In response to mounting criticism over ticket affordability, FIFA has unveiled a new budget-friendly pricing tier for the 2026 World Cup. The global football governing body announced on Tuesday the creation of “Supporter Entry Tier” tickets priced at $60, designed to enhance accessibility for fans of qualified teams across all 104 matches—including the final showdown.
The discounted tickets will constitute 10% of the allocation reserved for Participating Member Associations (PMAs), which represent competing national teams and administer dedicated fan ticket programs. These associations will establish specific criteria to prioritize “loyal fans” with demonstrated connections to their national teams.
FIFA’s revised allocation structure now designates half of each PMA’s ticket inventory to affordable categories: 40% under the existing Supporter Value Tier and 10% under the new Entry Tier. The remaining tickets will be equally divided between Standard and Premier tiers.
In a significant consumer-friendly move, FIFA will waive administrative fees for refund requests from fans who purchase through PMA programs if their national team fails to advance to the knockout stage.
This initiative emerges amid intensified scrutiny of FIFA’s pricing strategy for the 2026 tournament, scheduled from June 11 to July 19 across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The announcement follows recent accusations from Football Supporters Europe (FSE) characterizing FIFA’s initial pricing as “extortionate” and potentially exclusionary for average supporters.
Despite the controversy, FIFA reports robust interest in the current third-phase ticket sales window, which opened December 11 and continues through January 13, buoyed by the recent release of match schedules, venues, and kick-off times.