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World Cup 2026 Ticket Ballot Opens as Fan Groups Condemn Soaring PMA Prices

The opening coincides with a backlash over steep costs for supporter allocations.

Overview

  • FIFA’s Random Selection Draw opened Dec. 11 and runs through Jan. 13, 2026, requiring a FIFA ID, capping requests at four tickets per match and 40 total, with successful applicants notified and charged automatically in February.
  • Participating Member Associations typically control about 8% of seats for their team’s games, and new lists show supporter prices ranging from $180–$700 for some group matches and $4,185–$8,680 for final tickets, according to the German federation.
  • Football Supporters Europe called the pricing “extortionate” and a “monumental betrayal,” urging FIFA to immediately halt PMA ticket sales and review prices and category distribution.
  • FIFA told Sky News ringfenced PMA allocations will be fixed-priced for this sales phase, while its wider model includes dynamic pricing and an official resale platform that charges a reported 15% fee, with warnings about unofficial sites.
  • Secondary listings already show high get-in costs, including Mexico City group games averaging about $2,300 and some final seats above $11,000, as travel access remains a factor with the FIFA PASS visa appointment system and additional U.S. consular staffing.