World Cup Category 4 Tickets: Why You Shouldn’t Count on Them for 2026
By: Colin Martin
If you’re gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you’re probably hearing a lot of speculation and whispers about tickets—the ones somehow already available on platforms like StubHub, the hospitality packages FIFA has been pushing ahead of the general ticket sales period. But what about those tickets that are a little (or a lot) more affordable? What about the infamous… “Category 4” tickets?!
Summary table of proposed World Cup 2026 ticket categories and prices from the bid book of the joint US-Canada-Mexico bid committee.
You may remember the availability of Category 4 tickets from previous tournaments, or maybe you’ve seen mention of them in the ‘United’ group’s (US, Canada, & Mexico) official bid book (page 490). As the next men’s edition of the greatest sporting event on the face of the planet approaches, we think it’s time to start managing expectations around these elusive, historically budget-friendly seats. The odds of snagging these tickets for the next World Cup? Slim to none. Here’s what you should know.
What Are Category 4 Tickets?
Category 4 tickets have traditionally been the most affordable option for attending a FIFA World Cup match in-stadium. The catch though, has always been that these tickets are reserved for residents of the host nation. For example, during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Category 4 tickets were available exclusively to locals (of the wealthy, oil-rich nation that was involved in bribery and slave labor to pull off the World Cup at all) for a whopping $11 USD, giving either Qatari citizens or foreign born “workers” an affordable way to attend matches. However, the price usually comes with a cost. Category 4 tickets are typically for seats in “the nosebleeds” as they say, and behind the goals, providing a fairly one-sided view of the match. For the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in the UAE, Cat 4 tickets were described as being in the stadium’s “least prime” areas and priced for “maximum accessibility.” The key takeaway? They’ve always been designed as a lower-cost option with very specific eligibility criteria, and not a whole lot of appeal — no matter how hard FIFA spins the language around them. Speaking of FIFA doing FIFA things…
Some of our very first World Cup tickets from South Africa 2010
What’s Changed Since Qatar 2022?
Fast-forward to recent FIFA events, and the concept of Category 4 tickets has quietly evolved—or, in some cases, disappeared altogether. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup offered just three ticket categories, with no explicit mention of a Category 4 option (at least from our memory). Instead, the focus shifted toward providing local fans, in this case Australian and New Zealand/Aotearoa residents, with their own, separate ticketing portals. More recently, the upcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the US seems to only feature two ticket categories for club-specific fan areas (so far at least), moving further away from the four-category system of past tournaments. There are no categories indicated for tickets available to the general public. How will those tickets be sold then?
Dynamic Pricing and Its Impact
Adding to the mix is FIFA’s increasing acceptance of (preference for?) “dynamic pricing,” a strategy that adjusts ticket costs based on demand. Already in use by Ticketmaster for the 2025 Club World Cup* (and other events like Taylor Swift concerts), dynamic pricing could significantly impact affordability for 2026. Even if Category 4 tickets are listed, their availability and price could fluctuate dramatically. And while this system is already common in US sports and other entertainment sub-domains, it certainly won’t make it any easier for fans to count on low-cost options to attend World Cup games.
*There’s a great article from The Athletic if you want to dive a bit deeper on how dynamic pricing is being used for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 tickets.
Back in the day when FIFA sent you physical, collectible match tickets
Why Category 4 Tickets mIGHT Be Scarce in 2026
Considering the evidence from WWC 2023 and the Club World Cup 2025, this shift away from Category 4 tickets seems like part of a broader trend in FIFA’s ticketing strategy. The 2026 World Cup, spread across the US, Canada, and Mexico, with 48 teams instead of 32, will be the largest yet, with expanded fan zones, higher demand, and plenty of logistical challenges. As a result of such a big spend (16 more teams are going to need training facilities and matchday buses), we think FIFA is likely to prioritize higher-revenue ticket categories and dynamic pricing models. Simply put, Category 4 tickets—if they’re offered at all—will probably be in extremely limited supply and reserved for very specific audiences.
The Bottom Line
While the proposition of snagging a cheap Category 4 ticket is incredibly enticing, the reality of that for World Cup 2026 is highly unlikely. As FIFA continues to adapt its ticketing strategies, fans should prepare for fewer affordable options and greater reliance on dynamic pricing. Your best bet? Definitely plan ahead, explore all ticketing options, and be prepared to act fast when sales go live. Or… join us on an adventurous out-of-grounds knockout-stage trip!
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(Disclosure: We sometimes ideate, draft, and/or refine content with the aid of artificial intelligence tools, and revise it to reflect our own personalities & intended message.)