GENEVA (AP) — Following a global backlash, FIFA is cutting the price of some World Cup tickets for its teams’ most loyal fans, meaning some teams will get a seat at the finals for $60 instead of paying $4,185.
It was an unusual fall from grace by the Football Association and its president, Gianni Infantino, after a series of ups and downs. criticism Toward a World Cup strategy highest dollar price and closer political alliance With US President Donald Trump.
FIFA announced on Tuesday that $60 tickets to every match in the competition in North America will be distributed to the national federations of participating teams. These federations will decide how to distribute previous matches to loyal fans who have watched them at home or on the road.
The number of $60 tickets for each match is likely to be between 400 and 750 per team, in a price category that FIFA currently calls the “Supporter Entry Tier.” FIFA uses 16 host cities, including 11 NFL stadiums in the United States, two in Canada and three in Mexico.
FIFA did not provide specifics on why it had made such a drastic change in strategy, but said the price cuts were “designed to further support traveling fans who follow their national teams during the tournament.”
But Football Supporters Europe, which represents grassroots fan groups, said the limited price reduction was an “appeasement tactic based on negative global backlash”.
“This shows that FIFA’s ticket sales policy has not been finalized and the decision was made in haste without proper consultation,” the organization said in a statement.
The North American World Cup will be the first tournament to feature 48 teams instead of 32, and is expected to win at least an award from FIFA. $10 billion in revenue While being the most expensive one ever for fans.
Despite protests over prices, FIFA announced it had already received more than 20 million ticket requests in the latest sales phase.
FSE Group said that even with Tuesday’s announcement, “the vast majority will still have to pay exorbitant fees, much higher than in any previous tournament.”
Initial pledge for cheap airline tickets
Last week, fans around the world reacted with shock and anger at FIFA’s ticket sales plan that denied participating teams tickets in the lowest price category. The standard allocation is 8% of stadium capacity for each team.
For group stage games not co-hosted by the U.S., Canada or Mexico, the lowest prices ranged from $140 to $265. The $265 match will feature Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, and well-supported teams such as Brazil and England.
FIFA set the price despite co-organizers pledging hundreds of thousands of $21 tickets for pre-final matches when they bid for the tournament eight years ago.
Hospitality programs at modern NFL venues will now be managed in-house rather than outsourced to agencies, and are expected to generate billions of dollars in revenue for FIFA instead of hundreds of millions.
criticism of europe
Criticism from fans, especially those in Europe, of plans for “dynamic pricing” and surcharges on FIFA-run resale platforms has been mounting for months. Both features are common in the U.S. entertainment industry, but not among soccer fans around the world.
Fan anger escalated last week when it was revealed that loyal supporters would not have access to tickets in the cheapest category and that fans who wanted to book tickets for all of their team’s matches up to the final would not receive a refund until the end of the tournament.
In a further fall on Tuesday, FIFA announced it would waive administrative fees if refunds are made after the July 19 final.
Faulty fan
Even before FIFA’s statement, supporter groups FSE called on Tuesday. To rethink the World Cup’s policy towards fans with disabilities.
According to the report, FIFA’s resale platform sold disabled-access seats at several times the face value, and there was no guarantee that the tickets would actually be sold to a disabled person. These fans will also no longer be able to obtain free tickets for their companions, as was the case at the last World Cup in Qatar.
Infantino in Qatar He began his speech the night before the tournament. He lashed out at the host nation, FIFA and his perceived critics, including one line: “Today I feel like I’ve been handicapped.”
“True inclusion requires action,” FSE said on Tuesday, reminding Mr. Infantino of his speech. “The time has come for FIFA to move away from populist rhetoric and honor its own commitments.”
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