FIFA and several national football federations have begun offering free or heavily discounted tickets for some 2026 World Cup matches amid concerns that high prices are discouraging supporters from attending games.
According to reports, Saudi Arabia’s football federation announced that fans travelling to the United States for the tournament could receive complimentary tickets for Saudi national team matches. The move comes as FIFA faces growing criticism over ticket pricing, with some seats costing thousands of dollars due to dynamic pricing policies.
Fans, consumer groups and politicians have accused FIFA of making the tournament unaffordable for ordinary supporters. Investigations have also been launched in New York and New Jersey over allegations that ticket prices were artificially inflated and lacked transparency.
The controversy follows similar concerns during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, when ticket prices were reduced after weak demand and fears of low attendance. FIFA later cut prices for several matches to attract more spectators.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is set to become the largest tournament in the competition’s history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches.
