FIFA has been forced into a major climbdown, announcing a new tier of "more affordable" tickets for every match at the 2026 World Cup following a fierce backlash from fans over extortionate prices.
New 'Supporter Entry Tier' Offers $60 Tickets
The global football governing body confirmed on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, the creation of a dedicated 'Supporter Entry Tier', with tickets priced at a fixed rate of $60 (approximately £45). This new category will be available specifically to supporters of the national teams that have qualified for the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
However, the allocation of these cheapest tickets will be severely limited. FIFA stated that only 10% of each participating member association's ticket allocation will fall under this entry-level price. This means the number of $60 tickets for each of the 104 matches is likely to be in the hundreds, rather than thousands.
Distribution and Broader Pricing Structure
The cheaper tickets for every game will be given to the national federations of the teams playing. It will then be the responsibility of those federations to decide how to distribute them, presumably to their most loyal travelling fans who have a history of following the team.
For the remaining tickets allocated to team supporters, 40% will be in a 'Supporter Value Tier', with the final 50% split evenly between 'Supporter Standard' and 'Supporter Premier' tiers. The move represents a significant shift away from FIFA's initial plan to use dynamic pricing for all 2026 World Cup tickets, a strategy that had sparked widespread anger.
In a statement, FIFA said the change was "designed to make following their teams on football's greatest stage more affordable," citing overwhelming demand of 20 million ticket requests in the current sales phase.
Context of the Fan Outcry and High Costs
The announcement comes after FIFA was urged to halt sales entirely when it emerged that fans faced paying staggering sums. The controversy was particularly acute for the final, where the cheapest tickets were originally priced at over £3,000.
Prices for England's fixtures revealed last week underscored the issue. For members of the England Supporters' Travel Club, the cheapest ticket for a potential final involving the Three Lions ranged from $4,185 (£3,120) to $8,680 (£6,471).
FIFA has also confirmed a refund policy adjustment: fans who apply for tickets through their national association and whose team does not reach the knockout stage will have their administrative fee waived when refunds are processed.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams and is projected to generate at least $10 billion in revenue for FIFA. This pricing revision is a direct response to ensure the tournament remains accessible to the core supporters who are its lifeblood.
