At a Glance
- World Cup Group Stage tickets now cost $700 at face value, Final seats listed in the thousands
- FIFA added limited $60 tickets after backlash, but fans say it’s not enough
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged FIFA to protect “genuine supporters”
- Why it matters: Fans fear the sport’s biggest stage is pricing out the very communities that sustain it
This summer’s FIFA World Cup will be the largest ever, with 48 teams playing in 16 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Yet the excitement is colliding with sticker shock as supporters confront ticket prices they call the most expensive in World Cup history.
Record-Breaking Prices
The latest sales phase, the Random Selection Draw, lists some Group Stage seats at $700. Most Final tickets carry four-figure price tags. Those figures are for primary-market sales, not resale platforms where costs soar even higher.
“Those primary market prices are already, by far, the most expensive in World Cup history,” said Henry Bushnell, senior writer for The Athletic, in an interview with Sarah L. Montgomery.
FIFA reacted to the outcry by releasing a small pool of $60 tickets for every match, allocating them to the national federations of competing teams. The gesture has done little to calm frustration.
Political Pressure
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer added his voice in December, posting on X: “As someone who used to save up for England tickets, I encourage FIFA to do more to make tickets more affordable so that the World Cup doesn’t lose touch with the genuine supporters who make the game so special.”
Fan Stories
England supporter Jo McNicol has already booked flights and an RV for a cross-country road trip but balked at ticket costs. McNicol, who uses a wheelchair, noted that the 2022 Final in Qatar included a free companion seat for accessibility ticket holders; this year it does not.
“You have to re-mortgage, get loans,” she told News Of Philadelphia. “Nobody has that sort of spare money for one match.”
Accessibility Questions
News Of Philadelphia asked FIFA about accessibility policies. The governing body declined on-the-record comment on that topic.
FIFA’s Defense
In a written response, FIFA said its pricing model “reflects the existing market practice for major entertainment and sporting events within our hosts on a daily basis, soccer included. This is also a reflection of the treatment of the secondary market for tickets, which has a distinct legal treatment than in many other parts of the world. We are focused on ensuring fair access to our game for existing but also prospective fans.”
Visa Hurdles
Some fans worry about simply reaching the venues. The Trump Administration has tightened visa scrutiny for countries including Iran, Senegal and Haiti-all qualified for the tournament. To ease entry, the U.S. government and FIFA launched FIFA PASS, an expedited visa-appointment program for ticket holders.
U.S. Growth Concerns
Brian Hexsel, president of the American Outlaws, a major U.S. Soccer supporters group, called the prices “absolutely insane.”
“My biggest fear is that FIFA has actually stopped the growing of the sport in the U.S.,” Hexsel said.
Demand Still Sky-High
Despite the criticism, FIFA said more than 500 million ticket requests arrived during the Random Selection Draw, indicating the event will likely sell out.
“Americans love things that are big and spectacular,” Bushnell noted, “and that’s what FIFA is trying to make this World Cup.”
Key Takeaways
- Face-value Group Stage tickets at $700 set a World Cup record
- Limited $60 tickets exist but are scarce and distributed via federations
- Fans with disabilities report reduced support compared to Qatar 2022
- Political leaders and supporter groups alike warn the pricing strategy risks alienating core fans
