Less than six months remain before the North American World Cup kicks off, jointly hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Fans around the world have shown enormous enthusiasm about attending matches to support their national teams in the cities where they will be playing.
However, there is one issue creating widespread frustration among supporters across the globe: the extremely high cost of tickets.
FIFA appears determined to grow even wealthier than it already is through its pricing strategy for World Cup matches. Reports indicate that ticket prices are up to five times higher than those of the previous World Cup, a situation that some federations, such as Scotland’s, have labeled outrageous. The Scottish federation has even urged its supporters not to spend excessive amounts of money to attend matches, calling the prices charged by world soccer’s governing body unreasonable.
A complaint from the European soccer fans’ group Football Supporters Europe prompted FIFA’s response
FIFA took five days to respond to the European soccer fans’ group Football Supporters Europe regarding the high cost of tickets for matches to be played in Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
Following strong criticism issued days earlier, the global governing body announced on Wednesday, December 17, that it would introduce a new category aimed at offering tickets at a more accessible price point for everyone, or at least for a broader segment of fans.
Under this new category, FIFA plans to release approximately 1,000 tickets for supporters of both national teams at each stadium hosting a match. The European organization acknowledged the move as a positive step but also stated:
The revisions do not go far enough.
The most expensive tickets in World Cup history
The cost of tickets for the North American World Cup is unprecedented. Prices are extraordinarily high, and very few fans, regardless of their passion for the sport, will be able to afford them.
Group stage ticket prices range from $21 to $323, and World Cup final tickets could range from $128 to $1,550. An absolute madness.
Premium costs for the final reportedly reach $4,185, several times more expensive than the final played in 2022 and even pricier than any final event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, regardless of the sport.
The prices being seen for the World Cup closely resemble those typically associated with NFL games.
This new $60 ticket category represents only 1.6% of total stadium capacity. In Mexico and Canada, several venues hold more than 60,000 spectators, leaving very limited opportunities for true fans to attend and support their national teams.
There’s also still the question of supporters with disabilities, as no new pricing structure has been announced for them and complimentary companion tickets still seem to be absent.
Football Supporters Europe wrote, adding:
For the moment we are looking at the FIFA announcement as nothing more than an appeasement tactic due to the global negative backlash.
Criticism intensified after the launch of the third phase of ticket sales, open until January 13. Now that match venues are known, demand has surged.
The greater the demand, the higher the ticket price, especially for fans who must also factor in airfare, lodging, and food.
These “affordable” tickets will be distributed through participating national associations, with instructions to allocate them reasonably.
They are requested to ensure that these tickets are specifically allocated to loyal fans who are closely connected to their national teams.
Attending a World Cup match will be a luxury, and for those struggling financially, watching from home may be the only option.
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