Five Million World Cup Ticket Requests Flood FIFA in One Day Amid Price Backlash
FIFA faces fan backlash as 5 million ticket requests flood sales amid record-high prices for 2026 World Cup matches
- FIFA received five million ticket requests in the first day of sales for the 2026 World Cup.
- Ticket prices draw criticism, with group-stage tickets up to three times higher than Qatar 2022 and finals starting at £3,119.
- Supporters’ groups call for a halt to sales and negotiations with FIFA over pricing policies.
FIFA says it received five million ticket requests within 24 hours of opening the latest sales phase for the 2026 World Cup, despite mounting criticism over the sharp rise in ticket prices.
According to football’s world governing body, fans from more than 200 countries have applied for tickets so far. The most in-demand match is the group-stage fixture between Colombia and Portugal, scheduled for June 27 in Miami.
The surge in demand comes as supporter groups strongly criticise the pricing structure for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Group-stage tickets are reportedly up to three times more expensive than those at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while the cheapest ticket for the final is priced at £3,119—seven times higher than the equivalent cost in 2022.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has described the prices as “scandalous” and, alongside Football Supporters Europe (FSE), has called for an immediate halt to ticket sales to allow talks with FIFA over its pricing policy. The group has also urged national football associations to challenge FIFA on behalf of fans.
The Football Association (FA) is expected to relay supporters’ concerns to FIFA, with BBC Sport reporting that England fans are particularly unhappy. FIFA has not yet issued a formal response to the criticism.
Insiders at FIFA have defended the pricing, arguing that ticket costs reflect the US market and are intended to help grow the game globally, with revenues reinvested into men’s, women’s and youth football. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also pledged record revenues from the expanded 48-team tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Beyond Colombia v Portugal, other highly sought-after matches include Brazil v Morocco, Mexico v South Korea, Ecuador v Germany, and Scotland v Brazil. FIFA says the highest number of ticket requests have come from the three host nations, followed by Colombia, England, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, and several European and South American countries.
Notably, no concessions are being offered for children or other groups across any category of tickets.
