FIFA announces cheaper tickets for 2026 World Cup after fan protests

December 17, 2025 Oliver Obel

FIFA has unveiled a new low-cost ticket option for the 2026 World Cup, presenting it as a step toward making the tournament more accessible after weeks of criticism over match prices.

The competition, set to take place across Canada, Mexico and the United States, will be the largest World Cup to date, with 48 teams and 104 matches. That expansion, combined with high-profile venues, has fueled concerns among supporters about the affordability of attending games.

New supporter tier introduced after pricing criticism

Under a newly created Supporter Entry Tier, a limited number of tickets will be sold at a fixed price of $60 (£45) per match, including the final. FIFA says the tickets are intended for fans following their national teams and will be distributed through official supporters’ organisations.

UK media outlets, including the Daily Mail, have reported that roughly a tenth of each qualified nation’s ticket allocation is expected to fall within the new pricing category, although FIFA has not confirmed an exact percentage.

The move comes after significant backlash to FIFA’s initial ticket pricing. Standard top-tier seats for group-stage matches were listed at several hundred dollars, while prices for the final ran into the thousands, prompting complaints from supporters’ groups across Europe.

Football Supporters Europe (FSE), which represents fan organisations in multiple countries, described the prices as “extortionate”. The group warned that attending every match involving a single team from the opening game to the final would cost several thousand pounds, far more than at recent World Cups.

England fans face limited access despite price cut

Fan pressure was amplified by national football associations, which raised concerns that rising costs risked pricing out regular supporters in favour of corporate and hospitality audiences.

For England fans, access to the discounted tickets will be restricted to members of the official supporters’ club. Before the change, the cheapest available seats for England’s group matches were priced well above £150. Under the new tier, eligible supporters may be able to attend matches for £45, though FIFA estimates the scheme will account for only a small fraction of overall ticket sales.

Some fans have welcomed the introduction of a lower-priced option, while others argue that the majority of tickets remain out of reach for supporters hoping to attend multiple games.

Supporter group Free Lions criticised the original pricing model, saying it highlighted a growing disconnect between football authorities and match-going fans. “These prices are a slap in the face to supporters who support their team outside of the flagship tournament that appears every four years,” the group said.

FIFA said the revised pricing followed consultations with several member associations, including the English Football Association and the German Football Federation.

A FIFA spokesperson said: “Fans of the national teams that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will benefit from a dedicated ticket pricing tier, which has been designed to make following their teams on football’s greatest stage more affordable.”

Sources: Daily Mail, Football Supporters Europe, Free Lions, FIFA