BERLIN: Soccer fans have accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” after latest prices for World Cup tickets began to circulate on Thursday.
The governing body allocates 8 percent of tickets to national associations for games involving their team to sell to the most loyal fans.
And a list published by the German soccer federation revealed prices ranged from $180-$700 for varying group stage games. The lowest price for the final was $4,185 and the highest was $8,680.
Those group-stage prices are very different from FIFA’s claims of $60 tickets being available, while the target from United States soccer officials when bidding for the tournament seven years ago was to offer hundreds of thousands of $21 seats across the opening phase of games.
Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the current prices as “extortionate.”
“This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is,” it said in a statement.
The English Football Association shared pricing information with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) on Thursday evening, which showed that if a fan bought a ticket for every game through to the final it would cost just over $7,000.
FIFA said in September that tickets released through its website would initially range from $60 for group-stage matches to $6,730 for the final. But those prices are subject to change as it adopts dynamic pricing for the first time at the World Cup.
FIFA tickets are available in four categories, with the best seats in Category 1.
In the price list published by the German federation, there were only three categories.
The lowest priced ticket was $180 for Germany’s opening group game against Curacao in Houston. The lowest price for the semifinal was $920 rising to $1,125.
The FSE called on FIFA to immediately halt ticket sales via national associations “until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found.”
The Associated Press approached FIFA for comment.
Latest phase
FIFA launched its third phase of widespread ticket sales Thursday, with fans now able to apply for specific matches for the first time through its “Random Selection Draw.”
Following last week’s draw for the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, an updated schedule has been published.
That means fans know when and where the likes of Lionel Messi and Argentina will play. Previous ticket ballots were blind as the qualification period had not even been completed and the draw was yet to take place.
Now participating nations have been placed in groups, with their paths through the tournament determined. For instance, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could go on to meet in the quarterfinals in Kansas City if both Argentina and Portugal top their respective groups.
Not that fans are guaranteed to get tickets to the games they apply for.
The draw opened Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT) and closes Jan. 13, 2026.
FIFA says ticket applications can be made at any point during this window and the timing of entry will not impact the chances of success. Fans can apply via FIFA’s website for a maximum of four tickets per household per match and a maximum of 40 tickets throughout the tournament.
Fans will need a FIFA ID to apply for tickets and can pick which matches and which pricing category they want to apply for.
Successful applicants will be notified by email in February and charged automatically.
Prices
The last time the US hosted the World Cup in 1994 prices ranged from $25 to $475. In Qatar in 2022 prices ranged from around $70 to $1,600 when ticket details were announced.
Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 are already going for in excess of $11,000 on secondary resale sites.
For this tournament FIFA has also set up its own resale platform where it charges a 15 percent fee based on the total resale price.
FIFA said that closer to the tournament any remaining tickets will go on general sale on a first-come, first-served basis.
It did not reveal a time frame for the release of those remaining tickets.
FIFA accused of ‘monumental betrayal’ over latest World Cup ticket prices
https://arab.news/nbavp
FIFA accused of ‘monumental betrayal’ over latest World Cup ticket prices
- Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the current prices as “extortionate”
- The FSE called on FIFA to immediately halt ticket sales via national associations “until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found”
Forever Young to defend Saudi Cup crown from stall 6
- Trainer Yoshito Yahagi happy with position for 2025 hero at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday
RIYADH: Forever Young (JPN) will emerge from gate six when bidding to defend his group one $20-million Saudi Cup crown at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday.
The reigning champion was the penultimate horse to be given a barrier and only five or six remained when Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi picked out the starting berth.
“I think six is a good number,” Yahagi said. “We don’t have to change anything with tactics. Honestly, I feel a lot of pressure on my shoulders bringing a defending champion but Forever Young doesn’t feel any pressure at all.”
American Hall of Famer Bob Baffert is in Riyadh and Flavien Prat will guide Nysos (US) from gate 12, while Irad Ortiz Jr. and Nevada Beach (US) have drawn gate seven.
“I’d rather be on the outside than the inside,” Baffert said after drawing the wide gate for Nysos.
“As long as the horse shows up that is more important. I think he is a really good horse and has always shown brilliance, he’s a trier and knows where the wire is. From the outside he will have a clear run.”
“Gate seven is good for Nevada Beach too. We just didn’t want to be in the one-hole,” Baffert added.
Last year’s fifth-place finisher Rattle N Roll (US) raced from seven on that occasion but this time around Joel Rosario will steer Kenny McPeek’s 6-year-old from stall 11.
Kyoko Maekawa drew stall one for Sunrise Zipangu (JPN) who will be ridden by Oisin Murphy. The Japan Racing Association’s first female trainer was Yahagi’s assistant in Saudi Arabia when Panthalassa (JPN) won The Saudi Cup from stall one in 2023.
Noriyuki Hori’s Luxor Cafe (US) has a wider starting point in barrier 10.
Leading local contender Mhally (GB) will break from stall 13. “We are very happy with that draw, we wanted something on the outside,” said Sheikh Faisal Al-Sabah, son of owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Al-Sabah.
“Hopefully he proves himself on Saturday.”
Banishing (US) was described as a horse with “a heart of gold” by trainer David Jacobson’s son, Zachary, and the American raider will break from stall three, while the Brad Cox-trained Bishops Bay (US) will come from nine.
The Saad Aljenade-trained Star Of Wonder (US) will start from the same stall five that Emblem Road (US) won the race, while his stable companion Haqeet (US) is inside that in box two under Mickael Barzalona.
Ryan Moore is a notable jockey booking for the Sami Alharabi-trained Ameerat Alzamaan (GB) who breaks from four.
Thundersquall (GB) will start from the widest draw of all in 14 for trainer Muteb Almulawah and jockey Danny Tudhope, while Tumbarumba (US) and James Doyle will begin the richest race in the world from eight for Hamad Al-Jehani and Wathnan Racing.
