NEW JERSEY — FIFA raised the top ticket price for the 2026 World Cup final to $10,990 on Wednesday as it opened the first public sale of tickets for the tournament, which will culminate with the final in New Jersey on July 19, 2026. In the previous sales wave in December, when tickets sold to members of each country's official supporters' club, the top price for the final was $8,680.

Prices increased by as much as 38% across ticket categories compared to the December release. Category 2 tickets for the final rose 32.78%, from $5,575 to $7,380, while Category 3 tickets climbed 38.23%, from $4,185 to $5,785. The most expensive ticket for the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar cost the equivalent of $1,604. In the joint bid book submitted by the United States, Canada and Mexico to host the tournament, organizers stated that tickets to the final would cost a maximum of $1,550.

FIFA is using a dynamic pricing model for the 2026 World Cup, in which prices change at the start of each sales window based on past demand. FIFA did not announce in advance which games and price categories would be available in the new release. Fans had to search on a FIFA website, and some users experienced wait times of several hours when the sales window opened Wednesday.

Wednesday's release included tickets for the final and 17 group stage matches. Of the 72 group games in the 48-team tournament, 35 matches were listed with tickets available. There was no allocation for England or Scotland games or any knockout matches in the initial release. With the exception of host nations, only a match involving the Netherlands among the top-10 seeded countries was available. Group stage ticket prices ranged from $140 to $2,985, with an average displayed price of $358. The most expensive group stage match listed was the opener between Mexico and South Africa, priced at $2,985, with only a small portion of the 87,000-seat capacity available. Additional tickets will be made available on a rolling basis until the end of the tournament. FIFA also announced late last year that a small number of $60 tickets would be offered.

The pricing model has drawn criticism from U.S. lawmakers. In a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, 69 Democratic members of Congress wrote, "The employment of dynamic ticket pricing for the 2026 FWC starkly contrasts with Fifa's core mission to promote the accessible and inclusive promotion and development of soccer globally."

Infantino said in January that FIFA had received what amounted to "the request for 1,000 years of World Cups at once." FIFA said profits from the tournament will help fund grassroots football across the world. The World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 11, 2026, with matches held in cities across the U.S., Mexico and Canada.