Following widespread criticism from fans, World Cup organisers have introduced a new lower-priced ticket category for the 2026 tournament.
Football’s global governing body, FIFA, announced on Tuesday that it has created a limited “Supporter Entry Tier,” with tickets priced at $60 for all 104 matches, including the final. The 2026 World Cup will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In a statement, FIFA said the initiative is designed to support travelling fans who follow their national teams throughout the tournament. The $60 tickets will be reserved exclusively for supporters of qualified teams. They will account for 10% of each national federation’s ticket allocation.
The announcement comes after strong backlash from fan groups, particularly Football Supporters Europe. Last week, this group described the original pricing structure as “extortionate” and “astronomical.”
New ticket pricing tier introduced for fans of qualified teams at FIFA World Cup 2026™
🎟️ Supporter Entry Tier tickets set at USD 60 each and available for all 104 matches
🎟️ Initiative designed to further support travelling fans following their national teams across the… pic.twitter.com/QGfzdLgSR2
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) December 16, 2025While FSE acknowledged FIFA’s partial reversal, it said the changes do not go far enough. In a statement on Tuesday, the group said the new category appeared to be an appeasement measure. However, it was not a meaningful solution to affordability concerns.
Last week, FSE said ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup were nearly five times higher than those for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The group also said that a fan following their team from the opening match to the final would face a minimum cost of $6,900. It noted that FIFA’s 2018 bid documents had promised ticket prices starting at $21.
From @TheAthleticFC: FIFA has raised ticket prices yet again for most 2026 World Cup games, with a lower-level ticket to the final now priced at $8,680 – nearly $2,000 more than its price in October. Here's how much each match costs to attend.https://t.co/pVuXsOSw39
— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 12, 2025According to FSE, the revised pricing highlights deeper flaws in FIFA’s ticketing strategy. The group said prices were set hastily and without proper consultation. This consultation should have included FIFA’s own member associations. It added that, based on current allocations, only a few hundred fans per match would realistically benefit from the $60 tickets.
The organisation also criticised FIFA for failing to include adequate provisions for supporters with disabilities and their companions.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed those concerns, saying the new ticket category was a step forward but insufficient. In a post on X, Starmer said FIFA should do more to keep the World Cup accessible to ordinary supporters. He warned against losing touch with the fans who give the tournament its character.
I welcome FIFA's announcement of some lower priced supporters tickets.
But as someone who used to save up for England tickets, I encourage FIFA to do more to make tickets more affordable so that the World Cup doesn't lose touch with the genuine supporters who make the game so…
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 16, 2025FIFA said national federations have been instructed to ensure that the discounted tickets are allocated to loyal supporters. These are fans with close ties to their national teams. The governing body also confirmed that fans who purchase knockout-stage tickets but see their teams eliminated earlier will have administrative fees waived when refunds are processed.
FIFA added that demand for the 2026 World Cup remains exceptionally high, with around 20 million ticket requests already submitted. The first round of ticket draws, covering all price categories, is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13.
