In Part 4, I wrote about the moment I pressed 'Pay Now' late at night and analyzed the purchase details.
After the purchase was successfully completed, what arrived was an invoice..

On it were two unavoidable surprises that were documented.

These are important points that anyone planning to try the resale market should know.

(Link to the FIFA resale page is here)

Chapter 5: The Two Surprises Revealed by the Invoice

Surprise 1: Houston and Seattle seats were scattered

Looking at the invoices for Houston (Match 76) and Seattle (Match 94),
the first thing I noticed was the unit prices for all 4 tickets were different that was the point.

This is how the FIFA resale market works.

Tickets are sourced from multiple sellers, cheapest first.
if unit prices differ, there is a high chance the seats are separated.

Result:

• Watching side by side as a group of 4 was not possible.
• We ended up with something like '2 together + 1 + 1' in separate seats throughout the stadium.
• Be prepared for seats scattered around the stadium.

Lesson:

When buying multiple tickets,
if the prices vary, the chances of getting scattered seats are extremely high.

If consecutive seats are an absolute must:

• Limit yourself to 1 or 2 consecutive seatsonly
• Target only listings that already offer consecutive seats

— a cautious buying approach is necessary.

Surprise 2: The tax burden in Seattle was painful

The tax rate in Seattle (Match 94) was approximately 10%.
As mentioned in Parts 1 and 2,
the actual amount was much larger than expected.

• Tax amount: $566 (approximately 90,000 yen)

Lesson:

Compared to tax-free Texas (Houston),the difference was stark.,
For expensive tickets, the tax alone becomes a significant burden.

Always calculate 'listed price + 10%'.

If you're working with a tight budget, you'll struggle later.

Final Conclusion: Where the 2.5 Million Yen Went, and Looking Ahead to December 6

While there were many lessons learned along the way,
in the end, what I have is

➡ 12 Category 1 knockout round tickets

— a reassuring set to have on hand.

Positives:

• In Philadelphia (Match 89), tickets very likely to be 4 consecutive seats were secured.
• In Houston (Match 76), a tax-free, affordable option was locked in.
• No matter where Japan is drawn, I'm in a position to make a move.

Challenges:

• Houston and Seattle seats are confirmed to be scattered(which takes away some of the fun of watching together...)
• The Seattle tax was a bigger burden than expected.
• Having 2.5 million yen tied up was mentally taxing as well.

Countdown to Fate: December 6, 2025

All that's left is to wait for the draw ceremony.

• What if Japan is drawn to Philadelphia (Group E winner route)?
  All the struggles would be rewarded with the ultimate match.
• What if Japan doesn't come to Philadelphia?
  I plan to sell these tickets when their value rises,
  and use that money to buy tickets for Japan's actual matches. That's the plan.

Either way, I want to be in a position to move forward —
that's the mindset with which I'm holding onto these 12 tickets.

Closing Thoughts

I hope this account of my experience serves as
a helpful reference and source of reassurance for anyone planning to try the resale market.

I hope you avoid the same pitfalls I fell into,
and can support the Japan national team in a way you feel good about.

And may the Japan national team have the best of luck.

(Note)

This article is based on personal experience and
does not guarantee ticket prices or profits.
Yen conversions use an approximate rate of 1 USD = 160 yen.
Please use the resale market responsibly.