Amid slow hotel bookings, World Cup ticket prices are starting to come down on resale markets

World CupWorld Cup ticket prices are starting to come down on the resale marketsThere’s not enough purchasing happening to support high ticket prices, an expert said. Still, the average lowest-cost seat is more than $500.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00A FIFA World Cup ball on the pitch at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.Jay Biggerstaff / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 14, 2026, 7:00 AM EDTBy Rob WileAfter an initial furor over jaw-dropping levels of ticket prices, global soccer fans may be starting to see some relief — at least in the resale market.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Prices for more than 90% of World Cup matches are coming down on resale sites such as StubHub and SeatGeek, according to data tracked by analytics group TicketData.com. The trend was first reported by The Athletic.FIFA, the international soccer governing body, has sparked outcry for pricing tickets seemingly out of reach for many fans. To this day, lower-bowl seats for many group-stage matches cost more than $1,000. Now, as it releases a third batch of tickets, the average resale price is declining — by about 24% from a month ago and by about 8% over the past week. As of mid-May, the average resale price tracked by TicketData for “get in” tickets, which tend to be the lowest-priced option, for Group Stage matches is about $560, down from $720 a month ago. “Prices are going down because there’s not enough purchasing going on right now to support the current sky-high prices,” TicketData founder Keith Pagello said. In a statement, FIFA said it has already sold approximately 5 million tickets. “Ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup remain strong with a high degree of interest for all matches,” the world soccer body said. A child admires the World Cup trophy in Houston on May 3.Peter Warren / Houston Chronicle via Getty Images The North American stadiums set to host games have a combined capac...