FIFA introduces $60 tickets for 2026 World Cup after pricing backlash

FIFA on Tuesday announced a reduction in ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, introducing a new lower-cost category following criticism over the tournament’s pricing structure.

In a statement, FIFA said it had received around 20 million ticket requests and decided to introduce a special pricing tier for supporters of national teams that have already qualified for the tournament.

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The new category, called the Supporter Entry Tier, will offer tickets at a fixed price of $60 per match, including the final. FIFA said the tickets are meant for loyal fans and will not be available through the general public ballot.

How the new ticket system will work

Tickets under the Supporter Entry Tier will be allocated through Participating Member Associations (PMAs). Each association will decide eligibility and the method of distribution. FIFA said the tickets are likely to be reserved for members of official national supporter groups.

The Supporter Entry Tier will account for 10% of the total ticket allocation for each qualified national team.

FIFA also outlined the broader ticket structure for the tournament. Half of the tickets will fall under an “affordable” range, while the remaining half will be priced under premium categories.

Affordable tickets include:

Supporter Entry Tier tickets priced at $60

Supporter Value Tier tickets ranging from $120 to $265 for group-stage matches, with higher prices for knockout games

Premium tickets include:

Supporter Standard Tier tickets priced between $400 and $500 for group matches

Supporter Premier Tier tickets priced from $500 to $700 for group matches, rising to over $3,000 for the final

Reaction from supporter groups

The decision follows strong criticism of FIFA’s original pricing plans for the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

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Football Supporters Europe (FSE) welcomed the move but said it did not go far enough. The group said only a small number of fans would benefit from the reduced prices and raised concerns about the lack of clarity on tickets for supporters with disabilities.

FSE said the change showed that FIFA’s pricing plans were not fixed and called for further reductions.