Supporters eager to attend next year’s World Cup final may face steep ticket prices, with the lowest option priced at approximately £3,119, equivalent to around $9,165 Fijian dollars. The pricing strategy has drawn strong condemnation from Football Supporters Europe, which labeled the costs as “extortionate” and is calling for an immediate halt to ticket sales.
The Football Supporters’ Association’s England Fans’ Embassy emphasized that these prices represent a “slap in the face” to loyal fans, who have historically supported their teams. Currently, Fifa has not responded to inquiries regarding its pricing structure.
The final, scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New York, has tickets categorized 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 significantly exceed those from the last World Cup held in Qatar, where the cheapest ticket was £450, and notably, there are no discounted tickets available for children or special groups.
A major shift in ticket sales has been introduced for group stage matches, where prices will now be determined by the perceived popularity of the competing teams. As a result, tickets for matches featuring high-profile teams, like England, will be more expensive than those involving lesser-known teams. For instance, tickets for England’s match against Croatia range from £198 to £523, while Scotland’s match against Haiti is priced at just £134. Quarter-final tickets are priced at £507, £757, and £1,073, and semi-final tickets will cost between £686 and £2,363.
Overall, estimates suggest that following a favorite team through the tournament could cost fans upwards of £5,225 to attend all eight matches, a stark increase from the 2022 expenses, which ranged from £1,466 to £3,914 for seven matches.
These ticket prices were announced as the initial ballot for ticket applications commenced. Beginning Monday, members of national supporters’ clubs can enter a random draw for tickets to individual games, with around 4,000 tickets available for each match through official supporters’ groups. The remaining tickets will be distributed through a ballot system, excluding those secured by Fifa for its corporate partners.
Despite the rising costs, fans and supporter groups remain optimistic that Fifa will reconsider its pricing strategy, striving for greater accessibility for dedicated fans eager to experience the final.