FIFA has announced the introduction of a limited number of $60 “Supporter Entry Tier” tickets in an effort to address concerns over affordability ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Unveiled on Tuesday, the new pricing category is designed to give supporters of qualified nations access to cheaper tickets across all 104 matches of the tournament, including the final.
According to football’s global governing body, the discounted tickets will account for 10 per cent of each Participating Member Association’s (PMA) allocation. PMAs, which represent the competing national teams and oversee official fan ticket programmes, will be responsible for distributing these tickets.
Each PMA will also be allowed to set its own eligibility criteria, with an emphasis on rewarding “loyal fans” who have a close and established connection to their national teams.
FIFA said that, overall, 50 per cent of every PMA’s ticket allocation will fall within its most affordable price brackets. This will include 40 per cent under the existing Supporter Value Tier and a further 10 per cent under the newly introduced Supporter Entry Tier.
The remaining half of each allocation will be divided equally between the Supporter Standard Tier and the higher-priced Supporter Premier Tier.
In an additional concession, FIFA confirmed that fans who purchase tickets through PMA programmes and whose teams are eliminated before the knockout stages will be able to request refunds without incurring administrative fees.
The move comes amid mounting criticism over ticket pricing for the expanded 2026 World Cup, which will be staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11 June to 19 July.
Last week, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) accused FIFA of setting “extortionate” prices that risk excluding ordinary supporters from attending the tournament.
Despite the backlash, FIFA said demand remains strong, pointing to significant interest in the third phase of ticket sales, which opened on 11 December and runs until 13 January, following the release of match schedules, host venues and kick-off times.
