This comes in response to FIFA\u2019s high prices for the 2026 World Cup, which has fans like Joshi feeling betrayed.<\/p>\n
The Calgary Journal used Canada\u2019s Personal Member Association (PMA) to fact-check whether ticket prices have, in fact, increased fivefold since the last World Cup.<\/p>\n
In FIFA\u2019s most recent sales period, the cheapest ticket for Canada\u2019s opening match in Toronto would cost around $1,300.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next two Canada games in Vancouver would cost around $370.<\/p>\n
If Canada were to win all their games in the knockout round, it would cost a fan more than $7,000 just for tickets at face value.<\/p>\n
In total, that would cost a fan $9,190 to follow Canada\u2019s soccer team through the entire tournament with a category three ticket.<\/p>\n
If a fan were to buy the same tickets on the resale market, the cost would be a whopping $27,000, including resale fees.<\/p>\n
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FIFA World Cup tickets for fans wanting to follow Canada would cost over $27,000 in the resale market. Screenshot courtesy FIFA ticketing portal.<\/p>\n
According to Statista<\/a>, which pulled information from ticket sales at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, a category three ticket would cost around $69 USD or approximately $94 CAD.<\/p>\n If you were to follow a team from the opening match through to the finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it would cost a total of US$1,827, or approximately $2,500 CAD. <\/p>\n That is a 368 per cent price increase for the upcoming World Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n When compared to the resale market, it costs over 10 times as much to follow a team.<\/p>\n Fans Europe would be considered false under these circumstances.<\/p>\n Why Are Prices So High?<\/p>\n Joshi has been applying for World Cup tickets since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and has seen prices steadily increase.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery four years, it goes a little bit higher, which is not bad, but this one looks terrible,\u201d said Joshi. \u201cThis one looks like a different kind of World Cup. It looks like FIFA is not organizing. Someone else is organizing.\u201d<\/p>\n FIFA\u2019s rationale for the prices is that it applies variable pricing in the World Cup ticketing process.<\/p>\n \u201cTicket prices throughout the sales phases are based on a review of demand and availability for each match,\u201d FIFA said in a statement on its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n FIFA is considered a non-profit organization, and claims that 90 per cent of the ticket sale revenue is \u201credistributed back into the global game, supporting the growth of football around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n The verdict on ticket prices <\/p>\n In the bid book<\/a> released in 2018, FIFA\u00a0 planned to allocate only seven per cent of the seats as category four seats due to the \u201cunique demands\u201d of the markets.<\/p>\n Those tickets were originally priced at $21 USD.<\/p>\n The original prices set in the bid book have been changed. For example, an opening match game in a category three seat would cost $320 USD or $430 CAD. <\/p>\n That means FIFA more than doubled the expected price for Canada\u2019s opening match.<\/p>\n A ticket to the World Cup final saw the highest jump with a 679 per cent increase.<\/p>\n In response to the global backlash, FIFA<\/a> has introduced a new \u201cSupporter Entry Tier,\u201d which would set ticket prices at US$60.\u00a0<\/p>\n This tier will take 10 per cent of each PMA\u2019s allocated tickets. Each PMA is designated eight per cent of the stadium for their fans.<\/p>\n This means only 0.8 percent of the stadium will be considered under the tier.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe pricing model adopted for FIFA World Cup 26,\u201d said FIFA in an email statement to the Calgary Journal,\u201d reflects the existing market practice for major entertainment and sporting events within our hosts on a daily basis, soccer included.\u201d<\/p>\n FIFA adds that the prices also reflect the secondary ticket market, \u201cwhich has a distinct legal treatment\u201d worldwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are focused on ensuring fair access to our game for existing but also prospective fans,\u201d reads FIFA\u2019s statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n The fact remains, it\u2019s going to cost soccer fans such as Joshi 368 per cent more to attend the upcoming World Cup here in Canada. <\/p>\n Joshi, however, remains cautiously optimistic about receiving the fateful message that she has the tickets, but her dream is in the hands of the FIFA lottery system.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it\u2019s in my own country, I haven\u2019t got an opportunity, then, how will I get an opportunity four years later to go to another country? It\u2019s like it was a dream, but now, I gave up my dream,\u201d said Joshi.<\/p>\n Read more of the Calgary Journal\u2019s fact-checking reporting here<\/a>. <\/p>\n Learn about our method and process for fact-checking here<\/a>. <\/p>\n If you have an idea for a fact-check, contact us<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-05-094402.png\")
FIFA World Cup tickets for fans wanting to follow Canada would cost over $27,000 in the resale market. Screenshot courtesy FIFA ticketing portal.<\/p>\n
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