FIFA has performed a significant U-turn on its ticket pricing strategy for the upcoming World Cup, introducing a new, cheaper category following a fierce backlash from fans and national associations.
Outcry Over Sky-High Costs
The global football governing body faced a storm of criticism last week after loyal supporters discovered the eye-watering costs of following their teams. Fans enrolled in official travel clubs and loyalty schemes were shocked to learn that the cheapest tickets for the final would be priced at over £3,000. For England supporters aiming to follow the Three Lions from the first match to the final, the minimum outlay was set to exceed £5,000.
This pricing model prompted an immediate and angry response. Football Supporters Europe (FSE) accused FIFA of a "monumental betrayal" of the sport's most dedicated followers and urged an immediate halt to the ticket sales process for national associations.
The New $60 Ticket Concession
Following emergency meetings with senior officials from various federations, including the Football Association (FA), in Doha this week, FIFA has announced a major change. It has now been confirmed that 10 per cent of the tickets allocated to each participating member association (PMA) for every match will be priced at just 60 US dollars (approximately £45).
This significant discount will apply even for the showpiece final. The PMA allocation itself represents eight per cent of the total stadium capacity per match for each competing nation.
A FIFA official involved in the discussions stated: "Demand for tickets has been off the scale, more than 20 million requests so far in this latest phase. We have listened to feedback and this new category is the right thing to do." The official added that making these affordable tickets available to travelling fans was agreed upon unanimously.
Limited Impact for England Supporters
While the move has been welcomed as a step forward, its practical impact for individual fans will be limited due to the small number of tickets available at the new price point.
For England's opening match against Croatia, the FA received just over 4,000 tickets. This means only around 400 England fans will be able to secure a $60 ticket for that game. A further 40 per cent of the allocation will be for the next cheapest category, priced at £198. For the final, if England were to qualify, roughly 450 of 4,500 allocated tickets would be available at the new lowest price.
The Football Supporters’ Association acknowledged the change as "a step in the right direction" but noted on social media that fan pressure had only achieved a partial victory. They highlighted that the measure would still only benefit 400 to 500 supporters per match, leaving the majority of tickets priced far too high for many.
National associations now face the task of determining how to distribute the limited number of discounted tickets among their most loyal travelling supporters. FIFA emphasised that the commercial success of the tournament benefits all its 211 member associations worldwide.
