FIFA has reduced the prices of certain World Cup tickets for devoted fans of teams, offering $60 seats for the final instead of the previous cost of $4,185, in response to global criticism. The decision marks a rare retreat by FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, who faced backlash for high ticket prices and perceived alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The reduced-price tickets will be available for every game of the tournament in North America, allocated to national federations of participating teams. These federations will determine how to distribute the tickets to loyal fans who have supported their teams at previous matches.
The $60 tickets fall under a new category called “Supporter Entry Tier,” with an estimated 400 to 750 tickets per team per game. The tournament will take place across 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 pricing adjustment, it stated that the lower prices aim to better support traveling fans following their national teams during the tournament. However, the Football Supporters Europe group criticized the move as a reactionary gesture to global backlash, emphasizing the need for more inclusive ticketing policies.
The upcoming World Cup in North America will feature 48 teams, an increase from the previous 32, and is projected to generate over $10 billion in revenue for FIFA. Despite concerns over ticket prices, FIFA has already received more than 20 million ticket requests in the current sales phase.
Fans worldwide expressed dismay last week over FIFA’s initial ticketing plans, which excluded participating teams from the lowest-priced category. The cheapest tickets ranged from $140 to $265 for group-stage matches, with higher prices for games involving popular teams such as Argentina, Portugal, Brazil, and England.
The hospitality program in modern NFL venues, now managed internally by FIFA, is expected to bring in significant revenue. Criticism, particularly from European fans, has been mounting over FIFA’s pricing strategies and additional fees on ticket resale platforms, which are common in the U.S. but not universally accepted by soccer fans.
In response to concerns raised by fans with disabilities, FIFA announced a waiver of administrative fees for refunds after the tournament’s final match. The Football Supporters Europe group called for a reassessment of FIFA’s policies regarding fans with disabilities, highlighting issues with ticket resale practices and access for companions.
Overall, fans are calling for greater transparency, inclusivity, and respect for commitments from FIFA, emphasizing the importance of meaningful action for true fan engagement and experience.