FIFA has released the ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup. However, as soon as the prices were announced on Thursday, fans accused FIFA of “monumental betrayal.”
By regulation, each country’s football association receives 8 percent of the tickets for that nation’s matches. These are usually allocated to the most loyal supporters.
A list published by the German Football Federation shows that ticket prices for various group-stage matches range from $180 to $700. The minimum price for the final is $4,185 and the maximum price is $8,680. Yet FIFA had previously claimed there would be $60 tickets available for the group stage. And when the United States made its bid seven years ago, it promised hundreds of thousands of $21 seats for the group stage. The current prices are far from those commitments.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) called these prices “excessive.” In a statement they said, “This is a monumental betrayal of World Cup tradition. The contribution of supporters has been completely ignored.”
The English Football Association has informed supporters that if someone wants to buy tickets for all of England’s matches, it will cost more than $7,000.
FIFA had stated that tickets on its website would start at $60 for group matches and go up to $6,730 for the final. However, these prices may change because, for the first time, FIFA is using dynamic pricing for the World Cup.
The list provided by the German federation shows three categories. The minimum price for Germany’s opening match is $180. The minimum for semifinals is $920, rising to $1,125.
FSE has urged FIFA to temporarily halt ticket sales through national associations. They said, “Sales must be stopped until a solution is found that respects the World Cup’s tradition, universality, and cultural value.”
On Thursday, FIFA launched the third phase of ticket sales. For the first time, fans will be able to apply for tickets to specific matches. After last week’s draw, fans now know which team will play where — for example, exactly when Messi and Argentina will take the field.
In this phase, fans can apply for tickets to any match of the tournament. Each household can apply for up to four tickets per match and up to 40 tickets for the entire tournament. Applications opened on December 11, 2025, and will close on January 13, 2026.
FIFA said that the timing of the application will not affect chances of success. Successful applicants will be notified by email in February.
In 1994, ticket prices for the World Cup in the United States ranged from $25 to $475. In 2022 in Qatar, tickets cost around $70 to $1,600. For the 2026 final, resale market prices have already exceeded $11,000. FIFA also has its own resale platform, where it charges a 15% fee.
Three ticket categories have been set. For Germany’s first match (against Curaçao), the minimum price is $180. Semifinal tickets start from $920, with the highest price at $1,125.
In the 1994 U.S. World Cup, ticket prices were between $25 and $475, while in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, prices were between $70 and $1,600.
