FIFA is selling tickets for the March 2026 World Cup playoffs in Mexico for as little as 200 Mexican pesos ($11.30), a stark contrast to the $4,185 to $8,680 being charged for this year's final in New Jersey. The intercontinental playoffs will determine two of the final World Cup berths.

Matches will take place on March 26 and 31 in Guadalajara and Monterrey, featuring teams from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. In Guadalajara, Jamaica faces New Caledonia in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to face Congo for a World Cup spot. Monterrey will host Bolivia versus Suriname, with the victor playing Iraq five days later.

The 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup highlight unprecedented global demand, yet FIFA's playoff pricing shows a deliberate effort to make qualification matches accessible to local fans. This pricing strategy comes as FIFA acknowledges that resale prices for the main tournament will be higher.