In response to growing criticism over ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA has introduced a new affordable ticket category to support traveling fans.
Announced on December 16, 2025, FIFA introduced the “Supporter Entry Tier,” priced at $60 each, which will be available for all 104 matches of the tournament, including the final. This new category aims to provide more accessible options for fans following their national teams across the three host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
These tickets will be reserved exclusively for fans of qualified nations and will account for 10 percent of each national federation’s ticket allocation.
The decision comes after significant backlash from supporter groups. Football Supporters Europe (FSE) recently criticized ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup as "extortionate" and "astronomical," arguing that the costs were nearly five times higher than those for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. FSE estimated that a fan attending every match from the group stage to the final would spend at least $6,900 on tickets alone.
Additionally, supporters pointed to FIFA's 2018 bid document, which promised tickets starting at just $21, contrasting sharply with the current pricing.
In response, FIFA assured that the new “Supporter Entry Tier” would be distributed to "loyal fans" closely connected to their national teams. Furthermore, FIFA confirmed that fans purchasing tickets for knockout rounds, only to see their teams eliminated early, would be eligible for refunds without administrative fees.
The move follows a surge in ticket requests, with over 20 million submissions already received. The first phase of ticket sales, which includes all pricing categories, is set for January 13, 2026.
Source: MyNewsGh.com
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