Fans are expressing outrage over FIFA’s latest ticket pricing for the World Cup, labeling it a “monumental betrayal” after new prices were revealed on Thursday.
FIFA designates 8% of tickets to national associations for games featuring their teams, aimed at their most dedicated supporters.
A report from the German football federation disclosed that ticket prices for various group stage matches ranged from $180 to $700. The final match tickets are priced significantly higher, with the lowest at $4,185 and the highest at $8,680.
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These group stage prices starkly contradict FIFA’s earlier assertions of $60 tickets being available. When the United States bid for the tournament seven years ago, officials aimed to provide hundreds of thousands of $21 seats during the opening phase.
The fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) condemned the current pricing as “extortionate.”
According to FSE, fans could face a cost of €6,900 ($8,111) for tickets to every match from the opener to the final through the participant member association (PMA) allocation, meant for supporters attending multiple matches and offered at fixed prices. FSE noted this amounts to five times what attendees would have spent at the last finals in Qatar.
“This is a monumental betrayal of the World Cup’s tradition, completely disregarding the supporters who contribute to the event,” the organization stated in a press release.
FSE highlighted that ticket pricing seemed to vary based on unclear factors, rather than employing a consistent rate across all group matches.
The English Football Association provided pricing details to the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) on Thursday evening, indicating that a fan purchasing tickets for every match up to the final would incur a cost of $7,020 (£5,228).
The pricing strategy was deemed “laughable” by the Football Supporters’ Association’s England Fans’ Embassy.
In a post on X, the England Fans’ Embassy remarked: “These prices are an insult to supporters who consistently back their teams outside of this marquee tournament that only occurs once every four years.”
“Labeling the Category 3 tickets, the cheapest option for ESTC members, ‘Supporter Value Category 3,’ priced at $7,020 for those following England from the start, is absurd.”
The fans group Free Lions expressed support for FSE’s stance on X, calling the prices “shocking” and exceeding what they anticipated.
“We must not let this happen. Fans everywhere deserve shielding from these inflated costs,” the organization stated.
FIFA announced in September that tickets sold through its website would range from $60 for group stage matches to $6,730 for the final, but these prices could fluctuate due to the implementation of dynamic pricing for the first time at the World Cup.
FIFA offers tickets in four categories, the most premium being Category 1.
In the German federation’s price list, only three categories were presented.
The lowest-priced ticket was $180 for Germany‘s opening group match against Curacao in Houston. The cheapest semifinal ticket was priced at $920, climbing to $1,125.
FSE urged FIFA to immediately stop ticket sales through national associations “until a resolution that honors the tradition, inclusiveness, and cultural importance of the World Cup is established.”
The Associated Press reached out to FIFA for comment.
On Thursday, FIFA initiated the third phase of its extensive ticket sales, allowing fans to apply for specific matches for the first time through its “Random Selection Draw.”
After last week’s draw for the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, an updated match schedule has been released.
Previously, ticket lotteries were conducted blindly as the qualifying rounds were ongoing, and the draw was yet to take place.
Now, the participating nations are grouped, and their tournament pathways are set. For instance, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could potentially clash in the quarterfinals in Kansas City if Argentina and Portugal emerge as group leaders.
However, fans are not guaranteed tickets to the matches they apply for.
The draw opened on Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. ET (4 p.m. GMT) and will close on January 13, 2026.
In 1994, when the U.S. last hosted the World Cup, ticket prices were between $25 and $475. Ticket prices in Qatar in 2022 were announced to range from approximately $70 to $1,600.
Report includes information from The Associated Press and PA.