Saudi Arabia hands out free World Cup tickets as sky-high prices deter fans

Saudi Arabia’s football association is giving away free tickets to its supporters at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a move sanctioned by FIFA as the governing body grapples with fears that inflated prices could leave stadiums sparsely attended when the tournament kicks off next week.

The Saudi US Embassy confirmed the initiative, stating that Saudi National Team fans already present in the United States are eligible to receive a complimentary ticket. The country opens their campaign against Uruguay in Miami before facing Spain and Cape Verde in Group H, with Georgios Donis’ side coached through a group that also includes those two nations.

The gesture comes against a backdrop of eye-watering ticket prices that have drawn widespread criticism. The cheapest available seats for England’s opening game against Croatia on 17 June were listed at $898 (£628) on FIFA’s official resale platform as far back as April. FIFA president Gianni Infantino drew further ridicule when he defended the appearance of a $2 million (£1.47m) ticket on the same resale market. Tickets for Saudi Arabia’s group-stage matches are currently listed for as much as $3,000 (£2,230), yet thousands of seats remain unsold.

The free-ticket strategy is not without precedent. FIFA distributed complimentary tickets at last summer’s Club World Cup in the United States to shore up attendances at that competition.

The pricing controversy has now escalated into legal action. The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey have launched investigations into FIFA’s ticketing process after fans alleged they were misled about the category of seat they were purchasing.

“FIFA has turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices — all at the expense of consumers and hardworking New Jerseyans,” said New Jersey attorney general Jennifer Davenport. “We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation of FIFA’s conduct.”

New York attorney general Letitia James joined the action, with both officials framing the investigation as a consumer-protection matter tied directly to the privilege of hosting the tournament on American soil.