Saudi fans offered free 2026 World Cup tickets Over low turnout fears

Saudi Arabian supporters travelling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be offered free match tickets, in an effort to boost attendance and avoid large numbers of empty seats, according to media reports.

The initiative, announced by Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Washington, applies to fans of the Saudi Arabia national football team who travel to the United States for the tournament. Under the scheme, eligible supporters will receive complimentary tickets while in the country, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The move comes as organisers of the expanded 48-team tournament, staged across multiple US venues, face scrutiny over pricing and projected attendance levels. Reports suggest some matches have seen limited demand, raising concerns about stadium utilisation during the competition.

FIFA, football’s global governing body, has not publicly commented on the specific initiative, but previous tournaments have also seen price adjustments and promotional ticketing strategies introduced to improve stadium occupancy.

The United States, one of the host nations for the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, has seen legal and political scrutiny over ticket pricing practices. Lawmakers have raised questions about transparency and the economic impact of the event.

The Saudi national team is expected to face Cape Verde national football team, Uruguay national football team and Spain national football team in the group stage.

Officials involved in the initiative said the aim is to encourage fan participation and ensure strong stadium atmospheres during the tournament, which is set to be the largest edition of the World Cup to date.

By Aghakazim Guliyev