FIFA has significantly reduced the ongoing controversy over ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, announcing that a small number of fans will be able to pay just 45 pounds (about $60) for each match, including the final.
Following protests from a number of domestic fan groups and accusations of “betrayal” by supporters, FIFA made sudden and drastic changes to its original fee structure, meaning an almost 500 per cent increase across the board compared to the 2022 Qatar tournament.
Under this structure, the cheapest ticket available to England and Scotland fans for the tournament will still be £134 for Scotland’s opening group game against Haiti, with fans expected to pay a minimum of £198 for England vs. Croatia and Scotland vs. Brazil.
While the £45 slots are only available through national federations and ensure they are in the hands of genuine supporters, they still represent only around 10 per cent of the allocation each federation receives and less than 1 per cent of the total capacity for each match.
Initially, there were no tickets available for less than £500 after the quarter-finals, with the cheapest tickets for the final costing more than £3,000. Fans who follow their team from the group stages to the final would have had to pay at least £5,000 to get this privilege.
FIFA’s cuts follow a meeting of senior officials in Doha this week, where federations, including the Football Association, are thought to have shared concerns about the pricing model. Initial feedback on the price, announced last Thursday, has been regularly discussed since the beginning of the weekend.
A FIFA source close to the discussions said: “The demand for tickets has been extraordinary, with over 20 million requests so far at this latest stage. We have listened to the feedback and this new category is the right move.”
“It was unanimously agreed to make $60 (£45) tickets available to more fans, including our most loyal traveling fans. The association will need to consider who is best suited to receive tickets.
“This is a unique tournament and a unique market, especially in the US where resale is allowed on secondary platforms.
“Demand is extremely high. No body supports the development of football around the world like FIFA. All 211 associations, including the poorest countries, will benefit from the commercial success of the World Cup.”
“The devil is in the details – you can’t just buy a £45 ticket”
Sky Sports News Chief Correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:
“Last Thursday, there was a huge backlash after FIFA announced ticket prices for World Cup matches.
“The devil is in the details. For England’s opening game against Croatia in Dallas, the FA will have 4,022 tickets available. Just 402 will be available for £45.”
“Scotland’s opening game against Haiti will be played in Boston. Scotland have received 5,280 tickets for that game, so at this new price they will only have 528 tickets.”
“For the final at MetLife Stadium, each participating association will receive approximately 6,600 tickets. Each association will receive approximately 660 tickets at a cost of £45.
“FIFA has told the federations to ensure these tickets go to their most loyal fans. It is up to each federation to decide whether or not to distribute tickets, but please do not expect anyone to be able to buy a £45 ticket easily. Quantities are quite small and only available to the most loyal fans.”
