SOCCER: Fan group urges FIFA to halt World Cup ticket sales over 'extortionate' prices

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has called on FIFA to immediately suspend the sale of national team ticket allocations for the 2026 World Cup, criticizing the governing body for introducing "extortionate" ticket prices that could prevent ordinary fans from attending the tournament.

In a statement released Thursday, the European fan umbrella group expressed concern that ticket prices for allocations distributed to Participating Member Associations (PMAs) — typically sold through official supporters' clubs or loyalty programs — have reached "astronomical" levels.

FIFA did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

According to FSE, based on leaked price tables circulated to national associations, a supporter wishing to follow their team from the opening match to the final through the PMA system would need to pay at least $6,900. This figure is nearly five times the equivalent cost of tickets for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The group also highlighted that national team supporters would be required to pay the full amount by early 2026 to secure the right to purchase tickets through to the final match.

Adding to fans’ dismay, FSE pointed out that the lowest-priced tickets — Category 4 — would no longer be available to the most loyal supporters via PMAs. Instead, FIFA plans to reserve these tickets for general public sales, where they will be subject to dynamic pricing.

FSE branded this decision a "monumental betrayal" of World Cup tradition and an affront to the contribution traveling fans make to the tournament's atmosphere.

"For the prices FIFA has set, we're shocked," FSE Executive Director Ronan Evain said. "This is a small group of people trying to profit as much as possible from the tournament, and we believe this approach threatens the very essence of the World Cup."

Evain emphasized the importance of fan presence at the tournament: "For the final, tickets are reaching up to about $4,000. You need fans to bring life to the stands, create color, and generate atmosphere. With these prices, none of that will happen."

For the first time in World Cup history, FSE noted, there will be no uniform pricing across group-stage matches. Instead, FIFA is introducing variable pricing based on the perceived "attractiveness" of each fixture, leading to price disparities even for fans attending the same stage of the tournament.

This lack of pricing transparency means that fans could pay different amounts for the same category of ticket, depending on the specific match.

Evain warned that this new pricing structure could price out many ordinary fans, especially families. "A lot of people who were undecided about traveling to the U.S. are now saying that they can't afford to take the financial risk, especially if they have a family," he said. "For a family of four, the cost could reach $30,000. The vast majority of football fans can't afford that, even in Europe."

FSE has urged FIFA to suspend the PMA ticket sales and initiate consultations with member associations, supporters' groups, and other stakeholders "until a solution is found that respects the tradition, accessibility, and cultural significance of the World Cup." -Kurt Hall in Washington; Additional reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Jamie Freed/Reuters