FIFA prices World Cup seats out of reach for many fans
World Cup ticket prices have become an early tournament flashpoint before Belgium’s first Group G match in Seattle.
In 30 seconds
- AP reported group-stage tickets from $140 and final seats above $10,000 before the tournament opened.
- FIFA said it made 130,000 discounted $60 tickets available through national federations.
- Financial Times reporting found about 180,000 tickets listed on FIFA’s resale platform days before kick-off.
- FIFA’s match schedule places Belgium v Egypt in Seattle on 15 June, Belgium v Iran in Los Angeles and New Zealand v Belgium in Vancouver.
How we got here
- 2025-09-03
FIFA’s 2026 ticket launch drew attention because initial prices started at $60 and demand-based pricing was expected.
- 2026-06-11
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened in Mexico City.
- 2026-06-13
Fan complaints over high World Cup ticket costs became a wider early-tournament storyline.
- 2026-06-15
Belgium are scheduled to open Group G against Egypt in Seattle.
FIFA (the Zurich-based world football governing body, founded in 1904) runs the World Cup and controls ticketing policy for the tournament. FIFA World Cup 2026 (the expanded men’s tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July 2026) is the first edition with 48 teams and 104 matches, according to FIFA’s competition material. Gianni Infantino (FIFA president since 2016) is the executive publicly defending the pricing model. Belgium’s Red Devils (the men’s national football team governed by the Royal Belgian FA) are in Group G. Seattle Stadium, known outside FIFA branding as Lumen Field (NFL and MLS venue in Seattle opened in 2002), hosts Belgium v Egypt on 15 June. SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California stadium opened in 2020) hosts Belgium v Iran. BC Place (Vancouver stadium opened in 1983 and renovated in 2011) hosts New Zealand v Belgium.
Background
World Cup ticket affordability has been contested before, but the 2026 edition is different in scale and market setting. FIFA’s published tournament format expanded the competition from 32 to 48 teams and from 64 to 104 matches, creating far more inventory than Qatar 2022. Earlier reporting on FIFA’s sales launch said initial prices started at $60 and ran to $6,730 for the highest final category, already above many 2022 comparisons. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States offered a recent precedent: demand-based pricing met uneven demand, then prices shifted as FIFA tried to fill stadiums.
Why now
The issue is timely because the World Cup has started and fans are now comparing actual paid prices, resale listings and visible stadium attendance with FIFA’s pre-tournament defence of its pricing strategy.
What happens next
Watch Belgium’s 15 June opener in Seattle for Belgian fan turnout, early resale-price movement for Group G matches and any further FIFA or national-federation releases of discounted ticket inventory.
What to do
Belgian fans still seeking tickets should compare official FIFA listings with any Royal Belgian FA allocation information and factor in exchange rates, travel and accommodation before buying. For most households, the practical World Cup plan may be domestic viewing rather than late transatlantic travel.
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