Football enthusiasts expressed strong disapproval last evening when a ticket for the 2026 World Cup semi-final was listed for sale at a staggering £161,000 on an official FIFA resale platform.
Just prior to the highly anticipated tournament draw scheduled for Friday, fans were incensed by the revelation. Renowned England supporter Neal Weekes remarked, “These prices are absolutely outrageous.”
Weekes further criticized the situation, questioning how a ticket on an official FIFA resale site could be priced at over £160,000, calling it unacceptable and disgraceful. As excitement builds for the upcoming event, England and Scotland supporters eagerly await the draw to determine their teams’ matchups and venues in the US, Canada, and Mexico next summer.
Observers monitoring FIFA’s resale platform for ticket availability were taken aback by the exorbitant prices. FIFA, the governing body of world football, manages an official ticket resale platform to regulate the secondary market, imposing a 15% fee on both sellers and buyers.
Presently, a single Category 2 ticket for the tournament’s second semi-final in Atlanta on 15 July commands a hefty price tag of £161,000, excluding the additional ‘facilitation fee’ of £24,355, totaling a substantial £185,485.
Comparatively, the first semi-final in Dallas, taking place a day earlier, is offered at a total cost of £34,029. These prices surpass even those of the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, located near New York City.
Weekes raised concerns about FIFA potentially profiting £24,000 from both the buyer and seller if the ticket sells at such an exorbitant price, highlighting what he perceives as a fundamental issue in today’s football landscape. He acknowledged that the ticket may not ultimately sell for the listed price, but emphasized the troubling fact that such pricing is possible and openly available on a FIFA platform.
Notably, Weekes, a former non-league football player, aged 60, and a seasoned auctioneer from Greenwich, London, along with his friend Fil Sollof, a 60-year-old property services owner from Loughton, Essex, are planning to attend their seventh World Cup together.
During their visit to Qatar, the duo explored all eight stadiums in and around the capital Doha. With FIFA shocking fans by setting ticket prices on the primary market ranging from £45.37 in the group phase to £4,817 for the final, it is evident that football enthusiasts will need to allocate substantial funds to witness World Cup matches next year.
Featuring 48 teams for the first time, the tournament is scheduled for June and July next year. In addition to England and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could potentially join the summer event through play-off games. The draw, set to take place in Washington DC, will commence at 5pm UK time on Friday, with the anticipated attendance of US President Donald Trump.
England and Scotland may find themselves pitted against first-time finalists such as Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Jordan, or Curacao. Ticket prices for the 2026 final range from £1,535 for the cheapest option to £5,089 for the most expensive.
In contrast, during the Qatar World Cup, a Category 1 ticket for the final match was sold for £1,214, promising fans a compelling and value-for-money experience.
The thrilling encounter between Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, culminating in a 3–3 draw before the Argentinians emerged victorious from the penalty shootout, captivated fans. FIFA has been approached for comment regarding the ticket pricing.