World Cup Opens to Record TV Ratings and $1,100 Cheapest Tickets on the Resale Market

—The 2026 FIFA World Cup's opening weekend drew massive television audiences and sky-high ticket prices, with the cheapest resale seats starting around $1,100 and the MetLife Stadium final commanding upwards of $7,986. FIFA's dynamic pricing model, adjusted repeatedly since last fall, has left 75 games with tickets still available. Twenty-nine matches have already sold out entirely, reflecting pent-up demand for a World Cup held in North America for the first time since 1994.