FIFA Introduces $60 Supporter Tickets for 2026 World Cup After Fan Backlash

FIFA has announced a new low-cost ticket category for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following widespread criticism from fans over high pricing for the tournament to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, December 16, FIFA confirmed the introduction of a limited “Supporter Entry Tier,” with tickets priced at $60 for all 104 matches, including the final. The governing body said the initiative is aimed at supporting travelling fans who follow their national teams throughout the tournament.

According to FIFA, the $60 tickets will be reserved exclusively for supporters of qualified teams and will account for around 10 percent of each national football federation’s ticket allocation.

The decision comes after fan groups strongly criticised the initial ticket prices. Football Supporters Europe (FSE) had earlier described the pricing as “extortionate” and “astronomical,” noting that costs for the 2026 World Cup were nearly five times higher than those at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

While welcoming FIFA’s partial revision, FSE said the move did not go far enough. “We see this announcement as little more than an appeasement tactic following global backlash,” the group said, adding that only a small number of fans would realistically benefit from the discounted tickets. FSE also criticised FIFA for failing to adequately address accessibility for supporters with disabilities and their companions.

The group previously estimated that following a team from the group stage to the final could cost fans a minimum of $6,900, despite earlier promises in FIFA’s 2018 bid documents that tickets would start at $21.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in, welcoming the cheaper ticket category but urging FIFA to do more. “I encourage FIFA to further reduce prices so the World Cup doesn’t lose touch with genuine supporters,” he said in a post on X.

FIFA stated that national federations will be responsible for ensuring the discounted tickets go to loyal fans closely connected to their teams. It also announced that fans who purchase knockout-stage tickets but whose teams are eliminated earlier will have administrative fees waived when refunds are processed.

The announcement comes amid what FIFA described as “extraordinary global demand,” with around 20 million ticket requests already submitted. The first round of ticket draws across all price categories is scheduled for January 13, 2026.