NEW YORK: Tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026 final have become the most expensive in US sports history, with resale prices surpassing previous records set by major sporting events, according to a Forbes report.
The championship match, scheduled to be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, has seen the lowest available ticket price rise to $6,943, while the average resale price has reached $11,327.
According to the report, a seat in Section 115A of MetLife Stadium was listed for $28,479, highlighting the unprecedented demand for the tournament’s title match.
The previous record for the highest average ticket price for a U.S. sporting event was held by the 2024 Super Bowl, where tickets averaged $9,411, according to Forbes.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is set to feature Argentina and Spain, with global demand driving ticket prices to historic levels.
Earlier, FIFA World Cup 2026 captivated football fans worldwide but also took a significant toll on workplace productivity, with the US economy estimated to have lost $11.7 billion as employees missed work, arrived late or left early to follow the tournament.
According to a report by NDTV Profit, citing workforce management company UKG, the tournament resulted in an estimated $17 billion in lost global productivity, with the United States accounting for the largest share.
Data from workplace platform Envoy showed office attendance dropped sharply after the U.S. men’s national team was eliminated from the tournament. On July 7, the number of employees reporting to offices fell 26%, while employee check-ins declined 11.5% compared with normal levels.
The report said the decline in office attendance was nearly 10 times greater than the post-Super Bowl slowdown recorded earlier this year.
Business activity also slowed during the tournament, with office visits by clients, job candidates and suppliers declining 32%, suggesting many companies postponed meetings and other business engagements rather than closing offices altogether.
Attendance gradually returned to normal after the United States exited the competition, even as the tournament advanced to the quarterfinal stage, the report said.
More read, Rodri calls on Spain to play with courage in World Cup final
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain is scheduled to be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where more than 80,000 spectators are expected. FIFA has appointed Slavko Vinčić of Slovenia as the referee for the championship match.
