, Canada, and Mexico next summer.
FIFA operates the official resale platform to capture the secondary market, charging both sellers and buyers a 15% fee on each transaction. The governing body was approached for comment regarding the extraordinary ticket listing but has not yet responded.
