World Cup 26 Ticket Prices Are Already Moving: Where the Market Is Heating Up (and Cooling Off)

It hasn’t taken long for the secondary market to react to the release of the World Cup 26 schedule. Using Ticket Club marketplace data from the first few days after the schedule dropped, we compared average resale prices from December 6 to December 8 across more than 100 matches in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The short version: prices are already climbing across much of the tournament – especially for marquee teams and knockout rounds – but there are still pockets of value for savvy fans, particularly in group play and in some Canadian and Mexican host cities.

Remember, Ticket Club members pay no service fees at checkout and typically save 10–20% vs. other resale marketplaces, so even as prices move, there are still ways to keep your World Cup trip affordable.

How the Market Has Shifted So Far

Across the full slate of matches, average resale prices jumped a little more than 20% in just two days. Most games saw at least a modest increase, though roughly a quarter of matches actually got cheaper as sellers adjusted early expectations.

Ticket availability has shuffled as well. For many fixtures, the number of tickets listed dipped slightly as early buyers locked in seats. In others, more tickets hit the market as sellers saw rising demand and raised their prices accordingly. The key takeaway: this market is already dynamic, and we’re still months away from the opening match.

The Hottest Tickets: England, Portugal, Mexico & Friends

Some matches have clearly separated themselves as early “can’t-miss” events, with prices spiking much faster than the tournament average.

England vs. Croatia in Texas: From Hot to Scorching

The Group L showdown between England and Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington is one of the fastest movers on the board. In just a couple of days, the average resale price jumped by well over three times its initial level, while the number of seats available ticked down.

For England supporters – or anyone who just wants to experience one of the loudest atmospheres of the group stage – this is a match where waiting could be costly.

Portugal’s Group K Opener in Houston Is Taking Off

Portugal vs. the Playoff 1 qualifier in Houston has also been repriced sharply upward. Average resale prices have more than doubled since the opening snapshot, even as supply has stayed relatively stable.

With a superstar-led Portugal side and a passionate Portuguese community in Texas, this one checks all the boxes for a high-demand, high-price World Cup night.

Mexico’s Games on Home Soil Are Surging

No surprise here: Mexico’s matches in Mexico City and Guadalajara are already among the priciest of the group stage. The opener at Estadio Azteca against South Africa has seen a healthy double-digit percentage jump in just a couple of days, and the later group games vs. South Korea and the Playoff D qualifier are following suit.

Inventory for Mexico’s home games has slipped slightly as local and traveling fans snap up seats, which is helping push prices higher.

Where Prices Dropped: Hidden Value for Smart Fans

Not every match is skyrocketing. A cluster of fixtures saw noticeable price cuts as early seller expectations ran into real-world demand. For bargain hunters, these are the games to circle.

Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia: Big Discount, Plenty of Seats

In Houston, the Group H meeting between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia has turned into a value play. Average prices fell by roughly half compared to the first snapshot, while the number of tickets listed climbed.

This is a perfect example of a match where sellers initially priced like it was a marquee headliner, then had to come back to earth – and where Ticket Club members can now get in the door for far less than they might expect for a World Cup game on U.S. soil.

New Zealand Group Matches in Vancouver: Underrated & Affordable

In Vancouver, matches featuring New Zealand vs. Egypt and New Zealand vs. Belgium have seen double-digit percentage drops in average price while supply increased. For neutral fans or those looking to build a multi-game trip in one city, these fixtures are shaping up as some of the most affordable ways to see competitive group-stage action in a gorgeous setting.

Other Softening Spots

• Spain vs. Cape Verde in Atlanta has come down in price, even with a powerhouse European side in the mix.
• Several mid-profile group games in Canada and Mexico have also eased off their initial highs, especially when neither team is a traditional global giant.

The big lesson: if you’re flexible on which teams you see, there are already pockets of value emerging – and those can be amplified by buying through a no-fee membership marketplace like Ticket Club.

Knockout Rounds: Round of 32 & Round of 16 Heating Up Fast

Even though we don’t yet know which teams will play in them, the early-stage knockout games are already catching fire on the resale market.

• Round of 32 matches in Houston, Arlington, Inglewood, and other U.S. cities have seen some of the biggest percentage jumps of any games in the tournament. Fans appear willing to pay up now for the guarantee of being in the building when the stakes rise.
• Round of 16 fixtures are following the same pattern, with average prices climbing well above the tournament-wide increase. Listings have tightened a bit as early buyers move quickly.

Quarter-finals & Semi-finals: Steady Climb

Quarter-final tickets in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Kansas City have all crept higher, with average prices up solidly in the double digits. The semi-final at AT&T Stadium in particular has seen another meaningful bump, pushing it firmly into the top tier of non-final matches by price.

Final vs. 3rd Place: A Surprising Split

One of the quirks in the early data: while the World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium remains by far the most expensive ticket in the tournament, its average resale price actually dipped slightly between the two snapshots as some sellers trimmed their sky-high ask prices.

The third-place match in Miami, meanwhile, moved in the opposite direction, jumping more than a third in average price as fans recognized it as a rare chance to see a World Cup medal game in a destination city.

Host Country Check-In: Where the Best Values Live

When we zoom out by host nation, some patterns emerge:

• United States – On average, U.S.-hosted matches have seen the sharpest price increases so far, especially in Texas, New Jersey, California, and Georgia. Demand from both local fans and international travelers is pushing prices up quickly.
• Mexico – Prices in Mexico are also trending higher overall, driven particularly by Mexico’s own group games and several knockout fixtures. You’re still likely to pay a premium for Azteca and Guadalajara.
• Canada – Canadian venues have seen more modest moves. Some games went up, but several have actually become cheaper, leaving Canada as the relative bargain among host countries at this early stage.

For fans trying to build an affordable World Cup itinerary, targeting group-stage matches in Canada or non-marquee fixtures in Mexico could be a smart play.

How Fans Can Still Save with Ticket Club

Even as prices shift quickly, there are still plenty of ways to make World Cup 26 more affordable:

• Join Ticket Club – Members pay no added service fees, which can mean saving 10–20% or more compared to buying the exact same seats on other resale sites that tack on markups at checkout.
• Be flexible on matchups – Consider undervalued games like New Zealand’s group matches, Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, or mid-table European and African clashes in Canada and Mexico.
• Compare cities, not just teams – Following your favorite nation in a lower-demand venue can be dramatically cheaper than chasing them into the most expensive U.S. stadiums.
• Watch how prices move – As more sellers list tickets and fans firm up travel plans, some matches will cool off while others spike. Checking back regularly can uncover new deals.

The World Cup 26 ticket market is still in its early days, but the first movements are clear: marquee teams and knockout rounds are getting pricey fast, while lesser-hyped fixtures are quietly becoming some of the best values in sports travel. With Ticket Club’s no-fee pricing and member savings, fans still have a real opportunity to experience soccer’s biggest stage without paying more than they need to.

World Cup 2026 Full Schedule, Ticket Prices, & Price Trend (Since Saturday)