Link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7182937/2026/04/09/fifa-world-cup-tickets-new-category-prices/

Yet another twist in the 2026 FIFA World Cup ticketing saga has soured fans who feel duped about the process

Every day, I feel a little better about my choice to not buy tickets for this World Cup:

“This is just another example of how deceptive the original maps were,” one fan, Ben Kurzman, wrote in a Wednesday email. “[FIFA] let people believe that by buying Category 1 seats, they might end up in a lower sideline section close to the field, when that was never going to happen.”

The new “Front Category 1” had not been previously advertised or mentioned. From an initial “presale” phase in October through last week, the normal “Category 1” had been sold as the top tier of ticket, with prices now ranging from $10,990 for the World Cup final to $450 for some group-stage games. The maps shown to buyers suggested that these tickets could yield seats anywhere in any 100-level section or, at most stadiums, in mid-level sections with good views.