FIFA Launches New £45 World Cup Ticket After 2026 Pricing Backlash

World Cup organisers have introduced a new lower priced ticket category for the 2026 tournament following strong criticism from fans over soaring costs. FIFA confirmed on Tuesday that it has created a limited “Supporter Entry Tier” ticket, priced at $60, around £45, for all 104 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including the final. The move comes after widespread complaints that ticket prices risked pushing loyal supporters out of the World Cup experience.

In a statement, football’s global governing body said the new ticket tier was “designed to further support travelling fans following their national teams across the tournament”. FIFA added that the $60 tickets would be reserved exclusively for supporters of teams that qualify for the World Cup. According to the organisation, these tickets will account for 10 percent of each national federation’s ticket allocation.

Despite the announcement, the reaction from organised fan groups and political leaders suggests that dissatisfaction remains high. Critics argue that while the move signals a shift, it does not meaningfully address the broader affordability crisis surrounding the 2026 tournament.

Why did FIFA introduce the $60 supporter ticket?

The decision follows intense backlash from Football Supporters Europe, which last week described FIFA’s original ticket pricing as “extortionate” and “astronomical”. The group highlighted that prices for the 2026 World Cup were nearly five times higher than those at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. FSE previously called the pricing strategy a “monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup”.

The organisation also pointed to a sharp contrast between current prices and earlier promises. It said that if a supporter followed their team from the group stage to the final, it would cost a minimum of $6,900. This figure stood in stark opposition to a 2018 bid document in which World Cup organisers promised ticket prices starting from $21.

Following FIFA’s announcement, FSE acknowledged the shift but maintained that it fell short. “While we welcome FIFA’s seeming recognition of the damage its original plans were to cause, the revisions do not go far enough,” the group said in a statement.

Does the new ticket policy solve affordability concerns?

FSE argued that FIFA’s partial reversal exposed deeper problems in how ticket prices were set. “For the moment we are looking at the FIFA announcement as nothing more than an appeasement tactic due to the global negative backlash,” the organisation said. It added, “This shows that FIFA’s ticketing policy is not set in stone, was decided in a rush, and without proper consultation — including with FIFA’s own member associations.”

The group also criticised the limited availability of the cheaper tickets, stating that “at best a few hundred fans per match and team would be lucky enough to take advantage of the 60 US dollar prices, while the vast majority would still have to pay extortionate prices, way higher than at any tournament before.” FSE further raised concerns about the lack of clear provisions for supporters with disabilities or their companions.

The criticism was echoed by Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who welcomed the move but urged 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 has defended the new category by urging national federations to ensure the tickets reach loyal supporters. It also announced that fans who purchase knockout stage tickets but see their team eliminated earlier will have the administrative fee waived during the refund process. The organisation said the changes come “amid extraordinary global demand for tickets”, revealing that 20 million requests have already been submitted.

The first round of ticket sales, covering all price categories, will be decided through a draw scheduled for Tuesday, January 13.

By Yockshard Enyendi