FIFA has responded to a global outcry by significantly reducing the cost of some World Cup tickets for the event’s most dedicated supporters. Some fans will now have the opportunity to pay just $60 for a seat at the final, as opposed to the previously staggering price of $4,185.
On Tuesday, FIFA announced that $60 tickets will be offered for every match in the upcoming North American tournament. These tickets will be allocated to the national federations of the participating teams, which will then determine the distribution process for loyal fans who have consistently supported their teams both at home and abroad.
The availability of these $60 tickets is expected to be limited, with only a few hundred available per match under the newly introduced “Supporter Entry Tier” pricing category.
While FIFA did not directly address the reasons behind this abrupt pricing adjustment, it did mention that the reduced prices aim to “further support traveling fans” who follow their national teams throughout the competition.
The upcoming World Cup, hosted across North America, marks the first tournament featuring 48 teams, an increase from the previous 32. This expansion is projected to generate at least $10 billion in revenue for FIFA, with matches taking place across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Last week, fans across the globe expressed outrage upon discovering FIFA’s initial ticketing strategy, which did not allocate any tickets in the lowest price category to participating teams.
The cheapest prices ranged from $120 to $265 for group-stage games that did not involve the three co-hosting countries.
FIFA had set those prices despite the co-hosts having pledged eight years ago — when they were bidding for the tournament — that hundreds of thousands of $21 tickets would be made available.
Criticism from fans, especially in Europe, had been increasing for several months over plans for “dynamic pricing” plus extra fees on a FIFA-run resale platform — both features which are common in the U.S. entertainment industry but not to soccer fans worldwide.
Fan anger intensified last week when it became clear loyal supporters would have no access to the cheapest category tickets and that fans who wanted to reserve a ticket for all of their team’s potential games — through the final — would not get refunded until after the tournament.
In another climbdown Tuesday, FIFA said it would waive its administrative fees when refunds are made after the July 19 final.
The 12 four-team groups that make up the World Cup draw were selected earlier in December. The United States will play in Group D, along with Paraguay, Australia and the winner of UEFA playoff C. The teams there are Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo. The playoff games will be decided in March 2026.
The World Cup games will begin on June 11, with a game between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City and South Korea playing the winner of UEFA playoff D in Guadalajara. The World Cup final will be held in New Jersey on July 19.
