SerpApi.Org
The FIFA World Cup final last weekend lived up to its marquee billing, with Spain being crowned champion for the second time in tournament history.
La Roja were 1-0 winners over Lionel Messi-led Argentina in the final of the football spectacle held at the packed MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA. Forward Ferran Torres scored the lone goal in extra time to beat the erstwhile defending champs, La Albiceleste and allow his nation to reclaim football's biggest prize, which it first held in 2010.
Apart from the drama and action on the pitch, the 2026 World Cup Final also featured, for the first time, a halftime show. The 11-minute show, conceptualized by Coldplay's Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen, featured performances from Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Shakira and The Muppets. The halftime showcase broke a 96-year tournament tradition.
Among those who witnessed and enjoyed the spectacle was Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green. The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year came with his son, who was doubly happy to see his favorite player, Lamine Yamal, and Spain take home the world title.
Like the Super Bowl
While Dray admitted to having the time of his life with his son at the World Cup Final, Green said he could not help but liken it to the NFL Super Bowl, not only for the pageantry but more so for its expense.
Such, Green said, has priced regular fans out of attending the big events.
"I thought the World Cup final reminded me a lot of the Super Bowl. And what do I mean by that? Super Bowls are corporate events," he said on his assessment of the event on his podcast.
"What I'm speaking of is it's a very corporate event. It's a very expensive event. There's only a certain number of people who can afford to actually even go," Green, who rooted for Messi and Argentina, added.
According to published reports, tickets for the World Cup Final on the day itself reached a median price of $10,835. The get-in price for the match was $7,444, but tickets went for as much as $39,704.
The high ticket prices made the just-concluded World Cup Final one of the most expensive sporting events in history. As for tickets sold, Sunday's final had a minimum sale price of $6,095, an average sale price of $9,395, and a median sale price of $8,048.
They surpassed the 2026 Super Bowl, which had a minimum sale price of $3,286, an average sale price of $6,555 and a median sale price of $5,979.
A success
Despite issues with expensive ticket prices, the recent staging of the quadrennial football spectacle, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, was widely viewed as a success.
The event set an all-time attendance record, with more than 6.8 million spectators, according to FIFA figures. It also posted strong fan engagement, including 20 billion video views across FIFA's platforms and millions of visitors at its fan festivals.
U.S. host cities, which included New York/New Jersey, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, San Francisco and Seattle, also experienced increased economic activity through hotels, restaurants, bars and retail stores.
The tournament further elevated soccer's popularity as well among Americans, who recorded record television viewership. The FIFA World Cup will always be a massive draw. Moving forward, fans can only hope that some balance will be put in place regarding ticket pricing so that more people can enjoy the exciting experience the tournament offers.
