After a global backlash over soaring prices, FIFA announced a dramatic $60 ticket price for every game of the 2026 World Cup, replacing the steep $4,185 final-seat cost that had drawn criticism.
FIFA’s $60 Ticket Initiative
FIFA said Tuesday that $60 tickets will be made available for every game at the tournament in North America, going to the national federations whose teams are playing. Those federations will decide how to distribute the tickets to loyal fans who have attended previous games at home and on the road. The number of $60 tickets for each game is likely to be from 400 to 750 per team, in what FIFA is now calling a “Supporter Entry Tier” price category.
The decision covers 16 host cities, including 11 NFL stadiums in the United States, plus two in Canada and three in Mexico. FIFA did not specify exactly why it so dramatically changed strategy, but said the lower prices are “designed to further support traveling fans following their national teams across the tournament.”
Reactions from Fans and Supporters
Fans worldwide reacted with shock and anger last week on seeing FIFA’s ticketing plans that gave participating teams no tickets in the lowest-priced category. The standard allocation is 8% of stadium capacity per team. The cheapest prices ranged from $140 to $265 for group-stage games that did not involve co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico. The $265 games involve Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo and well-supported teams like Brazil and England.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) said the limited price cut was “an appeasement tactic due to the global negative backlash.” “This shows that FIFA’s ticketing policy is not set in stone, was decided in a rush, and without proper consultation,” the group said in a statement. The FSE group also said that even with Tuesday’s announcement, “the vast majority would still have to pay extortionate prices, way higher than at any tournament before.”
Background on Ticket Pricing and the 48-Team Format
The World Cup in North America will be the first edition that features 48 teams – up from 32 – and is expected to earn FIFA at least $10 billion in revenue while being the most expensive ever for fans. Despite the outcry over prices, FIFA says it has already received more than 20 million ticket requests in its latest sales phase. FIFA had set those prices despite the co-hosts having pledged eight years ago – when they were bidding for the tournament – that hundreds of thousands of $21 tickets would be made available for games before the knockout rounds.
The hospitality program in modern NFL venues, and now managed in-house instead of outsourced to an agency, is expected to earn FIFA billions of dollars rather than hundreds of millions.
Criticism of Dynamic Pricing and Resale Fees
European criticism grew over plans for “dynamic pricing” plus extra fees on a FIFA-run resale platform – both features common in the U.S. entertainment industry but not to soccer fans worldwide. Fan anger intensified last week when it became clear loyal supporters would have no access to the cheapest category tickets and that fans who wanted to reserve a ticket for all of their team’s potential games – through the final – would not get refunded until after the tournament.
In another climbdown Tuesday, FIFA said it would waive its administrative fees when refunds are made after the July 19 final.
Accessibility and Disability Issues
Before the FIFA statement, the supporter group FSE called Tuesday for a re-think on World Cup policy for fans with disabilities. The FSE said FIFA’s resale platform was offering disability access seats at multiple times face value with no assurances those tickets actually would be sold to people with a disability. Those fans also can no longer get free tickets for companions as they could at the last World Cup in Qatar.
In Qatar, Infantino started an eve-of-tournament speech with a tirade at perceived critics of the host nation, FIFA and himself that included the line “today I feel disabled.” The FSE group said “True inclusion requires action,” reminding Infantino of that speech. “It’s time for FIFA to move away from populistic statements and respect its own commitments.”
Key Takeaways
- FIFA will offer $60 tickets for every match in the 2026 World Cup, a sharp reduction from earlier prices.
- The move follows a global backlash and is aimed at supporting traveling fans, though critics say it is still insufficient.
- The 48-team format is expected to bring at least $10 billion to FIFA, while ticket demand has already surpassed 20 million requests.
The announcement marks a rare climbdown by FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, but many fans and supporter groups remain skeptical about whether the changes will truly address the high cost of attending the World Cup.
