FIFA sparks global outrage as leaked World Cup ticket prices far exceed expectations
WASHINGTON
Soccer fans across Europe have accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” after leaked ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup revealed steep hikes far above previously advertised rates. The backlash erupted when the German Football Association published a price list showing group-stage tickets ranging from $180 to $700, with final tickets climbing to an eye-watering $4,185–$8,680.
FIFA traditionally allocates eight percent of match tickets to national associations to sell to their most loyal supporters. But the new pricing bears little resemblance to FIFA’s earlier claims of $60 group-stage seats, nor to the United States’ original bid promise of offering hundreds of thousands of $21 tickets to make the tournament more accessible.
Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) condemned the revised figures as “extortionate,” saying they ignore the role of supporters in creating the sport’s atmosphere and tradition. It urged FIFA to immediately halt national-association ticket sales until a fairer and more culturally respectful pricing structure is established.
The English FA shared its own price breakdown with the England Supporters Travel Club, noting that a fan attending every match through the final would spend more than $7,000. This widening affordability gap has intensified fears that the World Cup could become increasingly exclusionary for ordinary supporters.
FIFA, which announced in September that tickets sold through its website would start at $60 for group matches and go up to $6,730 for the final, is introducing dynamic pricing for the first time—allowing prices to fluctuate based on demand. However, the German price list showed only three categories rather than the usual four, raising further questions about transparency.
The lowest-priced ticket listed was $180 for Germany’s opening match against Curaçao in Houston, while semifinal seats began at $920 and climbed to $1,125.
With pressure mounting from fan groups, FIFA now faces renewed calls to rethink its pricing strategy to preserve the World Cup’s accessibility and global spirit.
