Keir Starmer has entered the debate concerning the pricing of World Cup tickets by FIFA.
In response to the public outcry over ticket prices, the football association recently introduced discounted tickets for the upcoming World Cup. Previously, fans faced steep prices, with some tickets starting at £200 for the opening match and exceeding £4,000 for the final. FIFA has now committed to offering tickets at a fixed rate of £45 for all games at the tournament in the United States next summer. However, only a small percentage of tickets allocated to each nation will be available at this reduced price, limiting the availability to hundreds rather than thousands per match.
The Prime Minister, an avid football enthusiast, commended FIFA for lowering ticket prices but urged the organization to do more to ensure affordability for genuine fans who contribute to the spirit of the game. Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, expressing appreciation for the reduced prices while calling for further efforts to keep the World Cup accessible to dedicated supporters.
FIFA’s decision to revise ticket pricing came after consultations with key stakeholders, including national football associations. The move marks a significant departure from the previous World Cup, where many fans found attending the event in the US financially challenging.
In a communication to all Participating Member Associations, FIFA announced the introduction of a Supporter Entry Tier, offering tickets at a fixed price of USD 60 for each of the 104 matches, including the final. These tickets will be reserved for supporters of qualified teams, with the selection process managed by individual associations to prioritize loyal fans closely connected to their national teams.
Furthermore, FIFA disclosed that 50% of each association’s allocation will be allocated to more affordable ticket tiers, with provisions for fans of teams that do not advance to the knockout phase to have administrative fees waived during the refund process.