FIFA Faces Backlash Over Sky-High World Cup Ticket Prices
So, there’s a huge storm brewing around the 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket prices, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. Fans across Europe and beyond are calling the new pricing structure a “monumental betrayal,” and that phrase is being repeated everywhere right now. What’s happening is that supporters, especially the ones who’ve followed their national teams for years, are discovering that the cost of simply attending games has been pushed to staggering new heights.
To give you an idea of how drastic the jump is, the cheapest ticket for next year’s World Cup final is being priced at just over £3,100. Yes, that’s the lowest tier. By comparison, the same level of ticket at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was about £450. That means prices have shot up almost seven times in just one tournament cycle. And that’s only the final. Even group-stage games—traditionally the most affordable part of the World Cup—are now being priced according to how “attractive” the fixture is, instead of using the flat rates fans have been used to in the past.
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Football Supporters Europe, one of the biggest voices representing fans, has said it’s “astonished” by what it calls “extortionate” pricing. They’re demanding that FIFA halt ticket sales immediately and reopen discussions on how tickets are being allocated and priced. Their argument is that the World Cup, which has always been marketed as the most universal, accessible global sporting event, suddenly feels like it’s being fenced off for only the wealthiest spectators.
Fans who travel the world to support their teams are already doing the math, and the numbers are grim. Following a team from the opening match all the way through to the final could cost supporters well over £5,000 in tickets alone—almost five times what it cost during the last tournament. And that doesn’t include flights, accommodation, or the fact that the tournament is spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which was always going to push travel costs even higher.
Supporters from England and Scotland have already spoken publicly about what this means for them. Some families are reconsidering attending altogether because a full tournament trip could easily reach £15,000 or more. Others who had planned to fly in and out throughout the group and knockout stages are now saying it may no longer be possible.
What’s making fans even more frustrated is the lack of transparency. The cheaper “Category 4” tickets—usually reserved for residents of the host country—won’t be available through national associations at all, and prices in the remaining tiers vary wildly from match to match. It’s being felt as a complete break from the promises made in the original 2026 bid, where tickets as low as $21 were suggested.
Right now, FIFA hasn’t given a public response to the backlash. But the message from supporters is crystal clear: the joy and tradition of the World Cup are being priced beyond reach, and something needs to change before trust is lost entirely.
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