World football's governing body, FIFA, has announced a new, cheaper category of tickets for the 2026 tournament following intense criticism over the high cost of attending matches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
New 'Supporter Entry Tier' for Travelling Fans
In a statement released on Tuesday, December 16, FIFA confirmed the creation of 'Supporter Entry Tier' tickets priced at just 60 US dollars each. These affordable passes will be available for all 104 matches of the expanded tournament, including the final. FIFA described this move as a measure designed to further assist travelling fans who wish to follow their national teams throughout the competition.
The announcement comes as a direct response to mounting pressure from supporter groups across the globe. Last week, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) strongly criticised the initial pricing structure, labelling the costs as 'extortionate' and 'astronomical'. The group highlighted that current prices were nearly five times higher than those for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Addressing Fan Backlash and Broken Promises
FSE provided a stark example of the financial burden, stating that a fan following their team from the first match to the final would face a minimum cost of $6,900. The group also reminded organisers of a previous pledge made in a 2018 bid document, which promised tickets starting from as low as 21 dollars.
Under the new initiative, the $60 tickets will be exclusively reserved for supporters of the qualified teams and will make up 10 percent of each national football federation's ticket allocation. FIFA has requested that federations ensure these tickets 'are specifically allocated to loyal fans who are closely connected to their national teams'.
Refund Policy and Extraordinary Demand
In a related customer-friendly update, FIFA confirmed that supporters who buy tickets for knockout stage matches but see their team eliminated earlier in the tournament will have their administrative fee waived when processing refunds.
The organisation stated that this decision comes 'amid extraordinary global demand for tickets', revealing that a staggering 20 million ticket requests have already been submitted. The draw for tickets across all price categories in this first phase of sales is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13.
