Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The 2026 FIFA World Cup, marketed as FIFA World Cup 26, will be the 23rd edition of the most anticipated quadrennial international football tournament.
This major event will be co-hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States, marking the first time the tournament has been held in three countries simultaneously.
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However, preparations for the 2026 World Cup are currently mired in serious controversy after football fan organizations have accused FIFA of committing a "monumental betrayal" regarding recently released ticket prices.
This exorbitant ticket price increase far exceeds FIFA's initial promises and the prices of previous editions.
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.
World Cup Ticket Price Hikes Spark Fans Anger
Amidst the excitement surrounding the 2026 World Cup, serious accusations have emerged from the football fan organization, Football Supporters Europe (FSE), accusing FIFA of committing a "monumental betrayal."
These accusations come after updated ticket prices for the tournament were widely circulated, showing figures far above expectations.
FSE described the current prices as "exorbitant" and criticized FIFA for ignoring the contribution fans make to the World Cup spectacle.
The English Football Association has also shared pricing information with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC), indicating that the cost of attending each match up to the final could reach over $7,000 USD.
By comparison, the cheapest ticket price for the 2026 World Cup final published by the Croatian Football Federation is $4,185 USD, with the highest price reaching $8,680 USD.
Meanwhile, the German Football Federation's group stage price list shows a range between $180 and $700 USD.
These figures contrast sharply with FIFA's previous claims of promising $60 USD tickets, and even US football officials had previously targeted hundreds of thousands of $21 USD seats for the opening phase.
Tickets for the 2026 World Cup could be seven times more expensive than those for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the cheapest tickets were around £450.
Following a team from the first match to the final in Qatar would cost only around $1,300 USD, while the 2026 edition could cost up to $6,900 USD, five times more.
Dynamic Pricing System and Questionable Ticket Allocation
One of the main causes of the 2026 World Cup ticket price hike is FIFA's first-ever adoption of dynamic pricing.
This system allows prices to fluctuate based on demand and the perceived attractiveness of matches, with no standard price for group stage matches.
This has created uncertainty and concern among fans.
FIFA allocates 8% of tickets to national associations for their most loyal supporters.
However, the FSE stated that the cheapest ticket category (Category 4) will not be available to loyal supporters through their national associations.
Instead, these tickets will be reserved for general sale subject to dynamic pricing, further complicating access for fans on a budget.
Furthermore, FIFA operates its own ticket resale platform, charging fees of 15% or even 30% of the total resale price.
This practice has drawn sharp criticism and been labeled "touting" by some, adding to the long list of fan complaints regarding the 2026 World Cup ticket policy.
In response to this situation, the FSE called on FIFA to immediately halt the sale of PMA tickets, saying, "until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found."
FIFA World Cup 2026: New Format and Three Hosts
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition to feature 48 national teams, a significant expansion from the previous 32-team format.
With this increase in the number of teams, the total number of matches will also increase from 64 to 104, spanning 39 full days.
A total of 16 cities across three countries will host the tournament, including 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada.
Mexico will make history as the first country to host or co-host the Men's World Cup three times, having previously hosted the tournament in 1970 and 1986.
The United States previously hosted the tournament in 1994, and this will be Canada's first hosting role.
The opening match of the 2026 World Cup is scheduled for June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a legendary stadium that has hosted two previous World Cup finals.
The tournament's culmination, the final, will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which will be renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the duration of the event.
Under the new format, teams will be divided into 12 groups of four.
The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the newly introduced round of 32, promising even more drama and intense competition.