FIFA has introduced a new $60 ticket category Tuesday for loyal fans of teams at the 2026 World Cup, a partial concession amid intense criticism that high prices were excluding many supporters from the expanded tournament.
The “Supporter Entry Tier” tickets, priced at a fixed $60 for all 104 matches including the final, will make up 10% of the allocation reserved for participating national teams.
FIFA said half of each team’s ticket quota — typically around 8% of stadium capacity per match — will be in affordable categories: 40% in the existing Supporter Value Tier and 10% in the new entry level. The rest will be split between standard and premier tiers.
National associations will distribute the discounted tickets and set their own criteria to prioritize “loyal fans closely connected to their national teams,” FIFA said. Fans whose teams are eliminated early can get refunds without administrative fees if they applied through these programs.
The move follows widespread backlash after ticket prices were revealed last week, with group-stage seats starting higher than in previous tournaments and final tickets reaching thousands of dollars.
Football Supporters Europe called initial pricing “extortionate.” Its director, Ronan Evain, told Reuters the new tier was “a step in the right direction” but “clearly not sufficient.”
‘Not sufficient’
Evain noted that following a team to the final in the cheapest supporter category could cost about $480, while a higher category in the same section might run $6,900 — 15 times more.
He criticized a lack of transparency, saying FIFA gives no mandatory guidelines to national associations on distribution, and most do not disclose exact numbers. For England and Scotland group games, around 400 such tickets per team might be available, according to BBC estimates.
Evain also highlighted issues for fans with disabilities, saying the lowest full-tournament cost could hit $7,000, with companions paying full price — potentially $14,000 total. In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, companions entered free.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the cheaper tickets but urged FIFA to go further, saying the World Cup should not “lose touch with the genuine supporters who make the game so special.”
The 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, has drawn strong demand despite the controversy. FIFA said more than 20 million ticket requests were submitted in the current sales phase, which opened Dec. 11 and runs through Jan.
Successful applicants in the random draw will be notified in February.
FIFA, a nonprofit, says revenues fund global football development. It has projected record income from the North American event, the first with three hosts and an expanded format.
Critics argue the pricing strategy, including variable rates based on match appeal, risks alienating grassroots fans who create the atmosphere at World Cups.
With limited $60 seats — often a few hundred per team per game in large venues — debates over accessibility are expected to continue as more teams qualify and sales progress.
Agencies contributed to this report
