FIFA Eases World Cup Ticket Prices Amid Fan Backlash, Introduces ‘Supporter Entry Tier’ for 2026

FIFA created a $60 ticket option for all 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup after fans erupted over steep costs that stretched from $140 to $8,680. This new "supporter entry tier" will account for 10% of each national squad's ticket share, translating to about 1.6% of total seats available per match.

The news dropped Tuesday. Fans and national federations had slammed pricing that jumped 174% higher than what the 2018 bid book predicted. At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where the final unfolds on July 19, the cheapest tickets now run $4,185 — a 459% spike from the projected $1,099.

Each qualified squad receives 8% of available tickets per match. Half will now sit in the most affordable bracket, with 40% in the "supporter value tier" and 10% in the new entry tier at $60.

Individual national federations will manage distribution and determine who qualifies for the reduced-price seats. They're urged to give them to devoted fans with strong ties to their national squads.

"While we welcome FIFA's seeming recognition of the damage its original plans were to cause, the revisions do not go far enough," said Football Supporters Europe in a statement, according to The Athletic. "Based on the allocations publicly available, this would mean that at best a few hundred fans per match and team would be lucky enough to take advantage of the $60 prices, while the vast majority would still have to pay extortionate prices."

Brian Hexsel, president of the American Outlaws, said the change is "too little too late." He said the small number of tickets available at $60 will not meet supporter demand.

Andreas Rettig, managing director of the German DFB, said his group learned about prices mere hours before sales kicked off. "We would have liked to see cheaper tickets for our fans overall," said Rettig, according to The Athletic.

The group also reported Tuesday it pulled in 20 million ticket requests during the first five days of the current sales window, which stretches through Jan. 13.

On Tuesday, the FIFA Council greenlit a record $655 million prize fund for participating nations—a 50% bump from the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Winners pocket $50 million, while last-place finishers collect $9 million plus $1.5 million in preparation costs.

The tournament kicks off June 11, 2026, with matches spanning 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The final takes place July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.