Football enthusiasts were up in arms last night following the sale of a ticket for the 2026 World Cup semi-final at a staggering price of £161,000 on an official FIFA resale platform. Just ahead of the tournament draw set for Friday, fans expressed their outrage at the revelation. Neal Weekes, a devoted England supporter, criticized the exorbitant prices, labeling them as scandalous and a disgrace.
As anticipation builds for the tournament draw, England and Scotland fans eagerly await to discover their teams’ fate and match locations in the upcoming event across the US, Canada, and Mexico. However, scrutiny on FIFA’s resale platform reveals shockingly high ticket prices. FIFA, the global football governing body, manages an official ticket resale platform aiming to regulate the secondary market, charging a 15% fee to both sellers and buyers.
A single Category 2 ticket for the second semi-final in Atlanta on 15 July is currently listed at £161,000, excluding a facilitation fee of £24,355, making the total cost a substantial £185,485. Surprisingly, prices for the first semi-final in Dallas a day earlier are even higher at a total of £34,029, surpassing the cost of the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium near New York City.
Weekes highlighted the potential profits FIFA stands to gain from such high-ticket sales, emphasizing the concerning trend in modern football. The upcoming 2026 World Cup, featuring 48 teams for the first time, is scheduled for June and July next year. As teams like Wales and Northern Ireland vie for spots through play-off games, the draw in Washington DC on Friday will unveil exciting possibilities for England and Scotland as they anticipate potential matchups against new finalists.
In contrast to previous World Cup ticket prices, fans face increased expenses for the upcoming event, with primary market prices ranging from £45.37 for group stage matches to £4,817 for the final. The highly anticipated tournament is expected to draw global attention, with renowned players like Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi set to deliver thrilling performances on the world stage.