FIFA accused of "exorbitant' ticket prices for 2026 World Cup

Football Supporters Europe (FSE), the leading continental organisation representing football supporters, has expressed its outrage at FIFA's announced ticket pricing policy for fans at the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico. In a scathing statement, FSE accuses the world body of ignoring the tournament's tradition and imposing costs that will exclude loyal supporters. According to data obtained by FSE from confidential documents distributed by FIFA, the minimum cost for a fan who would like to watch all of their national team's matches through a PMA (Participating Member Association) allocation - the system through which national associations distribute tickets to official fan groups - would be at least $6,900. This is almost five times more than the similar cost during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The FSE states that fans will have to pay the full amount at the beginning of 2026 to be able to benefit from the entire route of the team to the final.

• Cheapest category, withdrawn for general sale

The organization accuses FIFA of not making available to national associations the most affordable ticket category (category 4), reserved exclusively for general sale, where a system of "dynamic pricing” is applied, prices variable according to demand. "This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup,” the FSE reports, emphasizing that FIFA ignores the importance of loyal fans in creating the unique atmosphere of the competition. FIFA introduces a new pricing policy: variable according to "perceived attractiveness” For the first time in the history of the tournament, there will no longer be a single price for group stage matches. FIFA introduces a differentiated price structure based on: the "perceived attractiveness” of the match, the interest generated by the teams, the time of the game.

FSE warns that this system will generate different prices for the same category of tickets, at the same stage of the competition, without transparency regarding the criteria applied. The association brings up the promises made in 2018 by FIFA, when the world forum advocated for more democratized access to the World Cup expanded to 48 teams. At that time, it was announced that the cheapest tickets could cost up to $ 21, and a complete package until the final should have cost $ 2,242. "This promise has long disappeared,” says FSE.

• FSE calls for halt to sales and resumption of consultations

As an urgent measure, the organization calls on FIFA to: immediately halt the sale of PMA tickets, initiate consultations with all stakeholders, fans, national federations, fan organizations, review the pricing structure and distribution by category. The goal: find a solution that respects the tradition, universality and cultural significance of the World Cup.