FA urged to press Fifa on ‘scandalous’ World Cup ticket prices by supporters’ group

A leading fans’ group has called on the Football Association to lobby FIFA to reduce World Cup ticket prices.

The Football Fans Association (FSA) said the pricing structure of the tournament to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year was “scandalous”.

It joined Football Supporters Europe (FSE) in demanding that the sales process be halted so that fan groups can meet with world governing body FIFA over the pricing policy.

“We support European Football Fans’ call to halt ticket sales and call on the Football Association to work with other Football Associations to directly challenge these shameful prices,” the FSA said in a statement. he said.

“We call on all national associations to stand up for your fans, without whom there would be no professional game.”

BBC Sport has contacted FIFA, the FA and the Scottish FA but all of them are yet to comment.

The huge increase in ticket prices was revealed on Thursday when FIFA published allocation details for each country’s official fan groups.

Prices for group stage fixtures at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are set at £68.50, £164.50 or £219.

However, tickets for next year’s England-Croatia and Scotland-Brazil matches will cost around £198, £373 or £523.

In later stages the cost increases significantly.

Quarter-finals for all teams are £507, £757 and £1,073, semi-finals are £686, £1,819 and £2,363.

The cheapest tickets for the final are seven times more expensive than tickets in Qatar at £3,119.

There is no discount on tickets for children and other groups.