Fans Condemn FIFA as Cheapest World Cup Final Ticket Set at $4,185
Football supporters’ groups across Europe have accused FIFA of abandoning ordinary fans after the governing body set the lowest-priced ticket for next year’s World Cup final at $4,185 (£3,119).
The organisation Football Supporters Europe said it was “astonished” by what it called an “extortionate” pricing model and urged FIFA to halt ticket sales immediately. The Football Supporters’ Association’s England Fans’ Embassy described the pricing as a “slap in the face”.
FIFA has not publicly responded to the backlash.
According to information obtained by BBC Sport, the final at MetLife Stadium in New York will have three pricing tiers:
- Supporter value: £3,119 ($4,185)
- Supporter standard: £4,162 ($5,560)
- Supporter premium: £6,615 ($8,860)
The figures represent a dramatic increase compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the cheapest final ticket cost £450 – meaning some seats for 2026 are nearly seven times more expensive. No concessions are available for children, seniors or other groups.
In another shift from previous tournaments, group-stage prices now vary by team popularity, rather than being set at a flat rate. As a result, supporters of high-profile sides such as England will pay significantly more than fans of other nations, though FIFA has not explained how it determined popularity rankings.
Example group-stage prices include:
- England vs Croatia (17 June): £198, £373, £523
- England vs Ghana: £164, £320, £447
- England vs Panama: £164, £346, £462
Scotland’s early matches are cheaper, with tickets for fixtures against Haiti and Morocco starting at £134 and £163 respectively. Scotland’s final group match against Brazil aligns with England’s top-tier pricing.
Knockout-stage tickets range from:
- Quarter-finals: £507–£1,073
- Semi-finals: £686–£2,363
Fans following their team through all eight matches will spend between £5,225 and £12,357, depending on tier – far higher than the £1,466 to £3,914 required for Qatar 2022, which covered seven games.
The main global ballot opened on Thursday, with members of national supporters’ clubs set to enter their own draws from Monday. Around 4,000 tickets per match are reserved for national associations, while additional seats are held back for FIFA partners. Dynamic pricing will not apply to ballot allocations.
