​Fifa unexpectedly released nearly 1,200 high-priced tickets for the World Cup final on Friday. The tickets appeared on the governing body’s last-minute sales site, which had previously indicated the event was sold out. A total of 1,178 Category 2 seats were made available at $7,380 each, spread across five top-deck sideline sections: 282 seats in section 344, 299 in section 343, 139 in section 335, 443 in section 334, and 15 in section 333. For fans seeking a more premium experience, 68 front-row Category 1 tickets in the lower deck were released, with prices ranging from $19,995 to $32,970. In addition, exclusive hospitality packages were offered in the Trophy Lounge and Trophy Lounge+ sections, priced at $34,500 and $32,500, respectively, and including food and drinks.
Fifa did not immediately respond to questions about why these additional tickets had suddenly become available when the final appeared sold out. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium near New York and New Jersey. Beyond the final, tickets for Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and Switzerland at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City were also on sale, with prices ranging from $1,600 to $3,995.
On Fifa’s official marketplace, resale tickets for the final surfaced with a wide price range, from $7,440.50 up to an eye-popping $11,499,998.85. In on-field action, France moved closer to the showpiece event by defeating Morocco 2-0 in their quarterfinal clash in Boston, with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele scoring to secure a semifinal berth for the 2018 champions. They will face either Spain or Belgium in the next round, as the two European nations were set to meet in their own quarterfinal on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, England’s path to the final four includes a Saturday matchup in Miami against Erling Haaland’s Norway, a game that will determine who advances from that bracket. The final quarterfinal will feature Lionel Messi’s Argentina against Switzerland. Argentina remain favorites to defend their title, but they have faced stiff challenges in their last two matches, needing extra time to get past Cape Verde in the Round of 32 and then staging a comeback from two goals down to beat Egypt in the last-16, underscoring the high drama expected as the tournament progresses. The World Cup’s ongoing quarterfinals, semifinals, and final are shaping up to deliver a tournament full of suspense, star power, and critical matches that could redefine national team legacies.