World Cup Final Becomes Most Expensive Sporting Event in U.S. History

Sunday's World Cup final is set to be the most expensive sporting event ever held in the United States, based on secondary market ticket prices. Data from TickPick reveals that the average ticket price for the clash between Argentina and Spain surpasses other major events like the Super Bowl and NBA Finals.

The lowest price for a single final ticket stands at $6,943, a slight dip from approximately $7,200 before Argentina defeated England on Wednesday to secure their spot in the title match. The average purchase price for the final is $11,327, according to TickPick – the highest ever recorded. As of Wednesday afternoon, the most expensive ticket purchase for the final involved two passes in section 115A of MetLife Stadium, priced at $28,479 each, totaling $56,958.

According to TickPick, which calculates the most expensive tickets based on average purchase price, the next most costly sporting events in U.S. history are:

Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 (San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs): $9,411 Super Bowl LV in 2021 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs): $7,313 Super Bowl LIV in 2020 (Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers): $6,546 NBA Finals 2026, Game 3 (New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs): $6,308

The lowest price for the third-place playoff between France and England is close to $900. Ticket prices dropped by about $300 after England's loss to Argentina.

By most key metrics, this World Cup is the most expensive tournament in the 96-year history of FIFA's flagship event. When the tournament began last month, the average ticket price was $1,622 according to SeatGeek data, a figure that rose to $4,162 for the semifinals. However, prices for some secondary market tickets plummeted during the tournament, including for the quarter-final clash that ultimately featured Spain and Belgium. Both teams eliminated the USA and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to reach the match, leading to a nearly 60% drop in ticket prices.