A ticket to the World Cup final at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium costs more than many Americans earn in a year – officially priced at $32,970, with resale listings surpassing $2m. That eye-watering figure is just one symptom of a tournament that has generated unprecedented revenue for Fifa while leaving fans grappling with soaring costs.
The world football governing body is set to top the record $7.6bn it made from Qatar 2022, fuelled by an expanded 48-team format that has drawn more viewers and sponsors than ever before. Marion Laboure, senior strategist at Deutsche Bank Research, described Fifa as "without question" the main winner, with revenues over the four-year cycle approaching $13bn. Fifa's income streams include broadcasting, licensing and hospitality rights, sponsorship deals, and ticket sales – plus a new 15% fee from both buyer and seller on its official resale marketplace.
“Fifa's World Cup 2026 revenue approaches $13bn as fans face $33,000 final tickets and $150 train fares.”
"We should expect more of this in tournaments to come," Laboure added, with Fifa considering yet another expansion to 64 teams that could bring in China and India – and billions more viewers.
But the financial picture is starkly different for fans. Dynamic pricing, which raises ticket costs when demand is high, has drawn fierce criticism. Even US President Donald Trump admitted he "wouldn't pay" when asked about the potential $1,000 price tag for his country's opener against Paraguay. For the final, the official ticket price of $32,970 dwarfed that figure. Fifa president Gianni Infantino defended the costs, arguing they were in line with other US sporting events.
Beyond tickets, fans have been hammered by travel and accommodation costs. One infamous example: a 30-minute train journey to MetLife Stadium by New Jersey Transit soared from $12.90 to $150 for the tournament. After a public backlash the price was cut, but remained far above normal levels.
Broadcasters, too, have been forced to spend a fortune to secure television rights, though they bank on huge viewership and advertising revenue. The tournament has produced historic moments on the pitch, but off it, the winners and losers are clear: Fifa is banking billions, while many fans are left counting the cost.
With the governing body already eyeing a 64-team edition, the question is not whether the money will keep flowing – but how much more fans can bear.
