According to FIFA, the spike followed the opening of the third phase of ticket sales, the first opportunity for fans to apply for tickets tied to specific matches after last week’s official draw for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The expanded 48-team World Cup is scheduled to be the largest in the competition’s history, and FIFA said requests came from supporters in more than 200 countries, underscoring what it described as unmatched worldwide demand.
The announcement came a day after pricing details began circulating through national football associations, prompting a fierce backlash. Information published by the German Football Association showed group-stage tickets ranging from $180 to $700, while prices for the final were listed between $4,185 and $8,680. The English Football Association, sharing data with the England Supporters Travel Club, indicated that attending every match involving England through to the final would cost fans just over $7,000.
Supporter organizations reacted sharply. Football Supporters Europe labeled the prices “extortionate” and urged FIFA to immediately suspend ticket sales through national associations until a solution is found that respects what it called the World Cup’s tradition and cultural significance. The group accused FIFA of betraying supporters who have historically formed the backbone of the tournament’s atmosphere.
The controversy has been amplified by FIFA’s decision to introduce dynamic pricing at a men’s World Cup for the first time, following its use at this year’s Club World Cup. Under the model, ticket prices fluctuate based on demand, a move critics argue prioritizes revenue over accessibility. When the United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994, ticket prices ranged from to 5, while at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, prices were initially announced between roughly and ,600.
FIFA’s latest sales phase operates through a random selection draw system, allowing applicants to choose matches, ticket categories and quantities without any guarantee of success. The window runs until January 13, 2026, with successful applicants set to be notified by email in February and charged automatically.
Data released by FIFA showed that the three host nations led overall demand, followed by strong interest from other parts of the Americas and Europe. Colombia, England, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, Germany, Australia, France and Panama rounded out the top countries submitting requests. Among individual fixtures, Colombia’s group-stage match against Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in Miami on June 27 attracted the highest number of requests in the opening day. Other highly sought-after games include Brazil versus Morocco in New Jersey, Mexico against South Korea in Guadalajara, Ecuador versus Germany in New Jersey and Scotland’s meeting with Brazil in Miami.
In Scotland, where the national team will appear at a World Cup for the first time since 1998, supporter frustration has been particularly acute. The Association of Tartan Army Clubs described the pricing as “disgraceful and disgusting,” warning that many loyal fans would be unable to attend and urging the Scottish Football Association to confront FIFA directly. Similar sentiments have emerged in England, where the Football Association is expected to formally raise concerns with FIFA, although reports suggest little optimism about any policy change.
Responding to the criticism, FIFA reiterated that it operates as a not-for-profit organization, stating that revenue generated from the World Cup is reinvested into the development of football at men’s, women’s and youth levels across its 211 member associations. Despite the explanation, the clash between record demand and widespread dissatisfaction has cast a shadow over the early buildup to the 2026 tournament, raising broader questions about affordability, access and the future relationship between football’s global showcase and its supporters.
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