High Costs and Criticism Surround Ticket Prices for World Cup 2026
The pricing for the 2026 World Cup tickets has drawn significant attention and criticism. The cheapest final ticket in the supporter value tier is priced at $4,185 (£3,120). For fans wishing to watch a full World Cup journey through the draw, the minimum cost for match tickets alone is about $7,000 (£5,240). When including flights and accommodation, the total expenditure for traveling supporters could reach around £10,000, which is more than five times the cost of attending the 2022 tournament. Even the cheapest match tickets now exceed £100 in price.
Football Supporters Europe has described the pricing as a monumental betrayal and has urged FIFA to pause sales on tickets allocated to participating nations, noting that these allocations are not subject to dynamic pricing. Additionally, a Scotland fan highlighted that taking a family could cost upwards of £15,000.
This pricing controversy unfolds amid broader criticism of the World Cup's human rights record. The situation contrasts with a statement from FIFA president Gianni Infantino in 2016, who said that football without the fans is nothing.
