World Cup Tickets Still Available, Prices Skyrocket

Less than a month before the tournament begins on June 11, tickets for most group matches of the 2026 World Cup are still available. However, these tickets are being sold at increasingly high prices, reaching up to 2,000 dollars (Rp 34 million). FIFA continues to defend itself despite the high ticket prices being a point of concern for football supporter groups.

As of Saturday (2/5/2026), World Cup tickets are still available on the official FIFA website under the "last-minute sales" section. This sale is part of the fourth and final phase, which opened on April 1 and will continue until just before the end of the tournament. FIFA had previously released ticket sales in various phases since September 2025.

However, the cheapest price for the tickets is 380 dollars (Rp 6.5 million) for seven matches. One of the tickets is for the match between World Cup debutant Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, United States.

Although there are only a few tickets left for some matches, fans who are willing and able to pay can still watch the games of major countries, such as the defending champion Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France, and England. Tickets for Argentina, featuring Lionel Messi, for instance, range from 2,475 to 2,925 dollars (Rp 42.9 million - 50.7 million).

Ticket prices actually vary depending on the category, with Category 1 (front stands) being the most expensive and Category 4 the cheapest. However, Category 3 tickets for the match between the United States and Paraguay are listed at 1,120 dollars (Rp 19 million), which is more expensive compared to Category 2 tickets for the match between Austria and Jordan, priced at 380 dollars (Rp 6.5 million).

The match between Argentina and Austria ($2,925 or Rp 50.7 million), Ecuador vs. Germany ($2,550 or Rp 44.2 million), Uruguay vs. Spain ($2,520 or Rp 43.6 million), and England vs. Croatia (Rp 43.4 million) are also among the most expensive. Meanwhile, tickets for the semifinals range from $9,660 (Rp 167.4 million) to $11,130 (Rp 192 million).

Nevertheless, the price may change as FIFA implements dynamic ticket pricing for the World Cup. This is the first time FIFA has adopted this policy.

In January 2026, FIFA President Gianno Infantino stated that the demand for tickets for this World Cup is akin to the demand for 1,000 years of World Cups combined. Therefore, Infantino is confident that tickets for the total of 104 World Cup matches being held this year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be sold out.

According to the official FIFA website, tickets that have been sold out are for 17 matches in the group stage. The opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City has also been completely sold out.

Seven matches held in Mexico have also been sold out, including two additional home matches against South Korea in Guadalajara and the Czech Republic in Mexico City. Turkey versus the United States in Los Angeles, Brazil versus Morocco in New York/New Jersey, and Scotland versus Brazil in Miami are among other matches that have also sold out.

However, the higher ticket prices leading up to the tournament have further fueled the anger of supporter groups. Many tickets still available to the public are for the more expensive categories.

Tickets are also available through resale platforms. FIFA does not resell tickets or set prices on the platforms, but can profit secondarily by taking a 30 percent cut of each sale.

Previously, football supporter groups accused FIFA of betrayal regarding the exorbitant ticket prices. The European supporter organization, Football Supporters Europe (FSE), described the current World Cup tickets as extremely expensive.

"This is a great betrayal of the World Cup tradition, disregarding the contributions of supporters to the event," wrote FSE in its statement in December 2025.

However, FIFA continues to defend the ticket prices for the World Cup. The global football governing body has repeatedly justified its pricing strategy.

"There are indeed expensive tickets and there are also affordable tickets," said Infantino while speaking at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Thursday (30/4/2026).

"And what is important is that all the revenue we generate from around the world returns to you, returns to the entire world, and funds football in all your countries," he stated. (AP)