FIFA has introduced a new “more affordable” ticket category for the 2026 World Cup, priced at $60 (£45) for all 104 matches in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, according to agencies.
However, only 10% of the allocation for each country’s team will fall under this category, limiting the number of affordable tickets per game.
This move follows a wave of criticism after FIFA's initial pricing structure, where tickets for the final were priced at more than $4,000 (£3,000), with some fans facing more than $6,000 (£5,000) in costs to attend every match.
UK's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a post on X welcomed the new tier but urged FIFA to do more to make tickets affordable, saying they should not “lose touch with the genuine supporters who make the game so special".
The Football Supporters' Association (FSA) in England called the move "scandalous" and "a step too far for many supporters..." criticising FIFA for not addressing the core issue of excessive ticket prices for most fans.
According to U.S. sports media company ESPN, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) echoed similar concerns, calling the change a “cynical attempt to deflect attention” rather than a genuine solution.
In a statement, FIFA said, "With demand in the current sales phase achieving 20 million ticket requests, FIFA has confirmed that fans of the national teams that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will benefit from a dedicated ticket pricing tier, which has been designed to make following their teams on football's greatest stage more affordable.
"The newly introduced Supporter Entry Tier will be available at the fixed price of $60 per ticket for each of the 104 matches, including the final," it added.
The new pricing model includes the $60 tickets in the "Supporter Entry Tier," aimed at loyal fans, and 40% of each country's allocation will fall under the "Supporter Value Tier."
The remaining 50% will be split between the "Supporter Standard Tier" and the "Supporter Premier Tier."
FIFA said that the decision was made unanimously, following meetings with football federations to address fan concerns.
As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, FIFA faces continued pressure to balance commercial success with the need to make the tournament more accessible to dedicated fans, with the affordability of tickets likely to remain a major point of contention.
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