Accessibility advocates have raised serious concerns over Fifa’s ticketing policy for fans with disabilities at the 2026 World Cup, with companion tickets now costing significant sums for the first time. The Guardian has uncovered multiple issues, including wheelchair users being unable to buy caregiver tickets, companion seats appearing on general sale, and accessible seating priced higher than standard tickets on the official resale platform.
Football Supporters Europe claims that fans with disabilities will pay 38 times more than they did for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where accessible group-stage tickets started at $10, compared with $140–$450 this summer. Accessible parking costs, ranging from $125 in Philadelphia to $300 in Los Angeles, have also drawn criticism.
Fans have reported spending months trying to secure companion tickets, with automated responses from Fifa offering no assistance. One supporter who paid $525 for a wheelchair seat in November said they had been unable to buy a companion ticket despite repeated attempts. Another noted that companion seats were available on general sale without proof of a prior accessible purchase.
A Fifa source cited US legislation as a challenge, as it prevents vendors from demanding proof of disability. They added that the American market does not allow price capping, even for accessible tickets, limiting Fifa’s ability to control resale prices. The source also suggested that an oversupply of companion tickets in some US stadiums may have contributed to the problem.
For England’s group match against Croatia in Dallas, standard category three tickets were listed at $1,150, while easy access tickets started at $3,100. Fifa acknowledged potential issues but stressed the complexity of the US market.
