World Cup 2026 Ticket Prices Slammed as ‘Betrayal’ by Fans

Fans Outraged Over ‘Extortionate’ World Cup 2026 Ticket Prices

FIFA is under heavy fire from football fans and supporters’ groups following the release of the official ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, set to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The most shocking figures relate to the final at MetLife Stadium in New York, with ticket prices reaching astronomical levels.

Final Ticket Prices (MetLife Stadium)

• Supporter Value Tier: £3,119 ($4,185)

• Supporter Standard Tier: £4,162 ($5,560)

• Supporter Premium Tier: £6,615 ($8,860)

Compared to Qatar 2022, where the cheapest final ticket was £450, this represents a price surge of more than 7x.

Fans & Groups Call It a “Betrayal”

Each household can request up to four tickets per match and a maximum of 40 across the tournament

The Football Supporters Europe (FSE) group has demanded FIFA immediately halt ticket sales and reconsider the pricing model. In a statement, they said:

“Tickets allocated to national associations are reaching astronomical levels. The lowest price category won’t even be available to the most dedicated fans.”

They criticized the lack of pricing transparency and slammed FIFA’s decision to price group-stage matches based on team popularity, calling it the first time in World Cup history without consistent pricing across group games.

Group Stage Price Disparity Example

England

• Vs Croatia: £198, £373, £523

• Vs Ghana: £164, £320, £447

• Vs Panama: £164, £346, £462

Scotland

• Vs Haiti: £134, £298, £372

• Vs Morocco: £163, £320, £447

• Vs Brazil: £198, £373, £523

There’s a clear pricing gap, with England fans paying more even for equivalent ticket tiers.

Knockout Round Prices

• Quarter-finals: £507, £757, £1,073

• Semi-finals: £686, £1,819, £2,363

• Final: up to £6,615

Fans aiming to follow their teams throughout the tournament will need to shell out between £5,225 and £12,357 — depending on the tier.

In 2022, a similar journey cost £1,466 to £3,914 (for seven matches). The 2026 tournament adds one extra match, but the total cost has tripled.

Fans Respond: “Betrayal to the Most Loyal Supporters”

England fan Luke Buxton:

“It’s absolutely outrageous… It’s a betrayal to the most dedicated fans. We were planning to go for the group stage and knockouts. Now, I might not even attend the knockouts at all.”

Scotland fan John Wallan:

“For a family of four, it could cost £15,000–£20,000. It may be once in a lifetime… but I don’t know if we can all afford it.”

Ticketing Process & Refund Rules

• Tickets are being sold via ballot and supporters’ club draws

• Approx. 4,000 tickets per match are available to national supporters

• No dynamic pricing for this sales phase

• Refunds will apply for ‘Follow Your Team’ buyers if their team is eliminated

• Corporate allocations remain untouched

What’s Next?

While FIFA has yet to officially comment, the backlash is growing. With pricing models lacking transparency and access to affordable tickets being limited, many fear working-class fans are being priced out of the world’s most inclusive sporting event.

The FSE is demanding talks and structural changes to the model before the tournament’s integrity—and fan presence—is further compromised.