FIFA receives 5 million requests despite fan outcry over high prices

Brazil v Morocco (New York/New Jersey, June 13), Mexico v South Korea (Guadalajara, June 18), Ecuador v Germany (New York/New Jersey, June 25) and Scotland v Brazil (Miami, June 24) round out the top five matches.

FIFA said the strong presence of South American and Central American fans showed how the tournament was capturing the imagination across the Americas, while Scotland’s position reflected excitement over their first World Cup in 28 years.

The random selection draw phase runs until January 13 at 1100 ET (1700 CET), with FIFA stressing the timing of an application within that window does not affect chances of success.

Fans can choose specific matches, ticket categories and quantities, subject to household limits, and will be charged automatically if their applications are successful.

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‘Monumental betrayal’

FSE said national team supporters were being asked to pay the full amount in early 2026 to secure the right to buy tickets all the way to the final.

Adding to fans’ frustration, FSE said the lowest price category – category four – would not be made available to the most loyal supporters through their blockociations, with FIFA reserving those tickets for general public sales and subjecting them to dynamic pricing.

The group called that decision a “monumental betrayal” of World Cup tradition and of the contribution of travelling supporters to the tournament’s atmosphere.

“For the prices that have been put up by FIFA, we’re a bit stunned,” FSE executive director Ronan Evain told Reuters.

“This is a handful of people who are trying to make as much money as possible from the tournament. And we believe this approach is putting the very nature of the tournament at risk.

“For the final, tickets are going up to about $4000. You need fans, you need the life in the stands, you need the colour, you need the atmosphere. With these prices, none of this will happen,” he said.

The Football Supporters Association, a representative body for fans in England and Wales, said it had asked England’s Football Association to lobby FIFA.

“Prices for England’s matches have been set as some of the highest, priced at $7020 if you want to follow the team from start through to the final,” a statement read.

“We back Football Supporters Europe in calling for a halt in ticket sales, and we are calling on the FA to work with fellow FAs to directly challenge these disgraceful prices.”

No consistent prices

For the first time at a World Cup, FSE said, there will be no consistent prices across all group-stage games, with FIFA instead introducing variable pricing based on opaque notions such as the “attractiveness” of a fixture.

That means fans of different teams could pay different amounts for the same category of ticket at the same stage, with little transparency on how prices are set.

Evain said the new structure would push many ordinary fans beyond what they can afford, particularly families.

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“A lot of people that were hesitating in travelling to the US are now saying they need to take an extraordinary financial risk, especially if you’re a family,” he said.

“We are in the region of $30,000 for a family of four. The vast majority of football fans can’t afford this. Even in Europe.”

FSE urged FIFA to pause PMA ticket sales and open consultations with member blockociations, supporters’ groups and other stakeholders “until a solution that respects the tradition, universality and cultural significance of the World Cup is found.”

Reuters