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New Delhi: FIFA announced it would issue discounted tickets for next year’s World Cup matches after global backlash over high prices.
Rates initially ranged from $180 to $700 for group stage matches while lowest price for the final was kept at $4,185, and the highest was $8,680.
Now FIFA said a small number of $60 "Supporter Entry Tier" tickets would be made available for all 104 matches, including the final.
The cheaper tickets will make up 10% of Participating Member Associations' (PMAs) allocations and make tickets more affordable for fans of qualified teams.
The PMAs will handle the allocation process and will have their own criteria to prioritise tickets to most dedicated fans.
"In total, half of each PMA's ticket allocation will fall within the most affordable categories: 40% under the Supporter Value Tier and 10% under the new Supporter Entry Tier," FIFA said in a statement.
"The remaining allocation will be split evenly between the Supporter Standard Tier and the Supporter Premier Tier."
The World Cup will be held between June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and America and despite outrage, FIFA said it received 5 million requests in sale's third phase draw that began on December 11 and will continue till January 13.
FIFA had faced growing criticism for a surge in ticket rates as Football Supporters Europe (FSE) last week warned "extortionate" price could bar average fans from attending the event.
FSE director Ronan Evain said new pricing was "clearly not sufficient" though a step in the right direction, noting that following a team to the final would cost $480 under category four, but $6,900 for category three.
He highlighted a lack of transparency around ticket distribution while raising concerns about access to fans with disabilities.
"FIFA doesn't provide any guidelines or obligations for the PMAs. They have the freedom to choose how they distribute the tickets," he told Reuters.
"The cheapest they can get all the way to the final is $7,000 and they also must pay full price for companion seats, meaning that following a team to the final could cost $14,000."
