The most expensive World Cup

Exactly one month before the start of the World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has had to respond to criticism over the high cost of tickets for the tournament. Average ticket prices have skyrocketed compared to the previous World Cup, despite the competition expanding from 32 to 48 teams, meaning more matches, more tickets, and, according to critics, lower overall quality.

Many fans appear to be discouraged by the cost. A ticket for the opening match involving the United States, one of the three host nations alongside Mexico and Canada, costs at least four times more than it did in Qatar. Matches featuring smaller teams are priced in the hundreds of euros, while tickets for the final start at $2,000.

In the United States, where consumers are more accustomed to the high prices associated with live events, ticket resale is legal, and many companies use dynamic pricing systems that adjust costs based on supply and demand. FIFA has adopted this model by releasing tickets in phases and progressively raising prices, forcing many fans to spend hundreds or even thousands of euros to attend a match, in addition to the high travel costs associated with moving around North America. FIFA has also launched an official resale platform that charges a total commission of 30% on each transaction: 15% from the seller and 15% from the buyer.

Against a political backdrop that discourages foreign travel to the United States, and amid rising costs linked to geopolitical tensions, as well as soaring flight and hotel prices, many European and South American fans are choosing to postpone their trip and wait for the 2030 World Cup instead.

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