At a Glance
- Group Stage seats reached $700 at face value, Final tickets listed in the thousands
- FIFA added limited $60 tickets per match after backlash
- Fans worldwide fear being priced out of the tournament
- Why it matters: The sport’s marquee event may exclude the very supporters who sustain it
FIFA’s largest-ever World Cup is set to unfold across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer, featuring a record 48 teams. Yet excitement is colliding with sticker shock as fans confront unprecedented ticket prices that threaten to shut out everyday supporters.
Sky-High Prices Shock Fans
The latest ticketing phase, the Random Selection Draw, listed some Group Stage seats at $700 apiece. Most World Cup Final tickets carried four-figure price tags. The figures apply to face-value sales-not resale markets where costs soar even higher.
FIFA later released a limited batch of $60 tickets for every match after a wave of online complaints. The move has done little to calm anger stretching from living rooms to the United Kingdom’s Downing Street.
“As someone who used to save up for England tickets, I encourage FIFA to do more to make tickets more affordable so that the World Cup doesn’t lose touch with the genuine supporters who make the game so special,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer posted on X in December.
Fans Struggle to Justify Cost
British supporter Jo McNicol has already booked flights and an RV for a cross-country road trip, but she refuses to pay the inflated ticket prices. She attended the 2022 Final in Qatar, where her accessibility seat included a companion ticket at no extra charge. This year, that perk is gone.
“It’s just been unfair,” McNicol told News Of Losangeles. “You have to re-mortgage, get loans. Nobody has that sort of spare money for one match.”
Henry Bushnell, senior writer for The Athletic, told News Of Losangeles that even the primary-market prices are “by far the most expensive in World Cup history.”
Organizers Defend Pricing Model
FIFA stated that $60 tickets will be allocated to national federations for every match. In a written response, the organization said the pricing model “reflects the existing market practice for major entertainment and sporting events within our hosts on a daily basis, soccer included.”
The governing body added that it is “focused on ensuring fair access to our game for existing but also prospective fans,” but declined to comment on the record about accessibility-specific concerns.
Visa Hurdles Add to Fan Frustration
Immigration hurdles compound the price barrier. The Trump Administration has tightened visa approvals for countries including Iran, Senegal, and Haiti-all of which qualified for the tournament. In response, the U.S. government and FIFA launched FIFA PASS, a program that promises expedited visa appointments for ticket holders.
Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, vowed in a press release that the 2026 event will be “the greatest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history.”
American Supporters Sound Alarm
Brian Hexsel, president of the American Outlaws, labeled the prices “absolutely insane.”
“My biggest fear is that FIFA has actually stopped the growing of the sport in the U.S.,” Hexsel said.
Despite the uproar, demand remains staggering. FIFA announced that more than 500 million ticket requests flooded the Random Selection Draw.
“Americans love things that are big and spectacular,” Bushnell noted, “and that’s what FIFA is trying to make this World Cup.”
Key Takeaways
- Face-value Group Stage tickets hit $700, with Final seats climbing into the thousands
- FIFA released limited $60 tickets after public backlash, yet many fans remain priced out
- Accessibility perks that existed in 2022, such as free companion tickets, have disappeared
- Visa restrictions for several qualifying nations add another barrier for international visitors
- U.S. supporter groups warn that high costs could stunt soccer’s domestic growth
- Despite price concerns, FIFA recorded 500 million ticket requests, signaling robust-if polarized-interest
