Keir Starmer has joined the discussion on the pricing of World Cup tickets by FIFA.
The football association recently introduced discounted World Cup tickets following public backlash. Previously, England fans were facing high prices, starting at £200 for the Group opener and over £4,000 for a World Cup final ticket. FIFA has now confirmed a fixed cost of £45 for all games at the upcoming tournament in the US.
However, only about 10% of tickets allocated to each nation will be offered at this reduced price, resulting in limited availability per match for each country.
The Prime Minister, a known football enthusiast, supported FIFA’s move to introduce lower-priced tickets but emphasized the need for further actions to ensure affordability for genuine supporters who contribute to the game’s essence.
FIFA altered its stance after engaging with key stakeholders and relevant football associations, with a significant shift from the previous World Cup. Fans had expressed concerns about the affordability of attending the event in the US.
In a statement to all Participating Member Associations, FIFA announced a dedicated ticket pricing tier of USD 60 per ticket for all 104 matches, including the final, to benefit national team supporters at the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The new Supporter Entry Tier aims to make it more economical for fans to follow their teams during the tournament. Allocation and distribution of these tickets will be managed by each Participating Member Association, ensuring they reach loyal supporters closely connected to their national teams.
Furthermore, FIFA outlined that 50% of each association’s ticket allocation will fall within cost-effective tiers, with the remaining split between higher-priced tiers. Fans whose teams do not progress to the knockout stage will have the administrative fee waived during refund processes.
This move by FIFA is seen as a positive step towards making the World Cup more accessible to dedicated supporters.