FIFA has recently introduced a new ticket tier for the 2026 World Cup, aiming to make the tournament more affordable for football enthusiasts. The announcement follows a widespread outcry over high ticket prices on social media. However, the budget-friendly tickets come with an interesting catch.
FIFA cut World Cup 2026 ticket prices to $60, but there’s a twist
FIFA recently announced a new plan to make the 2026 World Cup more accessible to football lovers. Keeping up with fans’ wishes, the sports governing body has introduced a $60 ticket tier. The move aims to spread the excitement of the tournament among more soccer fans, who’ve been avid supporters since the beginning.
“Fans of the national teams that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will benefit from a dedicated ticket pricing tier, which has been designed to make following their teams on football’s greatest stage more affordable,” FIFA’s statement read.
However, there’s a catch to it. FIFA has reserved these tickets for loyal supporters of qualified teams. The so-called “supporter entry tier tickets” come in limited quantities. In fact, only 10% of each team’s allocated tickets are available at this comparatively low price. It equates to merely 0.8% of the stadium capacity per game. Hence, only a handful of fans will snag these affordable tickets, making them exclusive in quantity.
Each country would individually determine the deserving candidates for the cheaper tickets. FIFA’s official statement requests countries to “ensure that these tickets are specifically allocated to loyal fans who are closely connected to their national teams.”
FIFA’s announcement comes after fans screamed betrayal over the steep ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup. The tickets range from $140 for some initial-round games to a whopping $2,735 for the U.S. opening match against Paraguay in LA. The prices are even higher for knockout rounds. The cheapest final ticket costs $4,185, with the premium seats going for $8,680.
The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico next summer.
