FIFA has introduced new, higher-priced ticket tiers for the upcoming World Cup, with front category 1 seats for the U.S. opener against Paraguay in Inglewood, California, priced at $4,105. This marks a significant increase from the previously announced top price of $2,735 for category 1 tickets.

New Ticket Categories Introduced

In addition to the front category 1 pricing, FIFA has also added a front category 2 tier, which ranges from $1,940 to $2,330 for tickets to the U.S. opener. These changes were first reported by The Athletic, and the new categories were added to FIFA's ticket sales website without prior public announcement.

World Cup Ticket Prices on the Rise

The World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. FIFA's earlier ticket information indicated that category 1 seats are the highest-priced and primarily located in the lower tier, although it appears some seats may have been withheld from this category. Category 2 seats are described as being positioned outside of category 1 areas, available in both lower and upper tiers.

FIFA has also raised prices for other matches, including front category 1 seats for Canada’s opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are now priced at up to $3,360. For the round of 16 games, seats are available for $905 in Philadelphia. Additionally, the price for the World Cup final ticket has surged to $10,990, up from $8,680, following a problematic reopening of sales. Category 2 tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium are now priced at $7,380, while category 3 tickets have increased to $5,785. As of Thursday, no tickets appeared to be available for the final on FIFA’s ticket site.