FIFA has announced a new £45 ($60) ticket tier for all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup, responding to criticism over the high cost of attending the tournament. The tickets are intended for "loyal fans" of teams that have qualified, according to the governing body.
FIFA has announced a new £45 ($60) ticket tier for all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup, responding to criticism over the high cost of attending the tournament. The tickets are intended for "loyal fans" of teams that have qualified, according to the governing body.
A FIFA official involved in discussions said the decision was unanimous and described it as a response to fan feedback. "We have listened to feedback, and this new category is the right thing to do," they said.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the new pricing but urged further action to keep tickets within reach for true supporters. Under the previous pricing plan, following England through to the final would have cost more than £5,000.
The £45 tickets belong to the 'supporter entry tier', the lowest-priced category, and will make up 10% of each football association’s allocation for the tournament, which will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. For England and Scotland, this amounts to around 400 tickets for each of their group matches.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), described the move as a "hollow gesture," suggesting it is a superficial response rather than a genuine solution. Football Supporters Europe (FSE) also acknowledged FIFA's recognition of the issue but said the changes are insufficient.
FIFA explained that the new ticket category will be distributed through the participating member associations (PMAs), which will set their own criteria to ensure the tickets reach fans with a strong connection to their national teams.
Overall, 50% of each association’s allocation will be in the more affordable range: 40% in the supporter value tier and 10% in the supporter entry tier. The remaining tickets are divided between the supporter standard tier and the supporter premier tier.
FA officials are now working to decide which fans will receive the limited number of entry-tier tickets, aiming to reward those who have demonstrated long-term loyalty. One challenge is that the number of loyal fans far exceeds the available tickets.
Demand has been exceptionally high, with over 20 million requests in the latest ticket phase. FIFA emphasized the unique nature of the tournament and the North American market, noting that the successful sale of tickets supports football development worldwide.
While some fan groups see the new pricing as a minor improvement, others remain critical. The FSA highlighted that the small number of affordable tickets will not resolve the majority of fans’ inability to attend. Greatrex noted that only a fraction of loyal supporters will benefit, and the high overall cost risks undermining the atmosphere and accessibility of the World Cup.
The FSE also stressed that no new arrangements have been announced for supporters with disabilities and described FIFA's announcement as a temporary appeasement in response to global criticism.
Despite criticisms, the FSA’s Fans’ Embassy for England supporters called the introduction of entry-tier tickets "a step in the right direction," acknowledging the effect of fan pressure but emphasizing that the majority of tickets remain prohibitively expensive.
Ticket prices for the 2026 tournament represent a significant increase from the 2022 World Cup. In Qatar, group stage matches were priced at £68.50, £164.50, and £219, whereas matches like England v Croatia or Scotland v Brazil in 2026 were initially set between £198 and £523.
Prices rise sharply in later rounds, with quarter-finals at £507–£1,073, semi-finals at £686–£2,363, and finals starting at £3,119, more than seven times higher than in Qatar. No concessions are offered for children or other groups.
