On Wednesday, FIFA unveiled its plans for a final wave of ticket sales for the upcoming World Cup.
The organization revealed that over one million tickets were sold during the previous sales phase from December to February. An additional batch of tickets will be available for general purchase starting April 1, continuing until the tournament concludes, which is scheduled from June 11 to July 19.
– World Cup playoff tickets available for under $17
– FIFA reduces certain World Cup ticket prices following backlash
This latest ticket release follows a statement from FIFA president Gianni Infantino in January, where he expressed that ticket demand was likened to “1,000 years of World Cups at once,” predicting that all 104 matches in this edition of the Cup would sell out.
FIFA has encountered substantial criticism regarding its ticket pricing strategy for this tournament, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In December, fans labeled FIFA’s pricing strategy a “monumental betrayal” when tickets ranged from $140 for the cheapest group matches to an astounding $8,680 for the final.
On Tuesday, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) announced its collaboration with consumer group Euroconsumers to file a formal complaint with the European Commission concerning ticket prices.
FSE criticized the excessive ticket prices and the introduction of “dynamic pricing” at this World Cup, which may cause ticket costs to escalate even further.
FIFA stated that the remaining tickets would be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans will have the ability to choose specific seats, and those who have already purchased tickets will be able to check their allocated seats starting April 1.