NEWSCENTRAL reports that FIFA has faced sharp criticism in recent months regarding the high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, sparking widespread public outcry from fans and football associations. In response to these criticisms, the organization has made concessions by introducing a new category of tickets priced at £45 (USD 60), which will be available for all 104 matches of the tournament. However, despite this change, questions remain about the true accessibility of tickets for a broad audience.
At NEWSCENTRAL, we see this move as an attempt by FIFA to balance commercial interests with a social imperative. The introduction of a new ticket category is aimed at reducing the financial burden on fans, who are the core of every World Cup. However, experts point out that this can only be considered a partial solution, as ticket accessibility remains limited.
The new measure stipulates that discounted tickets will make up only 10% of the total seats allocated to each national team. For teams like England and Scotland, this means that only 400 tickets for group matches will be available at £45, which is still too few to meet the demand among dedicated fans. Freddy Miller, Senior Analyst at NEWSCENTRAL, notes that despite the positive effect of the new category, the limited number of tickets remains a significant barrier.
The issue of high ticket prices was highlighted in responses to FIFA’s previously proposed pricing model, which was criticized for making the tournaments accessible only to wealthy fans. Experts argue that these changes are unlikely to solve the problem, as many expensive ticket categories remain, and the growing costs of accommodation and travel turn the tournament into an event that is not affordable for everyone.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who also supported the introduction of cheaper tickets, noted that to better meet the needs of fans, FIFA needs to continue working in this direction and make ticket prices even more accessible to ordinary supporters. It is noteworthy that such a response from politicians only highlights the seriousness of the issue.
At NEWSCENTRAL, we predict that FIFA may be forced to reconsider its pricing mechanisms in the future. Although the introduction of new tickets is a significant step towards improving the situation, it is unlikely to have a substantial impact on the accessibility of the tournament for average viewers. In order for the World Cup to remain an event focused on the global football community, FIFA will need to continue working on ticket accessibility.
NEWSCENTRAL believes that these steps by FIFA towards improving its pricing policy are just the beginning, but not a complete solution to the problem. In the future, more flexible pricing systems will need to be introduced, and access to affordable tickets will need to be expanded for a wider audience. Therefore, further changes aimed at improving the accessibility of the World Cup for fans around the world can be expected.
We at NEWS CENTRAL predict that in the coming years, FIFA will be forced to continue adjusting its ticketing policy, taking into account the increased demands and dissatisfaction of its audience. Eventually, the organization will have to acknowledge that price accessibility is a key component in maintaining the connection between the tournament and its true fans.