Fans Condemn Soaring World Cup Ticket Prices as ‘Monumental Betrayal’

Football supporters across Europe are reacting with anger after learning that tickets for next year’s World Cup final will cost more than £3,000 even in the lowest-priced tier available to travelling fans. Football Supporters Europe (FSE) said it was “astonished” by what it described as Fifa’s “extortionate” pricing strategy, warning that the spiralling costs risk shutting out ordinary supporters.

According to leaked pricing details shared with national associations on Thursday, the cheapest ticket in the supporter value tier is £3,119, a dramatic surge compared with the £450 entry level price for the 2022 final in Qatar. Tickets in the supporters standard tier will cost £4,162, up from £747 in 2022, while supporters premium tier tickets are set at £6,615, compared with £1,197 three years ago.

FSE called for an immediate halt to sales, arguing that fans were being priced out of a global event built on their loyalty and passion. The group said the absence of a cheaper category for international supporters represented a “monumental betrayal” of the World Cup tradition and ignored the essential role fans play in creating the atmosphere that defines the tournament.

The backlash comes as Fifa prepares to open the third ticket ballot on Thursday afternoon. National supporters’ clubs will be able to enter a random draw on Monday, choosing between individual match tickets or a package that allows them to follow their team all the way to the final. Many fans, however, fear that even if they are successful, they simply will not be able to afford the prices.

In a significant change from recent tournaments, group stage games are no longer priced at a flat rate but instead vary depending on their perceived attractiveness. For England’s opening match against Croatia on 17 June, tickets will cost £198, £373 or £523, far higher than the £68.50, £164.50 and £219 price bands used in Qatar. Scotland’s opening fixtures are slightly lower, with tickets against Haiti priced at £134, £298 or £372 and against Morocco at £163, £320 or £447. Their third match carries the same pricing as England’s opener.

Another point of frustration is the absence of category four tickets, which traditionally offer the most affordable entry point for fans. Although this category was also unavailable to international supporters in Qatar, the decision to repeat the approach has added to concerns over declining accessibility.

Supporters’ groups say the new prices undermine the inclusivity and global spirit the World Cup is meant to represent. As criticism builds, many are urging Fifa to reconsider the structure before sales enter their next phase.