FIFA has reduced the prices of certain World Cup tickets for loyal fans of teams in response to backlash, offering $60 seats for the final instead of the original price of $4,185. This adjustment comes after criticism of the soccer governing body and its president, Gianni Infantino, for their World Cup strategies, expensive ticket prices, and perceived alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The $60 tickets will be allocated for every game of the tournament in North America, distributed by the national federations to loyal fans who have supported their teams at previous matches. Each team is expected to receive between 400 to 750 tickets at this reduced price, under a new category called “Supporter Entry Tier.” The tournament will take place in 16 host cities, including 11 NFL stadiums in the U.S., two in Canada, and three in Mexico.
While FIFA did not provide specific reasons for the price adjustment, it stated that the lower prices aim to support traveling fans following their national teams during the tournament. However, the Football Supporters Europe group criticized the limited reduction as an attempt to appease the negative global reaction.
The upcoming World Cup in North America will feature 48 teams, generating an estimated revenue of at least $10 billion for FIFA. Despite the high ticket prices, FIFA has already received over 20 million ticket requests in the current sales phase. The FSE group emphasized that many fans would still face exorbitant prices compared to previous tournaments.
Last week, fans expressed shock and frustration over FIFA’s initial ticketing plans, which excluded participating teams from the lowest-priced ticket category. Prices ranged from $140 to $265 for group-stage matches, with higher prices for games involving popular teams like Argentina, Portugal, Brazil, and England.
Criticism, particularly from European fans, has been mounting over FIFA’s ticketing policies, including dynamic pricing and additional fees on the resale platform. FIFA also faced backlash for not providing refunds for reserved tickets until after the tournament. In response, FIFA announced a waiver of administrative fees for post-tournament refunds after the final on July 19.
Furthermore, the FSE group called for a reconsideration of FIFA’s policy regarding fans with disabilities, highlighting concerns over the resale of disability access seats at inflated prices and the lack of free companion tickets for disabled fans. The group urged FIFA to prioritize true inclusion and uphold its commitments to fans with disabilities.
