Just when fans thought tickets for this summer’s 2026 World Cup couldn’t get any more expensive, FIFA once again raised the prices.
FIFA rolled out its fourth and final phase for ticket sales on Wednesday, and with soccer’s governing body continuing to operate under a dynamic pricing model—to reap the benefits of greater demand—tickets are at a historic premium.
The biggest price increase comes for the 2026 World Cup final, which takes place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
The high-end, Category 1 tickets—for seats in the lower two bowls of the stadium—opened at $10,990, over 70% more than the original price of $6,370 back in October when sales kicked off. Seats in Categories 2 and 3 opened at $7,380 and $5,785, respectively, up from $4,210 and $2,790 October.
For comparison, a Category 1 ticket for the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar averaged $1,607, according to Statista, and that price point was already a stark increase from the cost of a Category 1 ticket for the 2018 World Cup final in Russia, which averaged $1,100.
Even if having the tournament in the U.S. increases prices, the last time the U.S. held the tournament in 1994, the World Cup final between Brazil and Italy cost fans upwards of $1,500. Measured with the inflation rates in 2026, that only equates to roughly $3,300 in today’s money, still drastically lower than what FIFA is charging.
Given the outrageous increase in ticket prices, let’s think outrageously. What could a person buy for the same cost of a Category 1 ticket to the 2026 World Cup final?
A Cruise Trip
You and a friend could take a 10-night Southern Caribbean cruise and still have over $2,000 to spend on sunscreen and a designer swimsuit.
A Diamond Ring
You could even make the all-time—multi-carat—commitment of eternity to your partner for less than the cost of a World Cup final ticket.
A Construction Excavator
If you’re looking to DIY your backyard, you can even purchase a mini excavator for the same price as a ticket.
*Doesn’t include the price of storing said excavator thereafter.
A Used Car
Need a new mode of transportation? You can buy a used vehicle that is less than a decade old for the same price to see the World Cup final.
(Several) Televisions
If you’re in the giving mood, you could purchase 35 50-inch flat screen televisions for all of your loved ones and even that one person you just kind of tolerate.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Five Absurd Things You Can Buy for the Price of a 2026 World Cup Final Ticket.
