FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended ticket prices at the 2026 World Cup, speaking ahead of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca. More than six million tickets have been sold, with demand exceeding expectations by more than tenfold. Infantino pointed to the tournament’s entry-level price of US$60 (approximately RM245) as evidence that tickets remain affordable, and also addressed visa concerns at the same press conference after a Somali referee was denied entry into the United States.

Final Match Tickets Have Risen Sevenfold Since 2010

The table below shows the launch price range for international fans at each of the last five World Cups, from the cheapest to the priciest seat category, in US dollars.

*All figures are approximate, based on average USD/MYR exchange rates at the time of each tournament’s ticket announcement.

The most expensive final seat climbed from US$900 (approximately RM3,168) in 2010 to US$1,607 (approximately RM6,670) in Qatar, then jumped to US$6,730 (approximately RM27,400) at launch for this year’s final at MetLife Stadium. The discounted category for host-country residents, offered at every tournament since 2010, was dropped entirely for 2026.

The AFC Asian Cup final in Doha in February 2024, Asia’s biggest international football tournament, had a top-category ticket priced at QR250 (approximately RM321). The cheapest World Cup group stage ticket this year starts at US$60 (approximately RM245), already within touching distance of that ceiling, before flights, accommodation, or foreign transaction fees.

Prices Have Climbed Well Above Launch Rates

This is the first World Cup with dynamic pricing, where ticket prices rise with demand after going on sale. The final ticket that launched at US$6,730 (approximately RM27,400) had already climbed to US$10,990 (approximately RM44,700) by April, and seats for the United States’ opener were listed at US$2,735 (approximately RM11,130) even in upper tiers. FIFA’s official resale platform charges 15% to the buyer and another 15% to the seller, so the real cost of a resold ticket runs 30% above whatever price it’s listed at.

What Attending Actually Costs From Malaysia

Tickets are priced in US dollars, and most Malaysian cards add a foreign transaction fee of between 1% and 2.5% on top of the converted amount. On a final ticket at the launch price of US$2,030 (approximately RM8,262), that fee alone adds roughly RM85 to RM210.

If you are planning to attend, the entry-level ticket exists, but most of the six million tickets sold sit well above that price. At mid-range and premium tiers, the ringgit cost is comparable to a return flight to Europe.

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Christina Chandra

Christina writes about personal finance with an eye for making the complicated feel straightforward. She is drawn to the everyday money decisions people face and genuinely enjoys finding the clearest way to explain them. Between articles, she is probably napping, on a hiking trail, or terrorising her sister’s cats.

About THE AUTHOR

Christina Chandra

Christina Chandra

Christina writes about personal finance with an eye for making the complicated feel straightforward. She is drawn to the everyday money decisions people face and genuinely enjoys finding the clearest way to explain them. Between articles, she is probably napping, on a hiking trail, or terrorising her sister's cats.

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