FIFA Offers $60 World Cup Tickets with Restrictions

FIFA recently announced a pricing tier for the 2026 World Cup tickets, addressing concerns over affordability. The tournament will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico next summer. In light of complaints regarding ticket prices, FIFA introduced a special tier, offering tickets priced at $60 for a limited number of games.

Details on the $60 World Cup Tickets

These newly introduced “supporter entry tier tickets” aim to make the event accessible for fans of qualified national teams. However, there are important restrictions:

• Only supporters of qualifying teams can purchase these tickets.
• They are limited to just 10% of the total tickets allocated to each team.
• This equates to about 0.8% of the stadium’s capacity for individual games, or 1.6% for both teams combined.

Each participating country will determine which fans qualify for these discounted tickets. FIFA has urged countries to allocate tickets to loyal fans closely associated with their national teams.

Concerns Over High Ticket Prices

Initial ticket prices for the World Cup range from $140 for some early matches to as high as $2,735 for the opening game, which features the U.S. against Paraguay in Los Angeles. Notably, tickets for knockout rounds can reach exorbitant prices, such as $4,185 for the cheapest option for the final match scheduled in July in New Jersey, and $8,680 for premium seating.

This pricing markedly exceeds previous decades; for context, the highest-priced ticket for the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar was approximately $1,600. Unlike previous events, FIFA has not provided a clear pricing list for this World Cup. Instead, it has chosen to vary prices throughout different sales periods.

Reaction from Fan Groups

Football Supporters Europe expressed dissatisfaction with the ticket prices, labeling them a “betrayal” to loyal fans. They acknowledged FIFA’s move to introduce lower-priced tickets but emphasized that access will remain limited, affecting only a few hundred fans per match. Most fans will still face high costs, significantly exceeding previous tournaments.

Despite the backlash, FIFA reports a robust interest in tickets, with over 20 million requests already logged during the current sales window, which remains open until January 13. However, the overall expenses for following a team throughout the tournament—including travel and accommodation—are likely to make the 2026 World Cup one of the costliest for fans.