FIFA Listens to Fans: New $60 Ticket Tier Introduced for World Cup
FIFA has introduced a new affordable ticket pricing tier for nations participating in the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The “supporter entry tier” will offer tickets at a fixed price of $60 for every match, including the final, for each nation’s participating member associations.
This decision follows criticism from supporter groups in Europe regarding FIFA’s dynamic ticket pricing model, which adjusts prices based on the popularity of the teams playing in each match. In a statement on Tuesday, FIFA clarified, “In total, 50% of each PMA allocation will fall within the most affordable range, namely supporter value tier (40%) and the supporter entry tier (10%). The remaining allocation is split evenly between the supporter standard tier and the supporter premier tier.”
Additionally, FIFA will waive administrative fees for fans who purchase tickets from their national associations but require refunds if their teams do not advance.
The rollout of ticket sales started in phases, with one-third of the tournament’s inventory claimed during the initial phases. The third phase commenced on December 11 and will continue through January 13, allowing fans to secure tickets through a random selection draw. Before the introduction of the new tier, the cheapest ticket for the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium was priced above $4,000, raising significant concerns among European supporters.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), representing supporters from England and Wales, criticized the initial pricing structure, stating, “The prices set for the 2026 World Cup are scandalous, a step too far for many supporters who passionately and loyally follow their national sides at home and abroad. Everything we feared about the direction in which FIFA wants to take the game was confirmed — Gianni Infantino only sees supporter loyalty as something to be exploited for profit.”
FIFA had previously defended the variable pricing as a common practice in major North American sporting events. A FIFA official remarked, “What FIFA is doing is adapting to the domestic market. It’s a reality in the U.S. and Canada that events are being priced as per the demand that is coming in for that event.”
The organization anticipates generating over $3 billion from hospitality and ticket sales, with hopes of surpassing the all-time World Cup attendance record set in 1994, the last time the tournament was held in the U.S. The upcoming event will see a significant increase in scale, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, compared to the 24 teams and 52 matches in 1994.
FIFA reported that during the random selection draw for tickets, 20 million requests were submitted. The tournament will kick off on June 12 at SoFi Stadium, where the United States will face Paraguay. SoFi will host eight matches in total, culminating in several knockout-stage games, the teams for which are yet to be determined.
