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The FIFA World Cup semi-finals are set to feature four of the world’s biggest football nations, with France taking on Spain in one clash and defending champions Argentina facing England in the other.
Even before the action begins on the pitch, soaring ticket prices have become a major talking point, particularly for the Argentina-England showdown.
According to ticket market tracker TicketData, the cheapest ticket for the France-Spain semi-final was priced at $1,325 as of Monday, down about 26 percent over the past three days.
In contrast, the lowest-priced ticket for the Argentina-England semi-final was selling for $2,841, more than double the price of the other semi-final. The ticket price has jumped 34 percent in just three days, after peaking at $2,966 on Saturday before easing slightly and rising again.
Analysts say the surge is being driven by global interest in defending champions Argentina, along with the large Argentine fan base in Atlanta, where the match will be played. The strong demand has pushed ticket prices well above those for the France-Spain encounter.
Demand remains high for other knockout matches as well. The cheapest ticket for the third-place playoff is priced at $1,543, although it remains significantly lower than the Argentina-England semi-final.
The World Cup final in New York-New Jersey commands the highest prices. The lowest-priced ticket currently stands at $6,760, down about 6 percent over the past 72 hours. However, the same ticket reached as high as $13,650 in October last year.
FIFA has also released around 1,200 Category 2 tickets for the final at $7,380 each as part of its last-minute sales.
High ticket prices have drawn criticism since before the tournament began, with many fans arguing that World Cup matches have become too expensive for ordinary supporters. A fan organization has even taken legal action over allegations of excessive pricing.
Experts attribute the steep prices largely to the tournament being hosted in the United States, where dynamic pricing allows ticket costs to rise as demand increases. With fan interest continuing to grow, especially for the Argentina-England semi-final, ticket prices are expected to remain at record levels right up to kickoff.