Prize Money Rise in FIFA World Cup 2026 Sparks Debate Over Ticket Prices and Fan Accessibility
Prize money for teams participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to increase by more than 50% compared to the tournament held four years earlier. However, ticket prices for the 2026 event are reported to be more than double those charged for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This increase has prompted criticism, with many arguing that the expanded prize money demonstrates the capacity to lower prices for fans and supporters.
To address affordability and accessibility concerns, several proposals have been suggested. These include redistributing a portion of the prize money to reduce ticket prices for disabled-access seating and providing approximately 300 free match tickets per game to fans traveling with drums, flags, and face paint. Other proposed measures involve scrapping dynamic pricing and banning ticket resales, aiming to improve affordability.
A critical discussion centers on whether prize money should continue to go primarily to national football associations, as is currently the case with organizations like Spain's Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), or whether more of these funds should be redirected towards reducing costs for fans and enhancing accessibility. For instance, Spain’s federation would receive around $29 million if it reaches the semi-finals in 2026. The Spanish federation’s 2026 budget is €403.5 million, with €87 million redistributed to clubs. Additionally, hosting the Spanish Super Cup generates about €40 million annually, with FC Barcelona, as winners, taking roughly €9 million.
Critics argue that the current financial model mainly benefits FIFA and member associations rather than the fans, which could erode public support for the tournament. In light of these issues, the 37 FIFA Council members gathered in Doha for a World Cup planning meeting, where they underscored the need to reconsider whom FIFA ultimately serves and how the prize money allocation should be handled.
