June 9, 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is held every four years and will take place in Canada, the United States, and Mexico this time, kicks off on June 11. However, ticket prices have been skyrocketing to unprecedented levels.

This is because FIFA set record-high prices for the tournament and created a profit-driven system with no checks and balances.

The minimum price for the lowest tier of tickets for every match was supposedly around 9,600 yen (60 USD), but these tickets accounted for only 1.6% of the total supply. Furthermore, many people claim that those tickets were effectively sold out before they even went on general sale. In other words, they were “decoy tickets” which were incredibly hard to secure.

Actual available group-stage tickets start at tens of thousands of yen. Prices for the final match are now reaching over 670,000 yen, seven times the cost of a ticket for the 2022 tournament.

In addition, FIFA has introduced schemes to drive prices even higher.

One such scheme is dynamic pricing, whereby prices vary based on demand, pushing up ticket prices for popular matches and the final match far beyond initial projections. Some ticket prices are reportedly increasing by as much as 30%.

Another scheme involves offering an official resale marketplace. Previously, tickets had to be sold at the official price, but with this scheme, sellers can set their own prices. Consequently, prices are skyrocketing with no upper limit. It is as if FIFA is officially endorsing “scalping”.

FIFA has been reaping the profits from its own resale and exchange marketplace. It collects transaction fees of 15% from both buyers and sellers, pocketing 30% of the final sale price.

FIFA has been tainted by greed, the ever-present poison of capitalism. It is depriving football fans of their right to watch the games. The fans are being sacrificed for profit.