FIFA announces new $60 World Cup ticket after dynamic pricing backlash

Tom Weber

• Updated: 16 Dec 2025 13:34 CST
• 4 min read

News

FIFA has announced a new Supporter Entry Tier that will see ticket prices capped at $60 for fans of qualified countries.

Football's global governing body has responded to widespread backlash from supporters and the media over its dynamic ticket pricing for the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Before ticket sales began via a dedicated lottery system, FIFA had claimed that tickets could be bought for as low as USD 60. However, it quickly became clear to those who were selected for the purchasing process that those tickets were few and far between.

Instead, prices for single games were in the hundreds and even thousands, not including accommodation and travel, of course. On third-party seller StubHub, tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium were listed for hundreds of thousands of dollars shortly after sales began.

With hotels across the US, Canada and Mexico hiking prices in anticipation of the World Cup, there have been fears that the matchgoing fan would be priced out of attending football's showpiece event.

FIFA implements new pricing tier

In response, FIFA has now implemented its new Supporter Entry Tier for supporters of participating nations, which will see ticket prices capped at $60. The tickets will be available for all 104 matches next summer.

FIFA claims that it has received 20 million ticket requests in the current sales phase, which is the final lottery phase before the remaining inventory will be sold on an open market closer to the start of the tournament. The lottery window remains open until 13 January.

"The entry tier tickets will be allocated specifically to supporters of qualified teams, with the selection and distribution process managed individually by the Participating Member Associations (PMAs)," FIFA has announced.

"Each PMA will define its own eligibility criteria and application process. They are requested to ensure that these tickets are specifically allocated to loyal fans who are closely connected to their national teams."

While it is great that FIFA has responded to the widespread backlash, it is worth reading the small print of its statement, which somewhat buries how many tickets in this new pricing category will actually be sold.

FIFA says that only 10 per cent of the allocated PMA tickets will be in the Supporter Entry Tier. 40 per cent will be sold in a "Value Tier," with prices roughly corresponding to the Category 3 tickets available to the general public (around $265 for a group stage game).

The rest of the allocation is split between higher-priced "Premium" and "Standard" tiers. This means that only around 1,000 of these Supporter Entry tickets are available per game, roughly equating to 1.6% of the available inventory.

FIFA concludes its attempt at damage limitation by insisting that it reinvests its revenues into the sport, therefore implying that the extortionate ticket prices are justified.

"As a not-for-profit organisation, FIFA reinvests the revenue it generates from the FIFA World Cup to fuel the growth of men’s, women’s and youth football throughout the 211 FIFA Member Associations.

"FIFA expects to reinvest over 90% of its budgeted investments for the 2023-2026 cycle back into the game, with the aim of significantly boosting the development of football around the world."

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