As anticipation builds for the men’s World Cup in North America, scheduled to kick off in just six months, excitement among fans is palpable. However, a recent ticket sale launch has raised eyebrows and sparked outrage, as prices soar to unprecedented levels. The cost of attending the final match has been reported to exceed $4,000, leaving many devoted soccer fans questioning their ability to participate in the tournament.
This controversy erupted following FIFA’s recent allocation of tickets to national associations for participating teams, a process referred to as the Participating Member Association (PMA) allocation. This system enables federations to distribute tickets to their most loyal supporters, often through dedicated fan clubs or loyalty programs. Unfortunately, the resulting prices have left long-time fans feeling alienated, as they are now forced to choose between spending a hefty sum or watching the matches from home.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE), a group advocating for fan interests, expressed shock at the steep prices set by FIFA, claiming these costs disenfranchise dedicated supporters. The organization called on FIFA to suspend ticket sales until a fair solution can be reached that honors the World Cup’s traditions and cultural significance. According to FSE, a loyal fan might need to shell out around $6,900 to follow their team from the opening match to the final, which is significantly higher than previous World Cup expenses.
In addition to ticket costs, fans are grappling with the reality of increased travel and accommodation expenses. There is growing concern that many devoted followers will miss the opportunity to experience the tournament live, a situation that could dampen the overall atmosphere in stadiums across the host countries—Mexico, the USA, and Canada.
For instance, the English Football Association outlined their ticket pricing, announcing that the cheapest ticket for England’s opening match against Croatia would start at $265. Should England progress to the final, fans could expect to pay between $4,185 and $8,680 for tickets. Furthermore, ticket payments are expected to be finalized by early 2026, imposing an additional financial burden on fans.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), representing fans in England and Wales, echoed the sentiment that these prices are prohibitive for many supporters, criticizing FIFA President Gianni Infantino for prioritizing profit over supporter loyalty.
FIFA has maintained that it aims to provide an affordable World Cup experience, offering four different pricing categories, with the cheapest tickets for group stage matches starting at $60. However, those lower-priced tickets have not been allocated to national associations, forcing dedicated fans to pay higher prices to secure their attendance at matches.
While FIFA’s ticketing structure is indeed a departure from past norms—now featuring varying prices for group stage matches based on demand—this approach has been called a significant breach of World Cup tradition by the FSE. As the foundation of soccer culture, fans are crucial to the sport, and there is mounting pressure on FIFA to ensure that the upcoming World Cup is accessible to all soccer lovers, not just those with deep pockets.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing revenue generation with the passion and loyalty of fans, and it remains to be seen how FIFA will respond to the growing discontent among supporters worldwide.