World Cup ticket prices hit record highs, sparking controversy

Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have reached an all-time high, sparking criticism from fans and forcing small businesses in host cities to reassess their expectations.

Fan network organization Football Supporters Europe lamented that ticket prices for this World Cup have surged fivefold compared with the previous tournament in Qatar, driven by the dynamic pricing mechanism introduced by FIFA.

Data from the ticketing platform TicketData shows that even the cheapest tickets in New York and Miami, two of the host cities, cost nearly 1,000 U.S. dollars.

On the resale market, a supply-demand imbalance has pushed prices even higher. The ticket prices for the best viewing spots during the final were even driven up to tens of thousands of dollars, setting a new record for the World Cup.

In Mexico City, where passion for football runs deep, many local fans are frustrated that they are unable to afford tickets to the games held in their home town.

"I would love to go to the stadium to watch the game, but the ticket prices are too high," said a Mexican fan.

Meanwhile, the hospitality industry in the city had been expecting a surge in overseas customers arriving, but the exorbitant cost of attending — tickets combined with travel and accommodation — has deterred many international fans from making the trip.

"We expected to receive more guests, but currently the guests staying here are mostly Mexican residents. The number of foreign tourists making reservations is not large. Due to the initially high expectations, we raised the room rates, but since the occupancy rate and revenue did not meet the expectations, we had to lower the prices again," said a hotel manager.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday that the current ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup are far out of reach for the vast majority of Mexicans. She said football should be "a space for bringing people together".

To enable more people to take part in the global sporting event, the Mexican government has set up free large-screen viewing zones in public plazas across the country, allowing fans who cannot afford tickets to enjoy the excitement of viewing the games amid a crowd.

World Cup ticket prices hit record highs, sparking controversy

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday discussed with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States on ending the war.

In a phone call, Araghchi briefed Lavrov on the peace MoU's details, highlighting the U.S. responsibility to properly implement the deal's provisions as well as the necessity to stop Israel's "aggressions" against Lebanon, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Lavrov welcomed the MoU's finalization, voicing his country's support for the implementation of the agreement's provisions.

The two foreign ministers called on the international community and UN Security Council to support the MoU, stressing the need for the continuation of diplomatic cooperation among regional countries to ensure peace and stability, according to the statement.

They also discussed bilateral ties as well as regional issues of common interest.

The United States, Pakistan and Iran early Monday announced the finalization of the MoU on ending the war following weeks of negotiations, adding that it will be officially signed in Switzerland on Friday.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region.

Iranian, Russian FMs call for global support to Iran-U.S. peace MoU