World Cup ticket prices: Fifa’s prices a ‘monumental betrayal’ says Football Supporters Europe
Fans hoping to attend next year’s World Cup final face paying huge prices, with tickets in the ‘fan value tier’ starting at £3,119 ($4,185).
Fan group European Football Fans said they were “shocked” by FIFA’s “extortionate” pricing strategy.
High prices for group matches and the final are leaking out on Thursday as FIFA informs national associations about their allocations.
This means the price of the cheapest ticket for Fifa’s showpiece event has increased almost sevenfold compared to the 2022 World Cup. The lowest priced tickets on open sale in Qatar were £450.
BBC Sport understands ‘standard fan level’ tickets cost £4,162 ($5,560), compared to £747 in 2022.
The ‘supporters premium tier’ was £6,615 ($8,860), the same group at the Lusail Stadium three years ago was £1,197.
Demanding an immediate halt to ticket sales, FSE added that the absence of tickets in the cheapest category was “a monumental betrayal of the World Cup tradition, ignoring the fans’ contribution to the show”.
Voting for the third ticket will begin Thursday afternoon. On Monday, members of national supporter clubs will have the opportunity to participate in random draws for individual matches or follow their team to the final.
Approximately 4,000 tickets are sold for each match through official fan groups. Except for the tickets FIFA holds for corporate partners, all other tickets are allocated through random voting.
The capacity of the halls varies between 94,000 people in the Dallas Stadium, where England plays Croatia, and 45,000 people in the Toronto Stadium.
Unlike recent tournaments, group stage games are priced based on attractiveness rather than a flat rate.
Prices for group stage fixtures in Qatar are set at £68.50, £164.50 and £219.
However, tickets for England’s match against Croatia on June 17 cost £198, £373 or £523.
England fan Luke Buxton told BBC Radio 5 Live: “This is absolutely outrageous. It’s a huge betrayal to every country’s most loyal fans who follow their teams at the World Cup next summer.”
“Initially we were planning to go to the group stages, then return home, then fly for the knockout. Ideally the round of 16 but it could be very expensive. So quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.
“However, due to today’s ticket prices, I am not sure I will be able to participate in the knockout stages right now.”
Quarter-finals are priced at £507, £757 and £1,073, while semi-finals are priced at £686, £1,819 and £2,363.
Scotland’s first two group games are cheaper. Prices against Haiti will be £134, £298 or £372, while Morocco will be £163, £320 and £447. The final group match will be the same price as the England-Croatia match.
There are no fourth category tickets available to fans, but the same was the case in 2022 when these tickets were booked only for Qatar residents.
