FIFA has announced a partial climbdown on its controversial World Cup 2026 ticket pricing strategy following weeks of intense backlash from fans worldwide. The governing body will now offer a limited number of tickets at a fixed price of $60 USD for every match of the tournament, including the final. This decision comes after widespread criticism of the initial pricing structure, which many fans and advocacy groups deemed "extortionate" and a "monumental betrayal" of the World Cup's tradition.
The $60 tickets will be part of a new "Supporter Entry Tier" and will be allocated to the national federations whose teams are participating. These federations will then be responsible for distributing the tickets to loyal fans who have consistently supported their national teams. However, the number of tickets available at this price point will be limited, representing approximately 10% of each participating member association's allocation, or about 1.6% of all available tickets. This translates to just over 1,000 tickets per match at the $60 price.
The initial ticket pricing plans, revealed earlier this month, sparked outrage among fans due to the high costs and the introduction of "dynamic pricing," where ticket prices fluctuate based on demand. The cheapest tickets for group-stage games not involving the co-host nations (United States, Canada, and Mexico) ranged from $120 to $265. The lowest price for the final was set at $4,185. These prices were significantly higher than in previous World Cups, leading to accusations that FIFA was prioritizing profit over accessibility for ordinary fans.
Fan organizations, such as Football Supporters Europe (FSE), have been particularly vocal in their criticism, calling for an immediate halt to ticket sales and a review of the pricing structure. They argued that the high prices would exclude many loyal fans from attending the tournament and would undermine the inclusive atmosphere traditionally associated with the World Cup. The FSA (Football Supporters' Association) described the initial prices as scandalous.
FIFA's decision to offer a limited number of $60 tickets appears to be an attempt to appease these concerns. In addition to the new "Supporter Entry Tier," FIFA has also announced that it will waive administrative fees for refunds to fans whose teams do not advance to the knockout stage.
Despite these changes, some critics argue that FIFA's climbdown does not go far enough. Ronan Evain, the executive director of FSE, called the announcement an "appeasement tactic" and insisted that the revisions do not fully address the harm caused by the original pricing plans. Ben Jacobs, a journalist, noted that the new tier applies to only a small percentage of all World Cup tickets.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, with a total of 104 matches. The tournament is expected to generate significant revenue for FIFA, with some estimates suggesting earnings of at least $10 billion. With high demand for tickets, as evidenced by the 5 million requests received within 24 hours of the third sales phase opening, the pressure on FIFA to ensure fair access for fans remains intense.
