World football's governing body, FIFA, has made a significant concession on its ticketing strategy for the 2026 World Cup, stepping back from plans to apply dynamic pricing to all seats for the tournament in North America.
Fixed-Price Options for Fans Following Their Teams
The announcement, made just days before the tournament draw in Washington DC on Friday, confirms that fluctuating prices based on demand will not be universal. This marks the first time such a pricing model has been proposed for a World Cup, sparking widespread concern about affordability, particularly for matches hosted in the United States.
In a statement to Sky News, FIFA clarified its position: "FIFA can confirm ringfenced allocations are being set aside for specific fan categories, as has been the case at previous FIFA World Cups. These allocations will be set at a fixed price for the duration of the next ticket sales phase."
How the Ticket Allocations Will Work
Under the confirmed plan, supporters of the participating national teams will be protected from the highest price surges. FIFA stated that 8% of tickets for each match will be reserved for fans of the teams involved, including all potential knockout stage games. This allocation will be sold at a fixed rate.
Furthermore, a crucial sales window will open after this week's draw. From 11 December 2025 to 13 January 2026, applications in the random selection draw will be based on fixed prices, offering another route for fans to secure tickets without facing dynamic costs.
The official price range remains broad. The cheapest group-stage tickets start at $60 (approximately £45), while the most expensive seats for the final are priced at a staggering $6,730 (around £5,094).
FIFA's Defence and the Scale of the 2026 Tournament
FIFA defended the partial use of dynamic pricing, linking it to standard practice in North American sports and entertainment. "The pricing model adopted for FIFA World Cup 26 reflects the existing market practice for major entertainment and sporting events within our hosts on a daily basis, soccer included," the governing body explained.
The 2026 edition is set to be the biggest World Cup in history, featuring 104 matches following the expansion from 32 to 48 teams. It will also be the first tournament hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
With the draw taking place on Friday, fans from qualified nations like England and Scotland, and hopefuls including Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, will have to wait until Saturday to learn their teams' specific fixtures and venues.
