By Yomi Kuku, Toronto Canada
As FIFA World Cup 2026™️ ticket sales continue amid major fan interest, significant criticism has emerged from supporter groups, particularly around the accessibility and cost of tickets for fans with disabilities, who argue that the current structure unfairly excludes them and their essential companions from attending matches.
Barrier to Access and Rising Costs:
Fans and disability advocacy networks have expressed deep concern over FIFA’s ticket pricing and accessibility policies for the June–July 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
According to letters and statements from Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and its Disability & Inclusion Fan Network, FIFA’s decision to make accessibility tickets available only in higher‑priced categories, while charging full price for companion tickets effectively doubles the cost for many disabled supporters. Attending matches without a companion is often impossible due to mobility or health needs, meaning most disabled fans face significantly higher expenses than other spectators.
Andrea Zorloni, an Italian member of the FSE network, said that the lack of dialogue with disability groups and the pricing structure shows insufficient respect for inclusion and that disabled fans are part of the global football community deserving of equitable access.
Zdeněk Barlok from Czechia criticised what he described as “aggressive profiteering” in ticket pricing for disabled supporters, urging FIFA to “make better conditions for all supporters.”
FIFA’s ticketing information indicates that accessible tickets are being sold under the same general categories as other seats, with a limit per household of four accessibility tickets and no special pricing tier specifically for lower‑income or disability fans. Companion or Personal Assistant (PA) tickets are not issued for free, a departure from precedent set at previous World Cups, particularly Qatar 2022 where group‑stage companion tickets were often included at minimal cost.
FIFA has introduced a new “Supporter Entry Tier”, offering tickets as low as $60 for every match, including the final, to committed fans through national associations, but this tier does not currently extend equally to accessible ticket allocations.