FIFA has angered fans after releasing more World Cup 2026 tickets and a new more expensive category.
FIFA confirmed on Tuesday that it will release another batch of tickets for supporters starting Wednesday, April 22 at 11am EDT (15pm GMT). The added inventory covers all 104 matches and includes Categories 1, 2 and 3, with a new “front category” price tier also being rolled out later this month.
The introduction of the extra tier has sparked backlash online, with some fans arguing the move suggests better seats were effectively held back. Critics say they bought tickets believing they were getting the best available within their chosen category, only to later see “front” options appear that seem to offer superior locations.
When ticket sales opened in December, FIFA offered pricing from $140 for Category 3 seats in the first round up to $8,680 for the final. Prices then reportedly increased when sales reopened on April 1, climbing as high as $10,990.
The price for the final had been $8,680 when FIFA sold the tickets in December.
While FIFA’s latest release increases the number of seats on sale, the expanded pricing structure has fuelled concerns that many of the additional options sit at the higher end of the market, putting attendance further out of reach for some supporters.
Earlier this month, ESPN reported that some fans were confronted with prices as high as $4,105 for “front Category 1” seats for the U.S. tournament opener against Paraguay in Inglewood, California, on June 12.
FIFA has also added more premium inventory for other fixtures, including “front” Category 1 tickets that reportedly reached $3,360 for Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto.
Knockout matches have also seen additional price bands introduced. Seats were listed at around $905 for round-of-16 fixtures in Philadelphia, highlighting that higher pricing is not limited to the late stages of the competition.
Prices have risen for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as well. Category 2 tickets were listed at $7,380, up from $5,575, while Category 3 seats increased to $5,785 from $4,185.
The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Despite the criticism over escalating costs, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has maintained that demand is strong enough to fill every stadium.
“The demand is there. Every match is sold out,” Infantino told CNBC in an interview in February.