Money

FIFA Launches $60 Ticket Tier for World Cup After Backlash

Does World Cup ticket prices benefit passionate fans and prevent black market exploitation, or is FIFA pricing out genuine supporters?

Published DEC 17 2025

FIFA Launches $60 Ticket Tier for World Cup After Backlash

Story

Above: Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump hold a large World Cup ticket replica in the Oval Office on Aug. 22. Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Facts

FIFA on Tuesday launched the Supporter Entry Tier, a new ticket pricing tier at the fixed price of $60 for all 104 matches at the upcoming World Cup across North America, including the final.
Inside FIFA
The new tier comprises 10% of the 8% of tickets allotted to each participating team, or 1.6% of total stadium capacity per match, with each member association individually managing the selection and distribution process to ensure these tickets "are specifically allocated to loyal fans."
Inside FIFA
guardian
The Times (UK)
FIFA stressed that the Supporter Entry Tier is intended to support traveling fans to follow their national teams across the World Cup, noting that demand in the current random selection draw sales phase has reached 20 million submitted ticket requests in less than a week.
Inside FIFA
This announcement follows talks with member associations and comes amid a global fan backlash over prices for the tournament, including from supporters' associations, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
BBC News
Daily Mail
guardian
Last week, FIFA released ticket prices for the next year's World Cup that far exceeded what Canada, Mexico and the U.S. projected in the joint bid they submitted in 2018, being 174% higher on average, according to The Athletic.
Business Insider
The New York Times
The $60 price matches that of Category 4 tickets sold in previous sales phases for some group stage games only, as well as the original estimate for Category 4 tickets for an opening game, though the price is almost three times the projected price for regular group games.
Business Insider
The New York Times

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

FIFA costs are scandalous exploitation that price out genuine supporters. This new ticket tier is merely a cosmetic gesture that fails to address affordability. It's outrageous that less than 2% of the fans attending World Cup games next year will be able to hit the lowest price point while the others will be forced to spend thousands of dollars.

The Sun

CNN

The Telegraph

Narrative B

World Cup tickets were making perfect economic sense even before FIFA announced the new $60 tier, as their price went up to prevent black market exploitation and to ensure that supporters who value games most highly will get seats. Some supporters' associations and high-profile politicians and pundits may have complained about prices, but the fact is that demand is running high for the tournament.

Cato

Reuters