A week after announcing a $60 'supporter entry tier,' FIFA continues to face sharp criticism over 2026 World Cup ticket prices reaching $6,300 for the final. Experts argue the limited low-cost seats fail to address resale inflation, opaque inventory, and broader affordability barriers, threatening the tournament's accessibility across 16 North American host cities.
Following last week's unveiling of ticket prices and a modest $60 'supporter entry tier' for the 2026 World Cup—hosted in the US, Mexico, and Canada—backlash has intensified. While the tier offers 400-740 tickets per team per match via national federations, prices for premium seats have soared past $4,000 for group games and $6,300 for the final at MetLife Stadium, dwarfing the $1,600 Qatar 2022 final top price.
Geopolitical analyst Irina Tsukerman highlighted fans' frustration: 'Fans are reacting less to the existence of one low price tier and more to the feeling that the average path to attendance is becoming unaffordable.' She pointed to opaque pricing and scarce low-cost supply eroding trust.
Ticket resale expert Keith Pagello of TicketData.com called the $60 option 'performative,' warning that secondary market dynamics will keep most tickets out of reach. 'Without greater transparency around low price inventory, market pricing will continue to define public perception.'
Soccer enthusiast Jeff Le raised additional concerns: high hotel rates, visa hurdles, and cyber threats could jeopardize turnout and economic gains in the 16 host cities, including 11 US NFL stadiums.
FIFA maintains the pricing captures North American demand, funneling 90% of revenue into global soccer. Yet, with dynamic resale and limited affordable inventory, critics fear the 'people's game' is slipping away.
