FIFA slammed for 'monumental betrayal' after latest World Cup ticket prices released
Football fans have been left outraged after FIFA released its ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup.
For Socceroos supporters, the cheapest ticket to a group game is $209.96 for category three seats. Category two seats are $569.89 while category one are $674.87.
Those tickets are for games against whoever joins the group from European qualifying and the Paraguay match. Tickets for the USA match are higher, with the cheapest at $398.
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The prices are a far cry from FIFA once claiming $US60 ($90) tickets would be available and the US advertising $US21 ($31) options when bidding for the tournament.
A Socceroos fan at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Getty
However, FIFA has adopted a dynamic pricing system for the first time at a World Cup.
Fan organisation Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the new 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 Friday (AEDT), which showed that if a fan bought a ticket for every game through to the final it would cost more than $10,500.
A FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic in a statement that "the pricing model … reflects the existing market practice for major entertainment and sporting events within our hosts on a daily basis, soccer included".
Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium are already going for in excess of $16,500 on secondary resale sites.
For this tournament FIFA has also set up its own resale platform where it charges a 15 per cent 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 timeframe for the release of those remaining tickets.
