By Martin Graham
Football Supporters Europe has issued a scathing response to FIFA after it was revealed that attending next year’s World Cup final will require supporters to pay several thousand pounds for even the lowest priced seat.
The group said it was “shocked” by what it sees as an overly aggressive pricing strategy and urged the governing body to stop selling tickets until the structure is reconsidered.
Representatives from the Football Supporters’ Association England Supporters’ Embassy added that the approach came as a “blow” to those who follow their national sides.
FIFA has so far offered no public explanation for the figures.
The cheapest seats for the title game at New York’s MetLife Stadium will cost around £3,119, while the top two groups come in at around £4,162 and £6,615. Compared to the 2022 tournament in Qatar, where the cheapest final ticket was £450, the jump is dramatic, with no discounted rates for young supporters or other groups.
The governing body has also moved away from the traditional model of flat prices for opening games, now basing charges on the perceived attractiveness of each fixture. This means, for example, that England fans have to pay more than Scotland fans for equivalent games, although the method of these rankings is still unclear.
Price changes between groups and knockout stages
In Qatar, a single set of three tiers governed group stage costs. Next year’s system is much more fragmented. For England’s opener against Croatia on June 17, seats drop to approximately £198, £373 and £523. Prices for England’s meetings with Ghana and Panama range from £164 to £523 depending on the match and category.
Scotland’s opening games are slightly cheaper, with the Haiti game costing between £134 and £372, while the Morocco game ranges from £163 to £447. Scotland’s final group game, against Brazil, aligns with Croatia’s price of England.
Subsequent rounds also show sharp increases.
The quarter-final entry is approximately £507, £757 and £1,073. Semi-final fees rise further to £686, £1,819 and £2,363.
For anyone looking to follow every match through to the final, a person would need to spend around £5,225 at the lowest level, up to £12,357 at the highest level. In comparison, attending seven matches in Qatar costs between £1,466 and £3,914.
Fan frustration and uncertainty about payments
Ticket ballots opened on Thursday, and national fans had access to their own lottery on Monday, which covers approximately 4,000 seats per game. The rest of the passes will be allocated through the FIFA ballot, apart from those reserved for corporate members.
Dynamic pricing will not be applied within these tickets, although it is expected to play a large role during any subsequent resale activity.
Football Supporters Europe said its biggest concern is the lack of transparency and the removal of the lowest price bracket from national association allocations.
According to the group, only general sale customers, and only with a dynamic pricing system, will be able to access these rare and cheaper tickets. The organization argued that longtime supporters of the national teams are forced to pay much more than others for similar experiences.
Some fans fear they will have to abandon or scale back their plans.
One England supporter told BBC Radio 5 Live that he thought the price was “outrageous”, saying it put their hopes of attending the knockout games in jeopardy.
The Scotland supporter said he still intends to go but is struggling to see how he can take his two children, estimating the costs of a family trip could reach £15,000-£20,000. He added that his family has not yet booked anything while they assess how many of them can realistically make the trip.
Another concern is whether those who select a “follow your team” option will have the full amount charged to their card early next year. If their nation is removed, a refund would be issued, although supporters are still unsure what the initial financial impact might be.
