Fans around the world have expressed anger over ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, arguing that the event is no longer affordable for many. The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino previously described the upcoming World Cup as “the most inclusive” ever organized. However, supporters’ groups say high ticket prices undermine this promise.
Ticket prices announced by FIFA on December 11 for official supporter groups following their national teams have disappointed many. Guillaume Auprêtre, spokesperson for Irrésistibles Français (IF), France’s main supporter group with nearly 2,500 members, said: “The general feeling is disappointment.” According to IF, fans must pay between €190 and €600 ($223–$704) for a group stage match ticket, $680 to $1,405 for a quarterfinal ticket, and $4,220 to $8,670 for a final ticket. “We immediately realized that this put the dream of many fans at risk,” Auprêtre said.
Christian Crivelli, an Argentine political scientist who attended Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 and plans to go to North America in 2026, suggested that FIFA has aligned official ticket prices with historic resale market values. He explained: “They tried to say ‘well, there are people who used to buy a ticket at $60 because they were lucky and then resold it at $500; now we’re going to sell it at $500 ourselves,’ and that’s where the clash comes.” Crivelli manages one of La Banda Argentina’s WhatsApp groups—a community organizing Argentine fans online ahead of the tournament—and noted that current FIFA prices are similar to past resale figures.
Last Thursday, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) criticized what it called “astronomical prices imposed by FIFA on the most loyal fans.” In response on Tuesday, FIFA promised tickets priced at $60—including for the final—in its lowest category reserved for officially affiliated fan groups. FSE commented: “For now we consider FIFA’s announcement as merely a tactic to calm tempers in response to worldwide negative reaction.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in on social media platform X: “I welcome FIFA’s announcement about cheaper tickets being available for fans.” He added: “But as someone who used to save up for England tickets myself I urge FIFA to do more so tickets are affordable—and so the World Cup doesn’t lose touch with real fans who make our sport so special.”
Many supporters report being discouraged from attending due to costs. Colombian public administrator César Charry said high prices make attendance difficult: “If I were going [to attend], my savings wouldn’t be enough—I’d basically need a loan. I’d have to think hard because it’s very complicated.” Another Colombian fan Daniel Ballén shared his family has cut back on daily expenses just so they can try attending matches: “Passion” takes precedence over cost.
Scottish manager Steve Clarke recently urged people not to go into debt just to attend matches.
