World Cup organisers have announced a new, lower-priced ticket category for the 2026 tournament following sustained criticism over the cost of attending matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In a statement on Tuesday, FIFA said it had introduced “Supporter Entry Tier” tickets priced at $60 and available for all 104 matches, including the final, as part of efforts to make the competition more accessible to travelling fans.
FIFA said the initiative was aimed at supporting supporters following their national teams throughout the tournament.
According to the world football governing body, the $60 tickets will be reserved for fans of qualified countries 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 as “extortionate” and “astronomical,” said the measure fell short of expectations.
“While we welcome FIFA’s seeming recognition of the damage its original plans were to cause, the revisions do not go far enough,” FSE said in a statement on Tuesday.
The group had earlier noted that ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup were almost five times higher than those at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
It said a supporter following their team from the group stage to the final would need to spend at least $6,900, despite FIFA’s 2018 bid document promising tickets starting from $21.
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Reacting further on Tuesday, FSE said FIFA’s decision appeared to be a response to widespread backlash.
“For the moment, we are looking at the FIFA announcement as nothing more than an appeasement tactic due to the global negative backlash,” the group said.
It added that the revised pricing showed the ticketing policy was rushed and lacked proper consultation, including with FIFA’s member associations.
FSE argued that, based on current allocations, only a few hundred fans per match would benefit from the $60 tickets, while the majority would still be forced to pay what it described as unprecedented prices.
The group also criticised FIFA for failing to make adequate provisions for supporters with disabilities and their companions.
Announcing the new pricing, FIFA said national federations had been instructed to ensure the tickets are allocated to loyal supporters closely connected to their national teams.
FIFA also said fans who purchase tickets for knockout matches but see their teams eliminated earlier would have administrative fees waived when refunds are processed.
The world body said the announcement was made amid “extraordinary global demand,” with more than 20 million ticket requests already submitted.
The draw for tickets across all price categories in the first sales phase is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13.
