FIFA has raised the highest ticket price for this year’s World Cup finals to $10,990, which is almost 7 times more than the ticket price for the last World Cup. The most expensive ticket for the 2022 World Cup final was about $1,600. The development comes as FIFA releases a new batch of tickets for sale on Wednesday following the finalization of the 48-team World Cup squad.
The latest prices mark an increase from the previous round of ticket sales, when the highest price for final tickets was $8,680. Prices have also climbed at the lower levels, with Category 2 tickets now costing $7,380, up from $5,575 in December, and Category 3 tickets rising to $5,785 from $4,185.
Fifa is using a widely criticized dynamic pricing model for this year’s World Cup, in which prices can increase or decrease depending on demand. FIFA said profits from the tournament will help fund grassroots football around the world, the Gaurdian article pointed out.
The use of dynamic pricing has come under fire from the internet
Tickets for the final and 17 group stage matches went on sale on Wednesday, with more being released gradually throughout the rest of the tournament.
The launch of the last sales window was marred by glitches. FIFA did not specify which matches or price categories were available, so fans had to search the Fifa website, which took some users hours to enter. FIFA said this is the first sales phase to allow fans to select specific seats in stadiums, rather than making general requests within a price tier. Tickets will also be offered on a resale platform where FIFA will charge both buyers and sellers a 15% fee.
FIFA also said that not all remaining tickets have been put on sale for the 104 matches to be played in the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, and that more tickets will be released on an ongoing basis.
This was the fifth phase of ticket sales, following the Visa presale draw from September 10 to 19, the early draw from October 27 to 31, the random draw from December 11 to January 13, and an unscheduled 48-hour availability at the end of February.
FIFA said this phase, which will remain open throughout the tournament, marks the first time a specific seat has been purchased, rather than a category ticket request.
The FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 and will be held in cities across the US, Mexico and Canada, with the final taking place on July 19 in New Jersey.
