⚽ World Cup Ticket Backlash — Fans Slam FIFA Over Soaring Prices

 

FIFA’s 2026 World Cup ticket prices are sparking unprecedented fan outrage.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket sales enter their next phase, supporters around the world are expressing fierce criticism of FIFA’s pricing strategy — calling it unfair, exclusionary, and a “monumental betrayal” of the sport’s most cherished event.

MetLife Stadium will host the 2026 World Cup final — but fans are shocked at ticket costs. 

• A list circulated by national football associations shows ticket prices for the final at MetLife Stadium in July 2026 starting at more than £3,000 (~$4,000) for the lowest supporter tier — a huge jump from previous tournaments. 

• Group stage matches are also costly: figures from Germany’s football federation showed tickets ranging from about $180 to $700 for different fixtures. 

• Fans who want to follow their team through to the final could face total ticket costs of around $6,900 (~£5,100) or more — nearly five times what similar packages cost at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. 

Supporters and fan groups have labelled the ticket rollout “extortionate.” 

Major fan reactions:

• Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has urged FIFA to halt all ticket sales until pricing is reviewed, saying the current system undermines the spirit of the World Cup. 

• England fan organizations have described the prices as a “slap in the face” to loyal supporters who travel long distances to support their teams. 

• Many supporters say the tiered “dynamic pricing” model — which bases some ticket costs on perceived match attractiveness — is opaque and unfair. 

Some England fan groups have even announced plans not to buy final tickets due to the high cost, and are urging national associations to pressure FIFA for reform.