The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain is set to set a record as the most expensive sporting event in terms of ticket prices on the secondary market, with the average price of tickets sold reaching $12,800, according to data from SeatGeek reported by The Athletic.

According to the data, this figure exceeds the average resale price of tickets for the 2024 Super Bowl, which was $10,500, placing the World Cup final at the top of the most expensive sporting events in the secondary ticket market.

"FIFA" Lower. The official ticket prices set by FIFA drew criticism when announced, with upper-tier tickets priced at $4,210 and seats closest to the pitch reaching $6,730, before the federation raised first-category ticket prices to $10,990, according to FIFA's announced ticket prices.

However, secondary market prices have exceeded those levels, making official tickets cheaper than the amounts some fans are paying to secure seats in the final.

Record Average. The average price of tickets sold on SeatGeek reached about $12,751, an increase of nearly $2,200 over the average resale price of 2024 Super Bowl tickets.

The average resale price for Game 3 of the NBA Finals was about $9,033, according to the newspaper, further cementing the World Cup final's position atop the most expensive sporting events in ticket prices.

High Demand. Demand for World Cup final tickets approached levels seen during the 2024 Super Bowl, according to StubHub data.

Demand for the final trailed behind a potential Game 6 of the NBA Finals, which was not played after the series ended in five games.

Larger Stadium. These numbers gain additional significance as the match takes place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which can hold over 80,000 spectators during the World Cup, compared to about 61,000 at Allegiant Stadium, which hosted the 2024 Super Bowl, according to MarketWatch.

Madison Square Garden, which hosts NBA games, has a capacity of fewer than 20,000 spectators, according to the newspaper, making the achievement of high price averages in a larger stadium even more exceptional.

Keith Paglio, founder of TicketData.com, said that recording these price levels in a stadium of this capacity reflects the strength of demand for the final, as quoted by MarketWatch.

Price Movements. The minimum ticket price saw movements in recent days, rising to about $7,790 after the finalists were confirmed, according to TicketData data reported by Front Office Sports.

The lowest listed price later dropped to about $7,600 as the match date approached, according to TicketData data cited by Axios, indicating limited changes in the secondary market with prices remaining at historic levels.

Despite this decline, final ticket prices still exceed those of most Super Bowls held after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the majority of NBA Finals games, according to SeatGeek and TicketData data, reinforcing the likelihood that the 2026 World Cup final will become the most expensive sporting event in terms of ticket prices on the secondary market.