“FIFA under criticism for silence on tickets for disabled individuals at the World Cup.”

A FIFA is under increasing pressure due to its lack of response regarding tickets for disabled fans for the 2026 World Cup, a situation that a charity organization describes as “unacceptable.” Outrage is palpable among advocates for fan rights, who argue that exorbitant prices and a lack of accessible options put disabled fans in an untenable position.

Disabled fans face a concerning scenario: there are no tickets available in the lowest price range of the general allocation, meaning they will have to shell out more money to attend the matches. Furthermore, personal assistants, who are often essential for these fans to participate in the event, have been informed that they will have to pay the full ticket price, with no discounts or free entries. FIFA, in turn, is unable to guarantee that these assistants will be seated next to the fans they accompany, further increasing uncertainty.

Level Playing Field, an organization dedicated to promoting equality in sports, has raised “serious and legitimate concerns” with FIFA for over three weeks but has received no response. To escalate its position, the organization has reached out to national federations and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Tony Taylor, president of Level Playing Field, expressed his frustration: “This ongoing uncertainty regarding accessible ticketing is unacceptable. The current situation seems to require disabled fans to gamble on costs and accessibility.”

Taylor also highlighted the importance of planning, personal assistants, and pricing issues, which are vital for fans with disabilities, as repeatedly demonstrated in the annual survey data from Level Playing Field. “Restricting access to the lowest price levels and charging for personal assistants adds unavoidable additional costs related to disability to attend the matches,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, FIFA has not commented on the matter, and pressure on the organization is only increasing, especially following criticism of its high pricing structure during this summer’s event in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Although it bowed to pressure by releasing a limited number of “more affordable” tickets for $60 (around £45) for general fans, this flexibility did not extend to fans with disabilities.

The situation is further complicated as English fans were unable to fill their entire allocation of tickets for the final and semi-final due to exorbitant prices. Approximately 90% of the tickets available for the final cost an astounding £3,094. This highlights the urgent need for an appropriate response from FIFA so that all fans, regardless of their needs, can enjoy the spectacle that is the World Cup.