PARIS: World Cup organisers unveiled a new lower-priced ticket category for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following widespread criticism from fans over soaring ticket prices for the tournament to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In a statement, football’s global governing body FIFA announced the introduction of a limited “Supporter Entry Tier,” priced at a fixed $60 for all 104 matches, including the final. FIFA said the initiative is aimed at supporting travelling fans who wish to follow their national teams throughout the competition.
According to FIFA, the $60 (€51) tickets will be reserved exclusively for supporters of teams that have qualified for the tournament and will account for 10 per cent of each national federation’s ticket allocation.
However, fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE), which last week described ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup as “extortionate” and “astronomical,” said the move falls short of addressing the wider issue of affordability.
“While we welcome FIFA’s apparent recognition of the damage its original plans were likely to cause, the revisions do not go far enough,” FSE said in a statement.
FSE had earlier noted that ticket prices for 2026 are nearly five times higher than those at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, calling FIFA’s pricing strategy a “monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup.” The group estimated that a fan following their team from the opening match to the final would need to spend at least $6,900, despite a 2018 bid document promising ticket prices starting from $21.
Reacting to Tuesday’s announcement, FSE described FIFA’s decision as an appeasement measure in response to global backlash, arguing that ticket pricing had been set hastily and without proper consultation.
The group also warned that only a few hundred fans per match and team would realistically benefit from the $60 tickets, while most supporters would still face record-high prices. FSE further criticised the lack of provisions for supporters with disabilities and their companions.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed those concerns, saying FIFA should do more to ensure affordability. “I welcome FIFA’s announcement of some lower priced supporters tickets,” Starmer wrote on X, “but I encourage FIFA to go further so that the World Cup does not lose touch with the genuine supporters who make the game so special.”
FIFA said national federations have been asked to ensure the discounted tickets are allocated to loyal supporters closely connected to their national teams. It also announced that fans who purchase knockout-stage tickets but see their team eliminated earlier will have administrative fees waived when refunds are processed.
The governing body added that the announcement comes amid unprecedented global demand, with around 20 million ticket requests already submitted. The first-round draw for tickets across all price categories is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 13.
