Supporters aiming to witness the World Cup final next year could be confronted with exorbitant ticket prices, with the cheapest option costing around £3,119, or approximately $9,165 Fijian dollars. Football Supporters Europe has expressed their shock at what they term Fifa’s “extortionate” pricing strategy, urging the organization to immediately halt ticket sales.
The Football Supporters’ Association’s England Fans’ Embassy criticized the pricing as a “slap in the face” for loyal fans. As it stands, Fifa has not provided any comments regarding its ticket pricing decisions.
Tickets for the final, set to be held at MetLife Stadium in New York, are divided into three tiers: the ‘Supporter Value Tier’ at £3,119, the ‘Supporter Standard Tier’ at £4,162, and the ‘Supporter Premium Tier’ at £6,615. These prices are significantly higher than those from the previous World Cup in Qatar, where the lowest ticket cost £450. Notably, there are no discounts available for children or other groups.
In a notable change from previous tournaments, ticket prices for group stage matches will now be based on the perceived popularity of the teams involved rather than a fixed rate. Consequently, tickets for matches featuring more popular teams, such as England, will carry a higher price tag compared to those for less popular teams.
For example, England will face higher ticket prices against teams like Croatia and Ghana compared to Scotland’s group matches. Scotland’s match against Haiti is priced at £134, while England’s match against Croatia has tickets ranging from £198 to £523. Quarter-final tickets are set at £507, £757, and £1,073, while semi-final tickets will be priced at £686, £1,819, and £2,363.
The overall cost to follow a fan’s team through the tournament will be substantial, with expenses estimated at approximately £5,225 to attend all eight matches. This is a sharp increase from the 2022 total, which came to between £1,466 and £3,914 for seven matches.
The details about ticket pricing were unveiled as the main ticket ballot began. Starting Monday, members of national supporters’ clubs will have the opportunity to enter a random draw for tickets to individual games, with around 4,000 tickets allocated for each match through official supporters’ groups. Other tickets will be distributed via a ballot, excluding those retained by Fifa for corporate partners.
Fans and supporters groups remain hopeful that Fifa may reconsider its approach and work towards making the finals more accessible for dedicated supporters.