Football Supporters Europe (FSE), a major umbrella body for fan organizations, on Friday urged FIFA to immediately halt ticket sales for national team allocations to the 2026 World Cup, saying proposed prices are so high they could shut many ordinary supporters out of next year’s tournament.
FSE said in a statement that ticket price tables quietly shared with national associations show a supporter wishing to follow their team from the first group match to the final through the Participating Member Association (PMA) route would face costs of at least $6,900—about five times more than similar allocations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The fan group, which represents supporters across Europe, described the pricing as “extortionate” and accused FIFA of betraying long-standing traditions around World Cup accessibility. FSE also criticized the decision to withhold the lowest-priced Category 4 tickets from national association allocations, instead making them available only in general sales subject to dynamic pricing, a move it says undermines fairness for loyal supporters.
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FSE Executive Director Ronan Evain told Reuters the pricing threatens the “very nature of the tournament”, warning that families and regular fans may be unable to afford travel and match costs. He said some supporters now estimate total expenses of up to around $30,000 for a family of four and that the lack of consistent pricing across group-stage matches—where costs vary by perceived “attractiveness” of fixtures—creates further uncertainty.
The group wants FIFA to pause all PMA ticket sales and begin consultations with national associations, fan groups and other stakeholders to find a pricing structure that respects the World Cup’s tradition of broad accessibility. FIFA has not yet publicly responded to the call.
The 2026 World Cup, involving 48 teams and hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, is set to introduce dynamic pricing and an official resale platform for the first time, approaches that have drawn growing criticism from fans concerned about affordability and transparency.
