FIFA Launches Lower-Cost For a Small Section of Tickets for 2026 World Cup

FIFA has announced the introduction of a limited number of lower-priced tickets for every match at the 2026 World Cup, following widespread criticism of its original pricing structure.

World football’s governing body confirmed that a new “supporter entry tier” ticket, priced at $60 (£45), will be available for all 104 matches across the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tickets will be reserved for a proportion of “loyal fans” from nations that have qualified for the competition.

A FIFA official close to the discussions said: “We have listened to feedback and this new category is the right thing to do,” adding that the decision was taken unanimously.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the move but urged FIFA to go further in addressing affordability concerns. He said: “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 special.”

Under FIFA’s previous pricing model, the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) said it could have cost fans more than £5,000 to follow England through every match to the final. The FSA had labelled the structure “scandalous” prior to the announcement.

The new £45 tickets will make up 10% of each participating nation’s allocation, falling within FIFA’s lowest-priced category. For England and Scotland, this is expected to equate to around 400 tickets per group-stage match at the reduced price.

Despite the change, supporter groups have criticised the move as insufficient. FSA chair Tom Greatrex described the announcement as a “hollow gesture”, adding: “What sounds like a climbdown is a cynical attempt to deflect attention while continuing to rip fans off.”

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) echoed similar concerns, saying that while it welcomed “Fifa's seeming recognition of the damage its original plans were to cause, the revisions do not go far enough to reconcile”.

Discussions around ticket pricing took place over the weekend and earlier this week in Doha, where senior FIFA officials reviewed initial feedback. English Football Association insiders are understood to view the changes as a step in the right direction after raising concerns directly with FIFA’s leadership.

In a statement, FIFA said: “The entry tier tickets will be allocated specifically to supporters of qualified teams, with the selection and distribution process managed individually by the participating member associations (PMAs).

“Each PMA will define its own eligibility criteria and application process. They are requested to ensure that these tickets are specifically allocated to loyal fans who are closely connected to their national teams.

“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.”

The 2026 World Cup will be the first men’s tournament staged across three countries and expanded to 48 teams, with matches taking place between June and July.