World Cup organisers have announced a new cut-price ticket category following widespread criticism from supporters over the cost of attending the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA said on Tuesday that it has introduced a limited “Supporter Entry Tier” priced at $60 for all 104 matches, including the final.
In a statement, football’s global governing body said the initiative was “designed to further support travelling fans following their national teams across the tournament”. According to FIFA, the $60 tickets will be reserved exclusively for supporters of qualified teams and will account for 10 per cent of each national federation’s ticket allocation.
However, the move has failed to fully satisfy supporters’ groups. Football Supporters Europe (FSE), which last week described FIFA’s original pricing as “extortionate” and “astronomical”, said the new category did not go far enough.
“While we welcome FIFA’s seeming recognition of the damage its original plans were to cause, the revisions do not go far enough,” FSE said in a statement.
The group had previously noted that ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup were almost five times higher than those at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, describing the pricing strategy as a “monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup”. FSE also recalled that a bid document released in 2018 promised ticket prices starting from $21, adding that following a team from the group stage to the final could cost a supporter at least $6,900.
Reacting to FIFA’s announcement, FSE described the decision as little more than an “appeasement tactic” prompted by global backlash. The group argued that the limited allocation means only a few hundred fans per match would benefit from the lower price, while most supporters would still face what it described as historically high ticket costs. It also criticised the absence of specific provisions for supporters with disabilities and their companions.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed these concerns, welcoming the introduction of cheaper tickets but urging FIFA to go further. “I welcome FIFA’s announcement of some lower-priced supporters tickets,” Starmer wrote on X. “But 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.”
FIFA said national federations would be expected to ensure the discounted tickets are allocated to loyal fans closely connected to their teams. The organisation also announced that fans who purchase knockout-stage tickets but see their team eliminated earlier will have administrative fees waived during the refund process.
FIFA added that the changes come amid “extraordinary global demand”, with around 20 million ticket requests already submitted. The first round of ticket sales across all price categories is scheduled for January 13.
What you should know
The introduction of the $60 Supporter Entry Tier reflects FIFA’s response to mounting criticism over the affordability of attending the 2026 World Cup.
While the move signals acknowledgement of fan concerns, its limited scope has raised questions about whether it meaningfully addresses accessibility for ordinary supporters.
With demand already far exceeding supply and prices still significantly higher than previous tournaments, the debate highlights ongoing tension between commercial interests and preserving the World Cup’s traditional fan culture.
