England supporters have expressed fury over the soaring cost of World Cup tickets, accusing FIFA of sidelining loyal fans with what they describe as an “outrageous” and “unacceptable” pricing structure.
Members of the England Supporters’ Travel Club (ESTC) learned that if the Three Lions reach the final, the cheapest ticket available to them would cost between $4,185 and $8,680. For those following England from the opening match to the final using the lowest-priced ticket in each round, the total would amount to $7,020 (£5,228).
These tickets fall under FIFA’s Participant Member Association (PMA) allocation—ring-fenced, fixed-price seats guaranteed to national associations amid backlash over earlier dynamic pricing methods. The PMA allocation accounts for eight per cent of the stadium’s capacity. At the highest tier, an England fan attending every match would spend as much as $16,590 (£12,364).
Fan groups condemned the figures. The Football Supporters’ Association’s England Fans’ Embassy labelled the pricing “a slap in the face,” pointing out that the so-called “Supporter Value Category 3” still requires more than $7,000 to follow England throughout the tournament. Football Supporters Europe (FSE) went further, calling the prices a “monumental betrayal” and urging FIFA to suspend PMA ticket sales until a fairer system is reached.
Comparisons with recent tournaments have deepened the anger. At Euro 2024, a fan who secured “fan first” category tickets could attend every England game for €375 (£328). Even the next tier up totalled just €860 (£753). FSE estimates that following a team from start to finish at the 2026 World Cup will cost five times more than attending the 2022 finals in Qatar.
Beyond the final, match-day costs for the group stage also raised eyebrows. England supporters will need a minimum of £198 for the opener against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, with tickets for games against Ghana and Panama starting at $220 (£164).
Elsewhere, the Scottish FA confirmed its PMA pricing: tickets for Scotland’s clash with Haiti in Boston begin at $180 (£134), rising to $500 (£372). Seats for the meeting with Morocco start at $220 (£164), and the final group match against Brazil will cost at least $265 (£198).
Earlier ticket phases operated under dynamic pricing, allowing costs to increase with demand, adding further frustration for fans already grappling with steep travel and accommodation expenses for the 2026 World Cup.
