Concerns Over FIFA's Ticket Pricing for 2026 World Cup and Its Impact on Fans and Future Hosting
FIFA's ticket pricing structure for the 2026 World Cup has assigned approximately 8% of tickets per venue to national supporters, but requires a substantial upfront payment. Fans purchasing the full group-to-final package could face costs around £5,000. The tickets are divided into three categories, with Category 3 as the base level, while Category 2 prices can rise up to £8,600 and Category 1 up to £12,400. Additionally, fans must pay around £4,500 upfront for knockout-game tickets included in the 8% allocation.
Refunds are issued by FIFA within 60 calendar days after a team’s elimination minus a $10 administrative fee. However, such high pricing puts significant strain on loyal supporters. One author, having attended 14 tournaments, expressed refusal to spend about £5,000 on tickets and declared he would not participate in this price scheme. The pricing approach risks alienating fans from different countries and could undermine the qualifying atmosphere along with the loyalty built over many years.
The article calls on the Football Association to lobby FIFA for a reconsideration of these pricing policies and to collaborate with other federations, including Spain and Portugal who will co-host the 2030 World Cup, to advocate for change. The author asserts there is no chance England will host a men's World Cup under the current FIFA leadership and suggests that England withdraw cooperation while inviting FIFA president Gianni Infantino to Wembley.
Contrasting with previous pricing proposals, the 2018 bid book suggested Category 3 tickets at $174 for group matches and $695 for the final. This is also notably lower than the Category 3 final tickets at Euro 2024 priced at €300. The current pricing model thus marks a significant increase and has sparked debate over fan affordability and the future of hosting rights.
