In a significant reversal, FIFA has been compelled to reduce ticket prices for the upcoming 2026 Football World Cup following intense global criticism from supporters. The governing body announced a new, cheaper ticket category, meaning some fans could now witness the grand final for as low as $60 (approximately Rs 5,400), a stark contrast to the earlier top price of $4,185.
A Concession to Fan Power
The decision marks a rare climbdown for FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino. The initial ticketing strategy, which offered no tickets to participating nations in the lowest price bracket, sparked widespread anger among fan groups worldwide. The backlash was so severe that FIFA introduced a "Supporter Entry Tier" specifically to accommodate traveling supporters.
However, there is a major catch. The availability of these $60 tickets is extremely limited, with only about 400 to 750 tickets per team allocated for each match. Crucially, these budget tickets will not be available for general public sale. They will be distributed exclusively by the football associations of the 48 countries competing in the tournament, specifically for matches involving their own national teams. This means fans from nations not participating in the World Cup cannot access these cheap tickets.
The Scale of the 2026 Tournament and Initial Pricing
The 2026 edition, to be hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is the first to feature 48 teams. It is projected to be FIFA's most lucrative event, with expected revenues surpassing $10 billion. The organization has already reported over 20 million ticket requests in its latest sales phase.
Prior to this change, the cheapest tickets for group-stage games not involving the co-hosts (USA, Canada, Mexico) ranged from $140 to $265. The higher-end of this range applied to matches featuring popular teams like Lionel Messi's Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, Brazil, and England. The standard allocation for teams is 8% of a stadium's capacity.
Reactions and Political Undertones
Fan advocacy groups have viewed the limited price cut as a tactical move rather than a genuine change of heart. The Football Supporters Europe group labelled it "an appeasement tactic due to the global negative backlash." In a statement, they argued that this move proves "FIFA’s ticketing policy is not set in stone, was decided in a rush, and without proper consultation."
The controversy over ticket pricing adds to a challenging period for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has also faced scrutiny for his political alignments. He was recently criticized for awarding a peace prize to former U.S. President Donald Trump. The 2026 World Cup draw itself was attended by Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Washington in December 2025.
While FIFA has not provided a detailed rationale for the policy shift, it stated that the lower prices are "designed to further support traveling fans following their national teams across the tournament." For a select few supporters, this could mean the dream of attending a World Cup final just became significantly more affordable.
