![\"FIFA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-speaks-during-the-match-sche-DNIGT5I6ZRGXBOWJLPSOLTBS5E.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams’ most loyal fans following a global backlash and some will get US$60 (NZ$103.68) seats for the final instead of being asked to pay US$4185 (NZ$7230.78).<\/p>\n
FIFA said today that the $60 tickets will be made available for every game at the tournament in North America, going to the national federations whose teams are playing. Those federations decide how to distribute them to loyal fans who have attended previous games at home and on the road.<\/p>\n
The number of $60 tickets for each game is likely to be in the hundreds, rather than thousands, in what FIFA is now calling a \u201cSupporter Entry Tier\u201d price category.<\/p>\n
FIFA did not specify exactly why it so dramatically changed strategy, but said the lower prices are \u201cdesigned to further support travelling fans following their national teams across the tournament”.<\/p>\n
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the match schedule reveal for the 2026 soccer World Cup in Washington (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n
The World Cup in North America will be the first edition that features 48 teams \u2014 up from 32 \u2014 and is expected to earn FIFA at least US$10 billion (NZ$17.2 billion) in revenue. But fans worldwide reacted with shock and anger<\/a> last week on seeing FIFA\u2019s ticketing plans that gave participating teams no tickets in the lowest-priced category.<\/p>\n The cheapest prices ranged from US$120 (NZ$207.32) to US$265 (NZ$457.77) for group-stage games that did not involve co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico.<\/p>\n FIFA had set those prices despite the co-hosts having pledged eight years ago \u2014 when they were bidding for the tournament \u2014 that hundreds of thousands of US$21 (NZ$36.28) tickets would be made available.<\/p>\n Criticism from fans, especially in Europe, had been increasing for several months over plans for \u201cdynamic pricing\u201d plus extra fees on a FIFA-run resale platform \u2014 both features which are common in the US entertainment industry but not to football fans worldwide.<\/p>\n Fan anger intensified last week when it became clear loyal supporters would have no access to the cheapest category tickets and that fans who wanted to reserve a ticket for all of their team’s potential games \u2014 through the final \u2014 would not get refunded until after the tournament.<\/p>\n In another climbdown on Wednesday, FIFA said it would waive its administrative fees when refunds are made after the July 19 final.<\/p>\n