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Football fans have accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” after the latest World Cup ticket prices began circulating on Thursday.
The governing body allocates eight percent of tickets to national associations for games involving their teams to sell to their most loyal fans.
And a list published by the German Football Federation showed prices for various group stage games ranging from US$180 to US$700. The lowest final price was $4,185 and the highest was $8,680.
These group stage prices are a far cry from FIFA's claims that $60 tickets were available, while the goal of U.S. soccer officials when they bid for the tournament seven years ago was to offer hundreds of thousands of $21 seats for the first round of games.
Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) called the current prices “extortionate”.
“This is a blatant betrayal of the traditions of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of fans to this spectacle,” the statement said.
On Thursday evening, the English Football Association shared pricing information with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC), which revealed that if a fan bought a ticket for every game until the final, it would cost just over $7,000.
FIFA said in September that tickets sold through its website would initially range from $60 for group stage matches to $6,730 for the final. But these prices are subject to change as dynamic pricing is being used for the first time at the World Cup.
FIFA tickets are available in four categories, with the best seats in category 1.
The price list published by the German Federation had only three categories.
The cheapest ticket was $180 for Germany's first group match against Curacao in Houston. The lowest price for the semi-final was $920 and rose to $1,125.
FSE called on FIFA to immediately stop selling tickets through national associations “until a solution is found that respects the tradition, universality and cultural significance of the World Cup.”
The Associated Press has reached out to FIFA for comment.
The schedule for the FIFA World Cup matches has been announced. Toronto will play six games at BMO Field, which will soon be known as Toronto Stadium for the duration of the World Cup. CBC's Mercedes Gaztambide met with excited fans.
Last stage
FIFA launched the third phase of mass ticket sales on Thursday, with fans now able to apply for specific matches through a “random draw” for the first time.
Following the draw for the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, an updated schedule was released last week.
This means fans know when and where players like Lionel Messi and Argentina will play. The previous ticket voting was blind as the qualifying period had not even been completed yet and the draw had not yet taken place.
Prices for Canada's first game against the European playoff winner on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto started at C$1,300 for a Category 3 ticket, going up to $2,205 for a Category 2 ticket and $3,035 for a Category 1 ticket.
Prices for the June 18 and June 24 games against Qatar and Switzerland, respectively, at BC Place in Vancouver will be $370 for Category 3, $700 for Category 2 and $980 for Category 3.
Now the participating countries are divided into groups and their paths in the tournament are determined. For example, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could meet in the quarter-finals in Kansas City if Argentina and Portugal top their groups.
It is not a fact that fans are guaranteed to receive tickets for the matches they apply for.
The giveaway began Thursday at 11:00 a.m. ET and ends on January 13, 2026.
FIFA says applications for tickets can be submitted at any time during this period and the timing of the application will not affect the chances of success. Fans can apply via the FIFA website for a maximum of four tickets per household per match and a maximum of 40 tickets for the entire tournament.
Fans will need a FIFA ID to apply for tickets and will be able to choose which matches and price tier they want to apply for.
There are four categories: the best seats in category 1 and seats in category 4 somewhere at the top of the stadium.
Successful applicants will be notified by email in February and will be charged automatically.
Officials in British Columbia say planning for the 2026 World Cup is picking up pace as FIFA's match schedule is released. Vancouver will host seven World Cup games next summer. As CBC's Michelle Gomez reports, infrastructure upgrades are well underway in the city.
Prices
The last time the United States hosted the World Cup in 1994, prices ranged from $25 to $475. At the time of Qatar 2022 ticket details were announced, prices ranged from US$70 to US$1,600.
Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 are already selling for more than $11,000 on resale.
For this tournament, FIFA also created its own resale platform, which charges a commission of 15 percent of the total resale price.
FIFA said that closer to the tournament, all remaining tickets will go on general sale on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dates for issuing remaining tickets have not been specified.
