World Cup final on track to be most expensive sporting event ever
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- FIFA initially set extremely high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup final, with upper-deck seats costing up to $4,210 and premium seats reaching $10,990, sparking global outrage.
- On the secondary market, resale prices have surged, with the average ticket price on SeatGeek reaching $12,751, surpassing the 2024 Super Bowl’s previous record of $10,540, making it potentially the most expensive sporting event ever.
- The World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, which has a larger capacity than venues for the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, sees resale prices around $7,600 for the cheapest tickets, significantly higher than other major sporting events post-pandemic.
- Demand is driven by factors such as Argentina’s presence in the final, likely Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, and the global nature of the event, with nearly 20% of tickets purchased by international buyers compared to 4.5% for the Super Bowl.
- Despite high prices, the 2026 World Cup has set attendance records with over 99% stadium capacity on average, and the final is expected to be a sellout with a global TV audience exceeding 1 billion viewers.
