In response to widespread criticism, FIFA has reduced ticket prices for some World Cup matches, offering select loyal fans seats for $60 instead of the initial $4,185 for the final.
As announced on Tuesday, FIFA will provide $60 tickets for every match during the tournament in North America, allocating them to national federations whose teams are participating. These federations are responsible for deciding how to distribute the tickets to dedicated fans who have consistently supported their teams at home and away.
The number of $60 tickets available for each match will likely be limited to the hundreds, as FIFA has introduced this as a “Supporter Entry Tier” pricing category.
While FIFA did not elaborate on the rationale for this substantial strategy shift, it stated that the lower prices aim to better assist traveling fans supporting their national teams throughout the tournament.
The upcoming World Cup in North America will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, up from 32, and is projected to generate at least $10 billion in revenue for FIFA. However, many fans expressed shock and outrage after viewing FIFA’s initial ticketing announcements, which provided no tickets in the lowest-priced tier for participating teams.
The starting ticket prices for group-stage matches not involving co-hosts USA, Canada, and Mexico were set between $120 and $265. According to information shared by the English Football Association with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC), the total cost for a fan purchasing a ticket to every match leading up to the final would exceed $7,000.
U.S. soccer officials, during the bidding process for the tournament seven years ago, aimed to make hundreds of thousands of $21 seats available in the early phases of the games. When the U.S. previously hosted the World Cup in 1994, ticket prices ranged from $25 to $475. In Qatar 2022, prices varied from approximately $70 to $1,600 at the time of the ticket release.
Feedback from fans, particularly in Europe, has voiced increasing discontent over the proposed “dynamic pricing” and additional fees on a FIFA-operated resale platform—features common in the U.S. entertainment market but unfamiliar to global soccer audiences.
The fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) applauded FIFA’s recent decision but argued that the changes still do not adequately address deficiencies, particularly regarding ticket pricing for disabled fans and the lack of companion tickets.
They stated, “For now, we view FIFA’s announcement as a mere response to the widespread criticism. We urge FIFA to engage in meaningful dialogue to find solutions that honor the contributions of fans and ensure dignity for supporters with disabilities.”
FIFA allocates 8% of tickets for games involving national teams to their associations for distribution to the most dedicated fans, stating that 10% of these will be sold at the $60 price point.
For the final, approximately 450 out of 4,500 tickets will be available at this reduced price.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on FIFA to take further steps.
“I appreciate FIFA’s announcement of some reduced-price tickets for supporters,” he stated on X. “However, as someone who has saved up for England tickets, I urge FIFA to do more to ensure ticket affordability, preventing the World Cup from becoming detached from the true supporters who make the game remarkable.”
A FIFA official familiar with the discussions revealed that the organization had “listened to feedback and believes this new category is the appropriate action.”
FIFA reiterated that it “reinvests the revenue from the FIFA World Cup to promote the growth of men’s, women’s, and youth football across all 211 FIFA Member Associations.”
The third phase of ticket sales began on Friday, resulting in 20 million ticket requests. This “random selection draw” phase allows fans to request tickets for specific matchups for the first time, running until January 13, 2026, with successful applicants to be notified by email in February and charged automatically.
In another concession on Tuesday, FIFA announced it would waive administrative fees for refunds issued after the final on July 19.
Information from The Associated Press and PA was incorporated into this report.