Supporters continue to say they are frustrated by the astronomical costs beyond the 2026 World Cup.
The Football Supporters’ Association said the ticket prices were a “ridiculous insult” to fans.
advertise
For some smaller countries, the price of group stage tickets will be higher than a month’s salary in that country. And that’s before taking into account travel and accommodation.
One Ghanaian fan has told the BBC he is “angry and disappointed” that Black Stars supporters may now be forced to cancel their plans.
FIFA announced its ticket price policy on Thursday, with group stage ticket prices up to three times the price of Qatar tickets in 2022. The cheapest ticket for the final is £3,119.
On Friday, FIFA said it had received 5 million ticket applications from fans in more than 200 countries in the 24 hours since the latest ticketing period opened.
advertise
Ticket prices exceed wages in many countries
Many Ghanaian fans are reconsidering their plans to support the team at the World Cup [Getty Images]
“This is a chance to qualify. This is a chance to play in big tournaments,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared in January 2017.
The FIFA Council has just voted unanimously to expand the World Cup to 48 teams. Countries that have never or rarely reached the finals are given hope.
Infantino added: “Football is not just Europe and South America. Football is global.
“In a country that qualifies for the World Cup, the football fanaticism you have in the nine months leading up to the qualifying rounds and finals is the most powerful tool you can have.”
advertise
However, the “football fever” has cooled down slightly after the ticket prices were announced.
While the players will be there, ticket prices will likely exceed salaries.
Take Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world. The average salary in the Caribbean country is around $147 (£110) per month.
Haiti’s first World Cup appearance in 52 years, against Scotland, is the cheapest ticket at $180 (£135).
Watching all three games – which also feature Brazil and Morocco – costs $625 (£467). That’s the equivalent of more than four months’ wages for the average person in Haiti, just to get underground.
advertise
It’s a similar story in Ghana, where the average monthly salary is about $254 (£190).
Ghanaian supporter Jojo Kwasa told BBC World Service fans would have to cancel their plans.
“It’s a bit disappointing for people who have spent the last three-and-a-half years trying to save money in the hope of getting their first World Cup experience,” he said.
“FIFA itself has started to increase the number of teams so more smaller footballing nations will have the opportunity to represent themselves and their fans.
“This is overshadowed by the fact that these fans are losing the opportunity to watch their country’s team compete in the World Cup due to exorbitant pricing.
advertise
“I have a feeling that in the next few months a lot of people are going to give up on their desire to go to the next World Cup. Sadly. Very sad.”
Fans from other countries may find their fans overpriced.
The ticket has been purchased, but what about the flight?
Any fan who wants to follow their team from the first game to the final (if they reach the final) will spend at least £5,200 on tickets.
There is travel there. For England fans planning to attend the group stages, a flight from London to Dallas to Boston to New York/New Jersey and back home is currently priced at £1,300. If you get the cheapest match tickets, add £526.
advertise
If you want to participate in the entire competition, the price will be much more expensive. If England are the winners of Group L, they will have to travel from Atlanta to Mexico City and then to Miami. Those two flights alone cost £800.
Flights for the entire event are likely to cost £2,600. With the cheapest match tickets available, the price is £7,800.
How about Scotland fans traveling from Glasgow? Tickets for the group stage are priced at £1,675 per trip, with a minimum fare of £500.
If Scotland win Group C, a ticket to the final will cost £2,357. Tickets cost £7,567.
These prices are as of today. Many supporters don’t want to book flights for the knockout rounds until they know they’ll need to travel. By then, it could be a lot more expensive.
advertise
What England and Scotland fans are saying
Paul Clegg (61) from Blackburn said: “This will be my fifth World Cup. I haven’t missed a game since 2014.
“I’m in touch with England fans all over the country. I’m a top shot-blocker.
“We all plan to boycott the game after the group stage.
“Football is dead.”
Anne-Marie Carr (54) from York said: “I diligently attended England games so I could get a chance to get a ticket for the main event, only to find that I, like so many others, had been priced out.
“The 26th World Cup will be for the few, the sponsors and the glory-seekers who have the money to attend the big tournaments.”
advertise
Katie from Glasgow said: “Buying a ticket, you must be kidding me!
“These prices are not for real fans, but for companies, bigwigs, and sponsors. Real fans cannot afford those glorified prices.”
Ian from Glenrothes said: “Don’t know why anyone is surprised.
“One of the reasons I’m not going is that as much as I would love to see my country in the World Cup, there are too many practical things that negate it.
“The greed of airlines and hotels, and the price of air tickets right now.
“Not for me!”
Fares have soared since the tender document was released
Every country that wants to host the World Cup has to show its case, from stadiums to sustainability to ticket prices.
advertise
The world has changed a lot since 2017, when the United States, Mexico and Canada established their plans.
The COVID-19 epidemic has brought huge inflationary pressure to the world. But not so much.
To be fair, ticket prices aren’t that much higher for the group stages. For games such as Scotland vs. Haiti ($180), the cheapest ticket price is in line with the $174 in the tender document.
FIFA has significantly increased ticket prices for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.
The suggested fee for the third final group is $695 (£520). Taking inflation into account, the cost is $890 (£666). However FIFA’s current fee is $4,185 (£3,119).
advertise
How do World Cup ticket prices compare to other major events in the United States?
The biggest sporting event of the year in the United States is the Super Bowl – the finale of the NFL season.
Super Bowl tickets are not for sale to the public, but can be purchased through the official resale website.
According to Forbes, tickets for the 2025 Super Bowl start at around £3,500 to £5,000 each.
Ticket prices for the NBA Finals are not that high. Last year the Oklahoma City Thunder won their first NBA championship and tickets to their top-tier home venue at the Paycom Center start from £52.
Away from sport, tickets to next year’s WWE WrestleMania in Las Vegas will cost between £250 and £1,000.
advertise
Tickets for musician Taylor Swift’s hugely successful Eras Tour at US venues typically sell for between £37 and £335 each, with tickets on the resale market fetching well over £1,000.