More than five million ticket applications have been submitted for the 2026 FIFA World Cup since the latest sales phase opened on Thursday, despite growing protests over what fans describe as exorbitant costs.
FIFA reports that supporters from over 200 countries have applied, with the group-stage match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami on 27 June being the most requested fixture so far. The tournament, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will run from 11 June to 19 July and will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams.
While demand remains high, ticket prices have sparked intense backlash. The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) labelled the costs “scandalous,” warning that loyal fans are being priced out of a competition meant to belong to the world.
Group-stage tickets are reportedly up to three times more expensive than those sold for Qatar 2022, with the cheapest seat for the final set at £3,119.
The Football Association is expected to raise these concerns directly with FIFA after being urged to challenge the pricing policy. The FSA, alongside Football Supporters Europe (FSE), has called for a temporary halt in ticket sales to allow talks with FIFA.
“We back Football Supporters Europe in calling for a halt in ticket sales, and we are urging the Football Association to work with fellow FAs to directly challenge these disgraceful prices,” the FSA said in a statement. “We call on all national associations to stand up for your supporters, without whom there would be no professional game.”
FIFA has not yet responded publicly, though the matter is expected to be discussed at a FIFA Council meeting in Doha next week. There is also concern about future relations with FIFA, particularly as the Home Nations hope to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup, with the UK government actively involved in those plans.
FIFA insiders argue that prices must reflect the US market, support global growth of football, and allow reinvestment into men’s, women’s, and youth competitions. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also highlighted that the expanded tournament is expected to generate record revenues, potentially becoming the most lucrative sporting event in history ahead of his 2027 re-election bid.
Ticket details released Thursday show sharp increases compared to Qatar 2022. Group-stage tickets for fixtures such as England v Croatia and Scotland v Brazil will cost £198, £373, or £523, up from £68.50, £164.50, and £219 in Qatar. Prices rise further in the knockout stages: quarter-finals range from £507 to £1,073, semi-finals from £686 to £2,363, and the cheapest final ticket is seven times higher than in Qatar, with no concessions for children or other groups.
FIFA reports that the majority of ticket requests have come from the host nations, followed by Colombia, England, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, Germany, Australia, France, and Panama. After the Colombia v Portugal fixture, the most requested matches include Brazil v Morocco in New Jersey, Mexico v South Korea in Guadalajara, Ecuador v Germany in New Jersey, and Scotland v Brazil in Miami.
Gossip News Now notes that following a single team through all eight matches to the final would cost around £5,225 for the cheapest tickets, rising to £8,850 for mid-range and £12,357 for top-tier seats. By comparison, the equivalent 2022 costs were £1,466, £2,645, and £3,914, covering seven matches rather than eight.
