Why are 2026 World Cup tickets so expensive?

With the biggest World Cup in history just days away, FIFA is facing growing criticism over ticket prices, dynamic pricing, seat transparency and the overall fan experience.

In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael and Asli break down FIFA’s controversial decision to introduce dynamic ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup — the first time this model has ever been used at the tournament.

They are joined by Jordy Leiser, co-founder and CEO of Jump, to explain how dynamic pricing actually works, why it has become common in American sports and live entertainment, and why FIFA’s version has created so much frustration among fans.

The conversation looks at the biggest questions surrounding World Cup tickets right now:

Why are prices so high?

Will fans who waited get better deals?

Why have some ticket categories and seat locations caused backlash?

Is FIFA protecting itself from the secondary market?

Could this model work again in Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2030?

Jordy also explains why transparency matters so much in ticketing — from hidden fees and unclear seat categories to the trust problem that comes when fans feel like prices are moving without warning.

Then, in the weekly World Cup update, Michael and Asli discuss two more controversies around the tournament: FIFA’s changing water bottle policy for stadiums in the U.S. and Canada, and reports of World Cup officials, players and team staff facing immigration issues when entering the United States.

From record FIFA revenue to fan frustration, this episode asks a simple question: has the 2026 World Cup become too expensive for the people it is supposed to bring together?

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Finance of Football - Nations and Numbers, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond, Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

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