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FOOTBALL supporters around the world have expressed outrage after it emerged that the cheapest tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final will cost a staggering £3,120 (approximately RM17,144).
The disclosure has prompted accusations that FIFA has committed a “major betrayal” against loyal fans.
Supporters of England faced particular frustration, having to spend at least £200 (RM1,098) just to watch Thomas Tuchel’s squad take on Croatia in their opening group match.
These figures apply to seats in the “value” tier at the 100,000-capacity stadium in Dallas. Standard-tier tickets are priced at £373 (RM2,049), while premier seats are listed at £523 (RM2,868) for a single group-stage fixture.
The prices relate specifically to tickets purchased through the Participants’ Members Allocation (PMA), a system that allows fans to buy tickets via official supporters’ clubs.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) condemned the costs, highlighting that attending every match from the opening game to the final via PMA would require spending more than £6,000 (RM32,969) — five times higher than the equivalent expenses at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
“FSE is appalled by the extreme ticket prices imposed by FIFA on the most loyal supporters for next year’s World Cup,” the organisation said in a statement.
“This constitutes a major betrayal of World Cup traditions and disregards the contributions of fans who bring life and atmosphere to the sport.”
FSE has called on FIFA to immediately halt PMA ticket sales and engage with all affected parties to reconsider the pricing strategy.
England supporters’ group Free Lions echoed the criticism on social media platform X, describing the ticket costs as “shocking” and far exceeding expectations.
“This cannot be allowed to happen. Fans worldwide deserve protection from such extortionate pricing,” the group added.
For context, tickets for England’s group matches against Panama and Ghana start at £134 (RM736). Prices for the Round of 32 and Round of 16 begin at £175 (RM961) and £200 (RM1,098) respectively. Quarter-final tickets for England start at £508 (RM2,791), with semi-final seats rising to £687 (RM3,775).
The disclosure has ignited global debate over FIFA’s ticketing practices, raising questions about accessibility and fairness for the world’s most dedicated football supporters. - December 12, 2025