A Late Move To Calm Angry Supporters
FIFA has finally blinked.
After weeks of mounting criticism over the cost of attending the 2026 World Cup, football’s governing body has announced a new $60 Supporter Entry Tier ticket. It is the cheapest official option revealed so far for a tournament already being labelled the most expensive in history.
The new tier applies to all 104 matches, including the final, and is reserved for fans of teams that qualify for the tournament. But there is a catch. These tickets make up just 10 percent of each national federation’s allocation and will be distributed through Participating Member Associations, not through general public sales.
How The New Ticket System Will Work
Under FIFA’s updated structure, half of each country’s ticket allocation will fall into lower priced categories. Forty percent will be sold under the Supporter Value Tier, with the additional 10 percent set aside for the new $60 option. The remaining tickets will be split between Standard and Premier categories.
National federations will also decide who qualifies as a “loyal fan,” giving them power to prioritise supporters closely connected to their teams. FIFA says this approach is meant to help travelling supporters rather than casual buyers or corporate clients.
Fans whose teams are eliminated before the knockout rounds will also be able to request refunds without paying administrative fees.
Fan Groups Say It Is Too Little, Too Late
The announcement follows sharp criticism from Football Supporters Europe, which last week described FIFA’s pricing as extortionate and accused the organisation of abandoning the traditional fan.
FSE argues that even with the new tier, only a few hundred supporters per match are likely to benefit, while the majority will still face prices far higher than at previous World Cups. The group estimates that following a team from the group stage to the final could still cost close to $7,000.
Posts on X described the move as a “PR patch” and an “appeasement tactic,” questioning why affordability was not built into the pricing model from the start.
Political Voices Join The Conversation
The backlash has now reached political level. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly welcomed the cheaper tickets but urged FIFA to go further, warning that the World Cup risks losing touch with the supporters who give the tournament its soul.
That message has resonated beyond Europe. In South Africa, where fans already face long-haul travel costs and weak currency exchange rates, the debate has struck a nerve. For many local supporters, ticket price is only one part of a far bigger financial barrier.
Massive Demand, Bigger Questions
Despite the controversy, FIFA says interest remains huge, with around 20 million ticket requests already submitted in the current sales phase. The first draw for tickets will take place in mid-January.
The bigger question is whether FIFA’s revised pricing truly reflects the spirit of the World Cup or simply manages the optics. For now, the $60 tickets offer a small opening for ordinary fans, but the wider fight over affordability, access and who the World Cup is really for is far from over.
Source: Super Sport
Featured Image Source: Qindao on X
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