Why World Cup Tickets Are So Expensive — And Still Selling Out

Why are World Cup tickets so expensive — and why are fans still paying?With the 2026 FIFA World Cup already delivering packed stadiums, record demand and eye-watering resale prices, FIFA’s ticketing strategy is under the spotlight.In this episode of Finance of Football, Asli Pelit is joined by Jim McCarthy, founder of Impresario Strategic Growth Services and co-founder and former CEO of Goldstar and Stellar Live, to break down the economics behind World Cup ticket prices.They discuss how FIFA has used dynamic pricing, secondary markets and huge global demand to maximise revenue — while still filling stadiums at extraordinary levels.The conversation looks at the biggest questions around World Cup ticketing right now:Why are World Cup tickets so expensive?Did FIFA get its pricing strategy right?Why are resale prices moving so quickly?How do team matchups affect ticket prices?What happens to prices if the USMNT keeps winning?Could this model work again at future World Cups in Europe or Saudi Arabia?And has the World Cup become a once-in-a-lifetime purchase for fans?Jim also explains why the North American ticket market is so different from Europe, how the secondary market helped FIFA find the right price level, and why clubs have to think very differently from FIFA when it comes to long-term fan loyalty.From dynamic pricing and resale demand to USMNT knockout games and future World Cups, this episode asks a simple question: has FIFA cracked the code on modern sports ticketing?---For more, follow Asli and Michael on InstagramAsli - @brefootcontessaMichael - @michale.loreAnd follow the show…On Instagram - @financeoffootballpodOn Facebook - /financeoffootball---Finance of Football - Nations and Numbers, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRéEditing and Sound Design by Ryan HammondMixing and Mastering by Julian KwasneskiExecutive Produced by Ryan Hammond,  Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky---Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What this episode covers

World Cup ticket prices have shocked fans across the globe — but stadiums are still packed. With more than 4.6 million fans attending the group stage and FIFA filling 99.7% of available seats, this episode breaks down how the World Cup became one of the most powerful ticketing machines in sport.

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This episode is 21 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 29, 2026.

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