The Messi effect drives World Cup final ticket prices to record levels

The World Cup final has become a topic of conversation as much for the costs in the stands as for the competition on the field. Tickets for the match between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey have ranked among the most expensive sporting events ever held in the US.

According to data reported by outlets such as Forbes, ESPN, and Yahoo Sports, final tickets have reached levels that surpass high-demand American sporting events like the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals. It was stated that the average ticket price in sales on secondary market platforms has reached 11 thousand 327 dollars. This amount corresponds to approximately 534 thousand TL.

It was noted that the lowest entry-level tickets on platforms such as StubHub and SeatGeek start at 7 thousand dollars, while premium seats on the sidelines and lower levels have found buyers for as much as 43 thousand 491 dollars. In the VIP and luxury packages available on FIFA's official resale platform, prices are said to start at 230 thousand dollars and go up to 2.3 million dollars.

The global interest in Lionel Messi is cited as one of the most important reasons for the price increase. The fact that the 39-year-old star footballer will be playing in the final World Cup match of his career has led to intense demand from fans from different countries around the world.

The variable pricing model applied in the tournament also supported the rise in the ticket market. It was reported that FIFA started final tickets at a range of 2 thousand to 10 thousand dollars in official sales, and that official prices rose to 10 thousand 990 dollars depending on demand.

The lack of a price ceiling on the official resale platform for prices set by ticket holders has brought about controversy. This situation has caused the high prices in the secondary market to become even more visible.