By Rasheed Adewuyi, New York
Dozens of U.S. lawmakers have urged FIFA to lower ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that the governing body’s use of dynamic pricing risks making football’s biggest tournament financially inaccessible to many fans.
In a letter dated March 10 and addressed to Gianni Infantino, the lawmakers, led by Sydney Kamlager-Dove and signed by 68 other members of the U.S. Congress, called on FIFA to review its ticketing strategy for the tournament scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The lawmakers argued that the governing body’s introduction of dynamic pricing, where ticket costs fluctuate based on demand and availability, has turned the global showpiece into what they described as an “exclusionary” event for ordinary supporters.
“The extreme high demand for World Cup tickets should not be a green light for price gouging at the expense of the people who make the World Cup the most-watched sporting event in the world,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter shared publicly this week.
The 2026 edition marks the first time FIFA has widely applied dynamic pricing to World Cup tickets, allowing prices to rise or fall depending on factors such as match demand, inventory levels and the perceived attractiveness of fixtures.
Lawmakers say the model prioritizes revenue over accessibility, noting that tickets on FIFA’s official resale platform have surged well beyond the initial price estimates listed in the tournament’s original bid documents.
“This widely criticised decision to abandon the traditional static pricing model prioritises revenue maximisation over accessibility for fans and host community residents,” the letter stated.
Critics have also warned that escalating ticket costs could affect the atmosphere inside stadiums by excluding traditional supporters and replacing them with corporate hospitality buyers.
Facing mounting criticism from supporters and consumer groups, FIFA previously introduced a limited number of $60 entry-tier tickets for the tournament. However, these seats are located in less desirable sections of stadiums and represent only a small fraction of the total allocation.
Lawmakers are now asking FIFA to consider redistributing unsold tickets at lower prices, prevent further price inflation as teams advance in the competition, and return to a static pricing model for future tournaments.
The group also raised concerns that some host cities have been forced to scale back or privatise fan festivals because of rising costs associated with hosting the tournament.
“We urge FIFA to take immediate corrective action to address the harms caused by its use of dynamic pricing, which has transformed the world’s largest sporting event into an exclusionary, profit-driven enterprise,” the letter added.
FIFA had not publicly responded to the letter as of Thursday.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump struck a more optimistic tone regarding preparations for the tournament, saying ticket demand has been extremely strong.
Writing on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the United States was looking forward to hosting what he described as “the biggest and safest sporting event” in the country’s history.
“The United States is very much looking forward to hosting the FIFA World Cup. Ticket sales are skyrocketing,” Trump wrote. “All players, officials and fans will be treated like ‘stars’, as they should be.”
The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in the tournament’s history, expanding to 48 teams and 104 matches across North America. While demand is expected to reach record levels, the debate over ticket affordability highlights the growing tension between commercial revenue and fan accessibility in global sport.