World Cup organisers have announced a new, cheaper category of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following intense criticism over the cost of attending the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In a statement released on Tuesday, FIFA confirmed the introduction of “Supporter Entry Tier” tickets priced at $60 each. The tickets will be available for all 104 matches at the tournament, including the final, marking a significant shift after fans described earlier pricing as unaffordable.
According to FIFA, the initiative is aimed at easing the financial burden on travelling supporters who want to follow their national teams throughout the competition. The $60 tickets will be reserved exclusively for fans of qualified countries and will account for 10 percent of each national federation’s ticket allocation.
The decision comes after mounting pressure from supporters’ groups, particularly Football Supporters Europe (FSE), which last week described the original ticket prices as “extortionate” and “astronomical.”
FSE claimed ticket costs for the 2026 tournament were nearly five times higher than those at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The group also estimated that a fan following their team from the group stage to the final would spend at least $6,900 on tickets alone.
FSE further pointed out that World Cup organisers had previously promised ticket prices starting from $21 in the original 2018 bid documents, intensifying frustration among fans.
In announcing the new pricing tier, FIFA urged national football federations to ensure the discounted tickets are allocated to loyal supporters with a strong connection to their national teams. The governing body also sought to reassure fans purchasing knockout-stage tickets, stating that those whose teams are eliminated earlier than expected will have administrative fees waived when refunds are processed.
FIFA said the move comes amid what it described as “extraordinary global demand,” revealing that more than 20 million ticket requests have already been submitted. The first-round draw for tickets across all pricing categories is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 13.
The introduction of the $60 ticket tier is expected to ease tensions with supporters and renew hopes that the expanded 2026 World Cup will be more accessible to fans from around the world.
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