FIFA has faced growing backlash since opening ticket sales for the third phase of the 2026 World Cup, with prices rising sharply after the match schedule, host cities, and group lineup were confirmed.
The most expensive category tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey have reportedly climbed to $9,000, around five times higher than the price of the previous World Cup final. The steep hike has triggered widespread criticism from fans and public figures alike.
Mamdani Calls for Fair Ticket Pricing at the World Cup
New York’s newly elected mayor, Zohrab Mamdani, has openly challenged FIFA over the escalating costs, echoing supporters’ frustration. With New York set to host the final, Mamdani insisted ticket pricing must be fair and accessible for residents.
Speaking to the Culligans YouTube channel, the mayor strongly opposed FIFA’s dynamic pricing model, which adjusts ticket costs based on demand and timing. He urged world football’s governing body to introduce fixed prices and special discounts for locals.
“𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒀𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒑,” 𝑴𝒂𝒎𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒊 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. “𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒅𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒌 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕. 𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒊𝒙𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒑𝒔.”
Push to Keep Fans Inside the Stadium
Mamdani referenced ticketing systems used during the 2018 World Cup in Russia and 2022 in Qatar, where residents benefited from more affordable options. He said ensuring fans can attend matches in person will be a key focus during the tournament.
“𝑾𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒑 𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒎,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅. “𝑾𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒀𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅, 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆.”
The mayor welcomed FIFA’s indication that a limited number of tickets would be sold at fixed prices, but stressed that more action is needed to protect fans from high costs.
The expanded 48-team World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Hosts the United States will begin their campaign against Paraguay on June 13, with Australia and a playoff qualifier completing their group.
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