FIFA on Wednesday announced the introduction of a limited number of $60 “Supporter Entry Tier” tickets, aimed at making the 2026 FIFA World Cup more affordable for supporters of qualified teams.

Football’s governing body said the discounted tickets will be available for all 104 matches, including the final.

According to FIFA, the reduced-price tickets will account for 10 percent of the ticket allocations for Participating Member Associations (PMAs).

These associations represent competing national teams and are responsible for managing fan-focused ticket programmes.

PMAs will oversee the distribution process and set their own criteria to prioritise “loyal fans” with strong ties to their national teams.

FIFA added that 50 percent of each PMA’s total ticket allocation will fall within the most affordable categories, with 40 percent under the Supporter Value Tier and 10 percent under the newly introduced Supporter Entry Tier.

“The remaining allocation will be split evenly between the Supporter Standard Tier and the Supporter Premier Tier,” it added.

Fans who apply through PMA ticketing programmes and whose teams fail to progress to the knockout stage will have administrative fees waived for refund requests.

The announcement comes amid growing scrutiny of ticket pricing ahead of the 2026 tournament, set to take place from June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Last week, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) accused FIFA of imposing “extortionate” ticket prices that could prevent average fans from attending the event.

FSE director Ronan Evain told Reuters on Tuesday that while the new pricing was a step in the right direction it was “clearly not sufficient”.

He noted that following a team to the final would cost $480 under category four, but jumps to $6,900 for category three, meaning one fan “sitting in the same section” as another could pay 15 times more.

Evain also said there was a lack of transparency around ticket distribution.

“FIFA doesn’t provide any guidelines or obligations for the PMAs. They have the freedom to choose how they distribute the tickets,” he said.

According to the BBC, this will mean about 400 of the cheaper tickets will be available for England and Scotland in their group games, yet Evain said that most PMAs don’t disclose the number of tickets.

FIFA said in its statement on Wednesday that PMAs were requested to ensure that these cheaper tickets were “specifically allocated to loyal fans who are closely connected to their national teams”.

Evain also raised concerns about accessibility for fans with disabilities.

“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,” he said.

Despite the backlash, FIFA reported strong interest in the sale’s third phase draw, which began on December 11 and will remain open until January 13, driven by the release of match schedules, venues and kick-off times.

Pakistani climber Samina Baig has successfully skied to the South Pole, marking a historic first achievement for her country. Baig, who was part of an international team arranged by Elite Exped, left Pakistan on December 2 and arrived at Union Glacier on December 6.

She completed the South Pole journey on December 14.

In a post on her Facebook page, Baig described the achievement as one of the most challenging and meaningful experiences of her life.

She highlighted that the ski journey had never been accomplished by any Pakistani before and said it was difficult to put into words.

“From standing on the summit of Mount Everest in 2013 to completing the Seven Summits, from climbing K2 and Nanga Parbat to now reaching the South Pole, this journey has taken me across the highest mountains and most remote places on Earth,” Baig wrote.

“Each step throughout the journey has instilled in me patience, resilience, and the strength of faith.

She conveyed that the journey demanded faith in the vision, maintaining dedication despite doubts, and progressing even when the way appeared unfeasible.

Baig expressed hope that her efforts would inspire others, particularly young women, to pursue their dreams.

Baig also thanked her community for financially supporting the expedition, as well as her family, team members, Nirmal Purja, and Elite Ex for their emotional support and belief in her.

“Carrying the flag of Pakistan and my Ismaili flag across mountains, continents, and polar ice has been the greatest honour of my life.

I remain grateful for every opportunity, every lesson, and every person who walked this path with me,” she said.

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State‘s Tom Izzo is getting a $1 million raise in his five-year contract that automatically renews annually, a boost that makes him the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten with a salary of about $7.2 million.

The school said Friday that its board of trustees had approved the raise as recognition of Izzo’s “Hall of Fame legacy and demonstrates a shared commitment to achieving continued success.”

Izzo, 70, is in his 31st season with the Spartans, who are ranked ninth with an 8-1 record this season. His teams have made eight Final Four appearances and won the 2000 national championship.

The Spartans have made 27 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances after missing in each of Izzo’s first two seasons. He has a 745-303 record without a losing season.

“Coach Izzo is the ultimate Spartan — someone whose work ethic and devotion to our student-athletes, this university and the broader MSU community are unmatched,” Michigan State president Kevin M. Guskiewicz said. “We believe deeply in his ability to uphold our values, develop champions, and continue building one of college basketball’s premier programs.”

Kansas coach Bill Self has a similar contract structure. The school announced a lifetime contract for Self two years ago. His annual salary is more than $10 million. Self, who is in his 21st season with the Jayhawks, has led them to four Final Fours and two championships.