Marketplace Morning Report Backlash prompts slashed World Cup ticket prices
Dec 17, 2025
Nick Marsh, a BBC business reporter, breaks down FIFA's controversial decision to introduce $60 World Cup tickets following fan outrage over high prices. He explains how only a small fraction of these tickets will be available and compares the current pricing to the previous World Cup in Qatar. Amidst ongoing fan backlash, Marsh discusses potential future pressures on FIFA for further concessions. He also touches on Kylian Mbappé's $70 million compensation victory over PSG, highlighting key labor issues in sports.
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$60 Tickets Are Real But Scarce
- FIFA will offer a new $60 supporter tier for signed-up member association fans across all matches, including the final.
- Only about 10% of each association's allocation is at this price, so most seats remain expensive.
Travel Costs Make Attendance Prohibitive
- The cost to follow a team through the tournament can exceed $7,000 if fans miss the cheap tickets.
- Average prices are roughly seven times higher than at the Qatar World Cup three years ago.
Global Fans See Prices As Unfair
- Fans and supporter groups reacted with near-universal disgust, calling the pricing scandalous.
- For many countries the cheapest tickets equal months of average wages, making access inequitable.