Ibrahim bin Mohammed from Riyadh

Wednesday, July 8, 2026 9:55 | 2-minute read

Ticket prices for the quarterfinal matches of the 2026 World Cup have recorded a sharp decline in secondary resale markets, a drop of over 50% in the past three days.

The decline was driven by fan shock resulting from the collective elimination of the three host nations, along with Portugal's elimination.

Global ticket trading platforms, led by 'TickPick' and 'SeatPick', reported that the minimum cost to attend the quarterfinal match scheduled for Friday in Los Angeles between Spain and Belgium dropped from $2,950 to $1,200, a decline of nearly 60% immediately after the Round of 16 concluded.

Forbes magazine and Yahoo Sports' sports business network revealed that this rapid decline caused the tournament to lose massive fan and marketing momentum, following the U.S. team's loss to Belgium (4-1) in Seattle and Portugal's elimination by Spain (1-0), which officially ended star Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career and deprived the market of a major fan showdown that would have pitted the U.S. against Portugal in Los Angeles.

Wed, 08 2026

The number of tickets listed for sale by fans on the secondary market jumped to 49,415 tickets, compared to about 28,000 tickets at the start of the tournament, creating a large supply surplus.

According to platform 'Gametime', the drop affected all quarterfinal matches; the price of the France vs. Morocco match in Foxborough fell by 66% to start at $1,018, while the Norway vs. England match in Miami recorded a 57% decline to start at $1,647.

Tickets for the 2026 World Cup are still classified as the most expensive in World Cup history, with initial prices exceeding 7 times those of previous editions. The ticket prices for the final match scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey have settled at a minimum of $9,346, amid expectations of a further increase depending on the identity of the teams that qualify for the final showdown.

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