FIFA Under Fire: Advocates Demand Affordable and Accessible Tickets for 2026 World Cup
Per the Football Supporters Association (FSA), Disability advocates called out the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) for making tickets 38 times more expensive than in 2022, pricing out fans with disabilities.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place June 11th through July 19th, 2026. Tickets went on sale December 11th, 2025 and immediately received backlash from the disability community due to exorbitant cost.
Various factors contribute to the exorbitant cost of World Cup tickets. At original prices fans with disabilities faced paying between $140 and $265 for the cheapest group stage matches. Additionally, accessible seating was generally unavailable in the lowest-priced tier, forcing users into higher-priced, premium, second-tier seating costing between $175 and $450 for a regular match and between $1,485 and $7,000 for the final match, according to the FSA. Moreover, fans with disabilities have been allowed to bring Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) to previous World Cup tournaments for free as companions, but 2026 policies require companions to have paid tickets, which essentially doubles the cost of attending the tournament for people with disabilities who need PCAs or other types of companions to be able to attend the tournament, according to the New York Times. Furthermore, accessible tickets have appeared on FIFA’s resale platform without price caps, sometimes reaching six times their original value, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Advocates, primarily led by organizations like Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and FSA, are calling the ticket price hike a monumental betrayal per ESPN. They threatened to boycott certain matches altogether such as the final, for which tickets are priced anywhere from $4,185 to $8,860, making attending the match difficult for the average fan, let alone fans with disabilities who often have a lower income.
Advocates asked FIFA to create a “Supporter Entry” price tier so that $60 tickets would be available for some matches. On December 16th, 2025, once discussion of the ticket price hike and the public outcry overtook discussion of the tournament itself, FIFA introduced such a tier making $60 tickets available for all 104 matches of the tournament. However, per Front Office Sports, advocates have largely dismissed this as “too little too late,” noting that these cheaper tickets are limited to only about 500 seats per team per match, representing only 10% of the allocated tickets. Additionally, FIFA is still requiring fans with disabilities to pay for companion tickets to the tournament.
As the debate continues, advocates remain steadfast in their pursuit of equitable access for all fans. They are urging FIFA to not only expand the number of affordable tickets available. but also to reconsider the requirement for paid companion tickets. The FSA and FSE have emphasized that true inclusivity means ensuring that fans with disabilities can enjoy the tournament without financial barriers.
Meanwhile, fans are hopeful that ongoing discussions and growing public pressure will lead to more comprehensive solutions. Many supporters believe that FIFA has the opportunity to set a global standard for accessibility and inclusivity in sports. As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues, the call for fair and accessible ticketing remains a critical issue, with advocates rallying for change that extends beyond just this tournament, aiming for a more inclusive future in all sporting events.