A candidate for New York City, Zohran Mamdani (D), is urging FIFA to reconsider its dynamic pricing model for the upcoming 2026 Men’s World Cup, which will take place across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is set to host eight matches, including the Finals. The agreement with FIFA outlines the event’s logistics for New York City and New Jersey.
As part of his movement against corporate greed, Mamdani has initiated a petition demanding that FIFA abolish dynamic pricing, set limits on resale prices, and reserve 15% of tickets specifically for residents in the host city. This approach has been implemented in the previous four men’s World Cups, where ticket prices for local residents were significantly lower than those for international fans.
“This is the first time FIFA is adopting dynamic pricing, which allows them to gauge real-time how much they can charge for tickets,” Mamdani stated in a video.
Recently, FIFA confirmed the use of dynamic pricing for the ticket sales, which kick off on Wednesday. The lowest price for a group stage ticket is $60, while the final ticket could soar to $6,730. With dynamic pricing, these costs can change based on demand. Notably, FIFA’s resale platform does not impose a ceiling on secondary sales.
“This is about having the world’s biggest sporting event right in your area and being priced out of it,” Mamdani added.
During a press conference with other Democratic candidates in the Bronx, he remarked that FIFA has treated these World Cups more like profit-making ventures instead of opportunities to make the sport accessible to everyone.
“We will once again see workers being sidelined,” Mamdani emphasized.
The dynamic pricing strategy was previously used in the Men’s Club World Cup earlier this summer in the US, where ticket prices plummeted from $473.90 to $13.40 on FIFA’s resale platform, largely due to a decline in demand.
The event is set to kick off with two matches on June 11th in Mexico City and Guadalajara, and the final will take place at MetLife Stadium on July 19th.
At 33, Mamdani is focusing on affordability and the cost of living in New York City as part of his mayoral campaign. He recently garnered support from 43% of respondents in a poll by Emerson College. In comparison, competitors like former governor Andrew Cuomo, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and current Mayor Eric Adams garnered 28%, 10%, and 7%, respectively.
The Hill has reached out to FIFA for a response regarding Mamdani’s requests.
