By Robert Haugh
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament, six games will be played in Santa Clara. Five group-stage games will be played in June 2026 and one Round of 32 match on July 1, 2026.
FIFA says group-stage 2026 World Cup tickets will “start at $60”, but that number is more deceptive than real.
The organization is implementing dynamic pricing — meaning tickets adjust with demand — and noted that “seat prices starting at $60 … with prices varying based on market demand.”
That $60 baseline might exist on paper, but those seats will be rare. According to Reuters, tickets were offered in the first “Visa presale draw,” but FIFA doesn’t promise that the low price will be available. Many critics say it was deceptive marketing.
Right now, for the July 1 game at Levi’s Stadium, one ticket reseller site is showing a range of $1,815 for a seat in the nosebleed sections. Wow.
And almost $48,000 for one seat in the lower bowl’s center section: C135. Double wow.
In 1994, when the U.S. last hosted the World Cup, ticket pricing was simple, fixed, and much more modest.
The cheapest first-round tickets ran $25, while sideline games could go for $65. Semifinals that year ranged from $90 to $300, and the final topped out at $475, according to the LA Times.
With recent immigration policies and tourism impacted, FIFA will be giving tickets away.
Those prices are crazy! Our son in law suggests we rent our RV (parked in our Santa Clara home’s driveway!) Thanks for your informative article- this one and others I’ve read from you! Take care and God bless you and your family! PS: Do you and your family attend church? My husband and I attend Sunnyvale International Church-you can check the services out on YouTube- just type in the name of the church! Thanks again for your interesting and informative articles!