FIFA announced on Tuesday the availability of a limited number of $60 "Supporter Entry Tier" tickets, with the goal of making next year's World Cup more affordable for fans of teams that qualify.
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The football governing body stated that these discounted tickets will be available for all 104 matches of the tournament, including the final.
These cheaper tickets will account for 10% of the allocations given to Participating Member Associations (PMAs). PMAs, which represent national teams and manage fan ticket programs, will be in charge of distributing the tickets.
They will also set their own rules to prioritize tickets for "loyal fans" who are closely connected to their national teams.
FIFA explained in a statement that "half of each PMA's ticket allocation will be in the most affordable categories: 40% under the Supporter Value Tier and 10% under the new Supporter Entry Tier."
They added that "the remaining allocation will be split evenly between the Supporter Standard Tier and the Supporter Premier Tier." Fans who apply through PMA ticketing programs and whose teams don't make it to the knockout stage will have administrative fees waived when requesting refunds.
This announcement comes at a time when there is increasing criticism of ticket prices before the 2026 tournament, which will be held from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Last week, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) criticized FIFA for setting "extortionate" ticket prices that could stop average fans from attending the event.
Despite the criticism, FIFA reported strong interest in the third phase of ticket sales, which started on December 11 and will continue until January 13, thanks to the release of match schedules, venues, and kick-off times.