FIFA fans outraged after World Cup final tickets appear to be priced online for resale worth almost $11 million (Image via Getty)

FIFA is again facing heavy criticism after raising ticket prices for the World Cup finals to shocking levels, even as fans continue to complain about the cost of attending games in the United States. The biggest outrage concerns the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where FIFA has priced its top “Category One” seats at $32,970 in the latest ticket release. Previously, the same top-tier tickets had cost $10,990.This sudden surge has stunned many fans, especially as tickets for many other matches throughout the tournament are also being sold at very high prices. FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the prices this week, saying the organization was only following “market rates” in the United States. But fans and even US lawmakers are now questioning FIFA’s pricing system, ticket availability and resale practices.

FIFA’s latest ticket release included hefty prices for several major matches. Ticket prices for the semi-final on July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, reached $11,130, while seats for the other semi-final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta were listed above $10,000. Even American group-stage matches are costing heavily. Tickets for the United States’ opener against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in California were listed between $1,120 and $2,735. The U.S. match against Australia in Seattle was listed at $2,715, while some seats at the group-stage final against Turkey in California were approaching $3,000. Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Gianni Infantino defended FIFA’s approach.Infantino said, “We have to look at the market. We are in a market where entertainment is the most developed in the world, so we have to apply market rates.” He also argued that cheap tickets would eventually be sold at even higher prices. “Reselling of tickets is also allowed in the US, so if you sell tickets at a very low price, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price,” he said.Still, many fans online took issue with his comments. Infantino also claimed that people could not attend major American sporting events for less than $300, but fans quickly pointed out that cheaper tickets were available for NBA playoff games. The resale market has added even more controversy. On FIFA’s official resale platform, the price of some World Cup final tickets had reached nearly $11.5 million, although FIFA says it does not control seller prices. The organization still collects a 15 percent fee from both buyers and sellers during resale transactions.Meanwhile, New Jersey representatives Frank Pallone and Nelly Pou sent a letter to FIFA demanding answers regarding dynamic pricing, hidden ticket inventory and what they call “potentially deceptive practices”. Lawmakers also accused FIFA of limiting the supply of tickets in order to pressure fans to quickly buy tickets before prices rose again.