'Alarm bells should be ringing' over England tickets
England Fans Fail to Fill World Cup Ticket Allocation
A fan group says "alarm bells should be ringing at Fifa" over the fact England supporters have not taken up their full ticket allocation for next summer's World Cup final and semi-final.
So far the number of allocated tickets to members of the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) exceeds the number of applications received, meaning everyone who has applied for a ticket to the final and semi-final is guaranteed one.
The pricing structure for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been widely criticised, with about 90% of tickets for the final made available to ESTC members costing £3,094.
That led to Fifa introducing a limited number of tickets at £45, but the Football Supporters' Association's Fans' Embassy says England fans not taking up their allocation should be a concern.
"Whilst unsurprisingly the group games are oversubscribed, as well as the possible glamour tie in Mexico City in the round of 16, the numbers for the semi-final and final speak for themselves," the group said in a statement.
"The numbers are reflective of a fan base that has been priced out, and some of the most loyal supporters of the international game feel completely let down.
"Alarm bells should be ringing whenever participating member allocations, meant for the most loyal fans, are not sold out for any game at a World Cup."
Fifa has been criticised for group stage tickets for next year's World Cup costing up to three times those for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Earlier this week Fifa president Gianni Infantino defended the prices, saying they reflect the public's "absolutely crazy" demand for tickets.
"We have six to seven million tickets on sale and in 15 days we received 150 million ticket requests," Infantino said.
"So 10 million ticket requests every single day. It shows how powerful the World Cup is."
The situation has raised wider questions about the accessibility of the World Cup for traditional match going supporters. England fans, particularly those who follow the national team home and away, are often seen as a core part of the tournament atmosphere. Their absence at key matches such as semi finals and finals could affect the overall experience both inside stadiums and for global television audiences.
Supporter groups argue that loyalty schemes like the England Supporters Travel Club were designed to reward long term commitment. Many members attend qualifiers, friendlies, and previous tournaments at significant personal cost. When even these fans hesitate to buy tickets for the biggest matches, it highlights how pricing may have crossed a line for ordinary supporters.
The World Cup being hosted across three countries also adds to the financial burden. Travel between cities, accommodation, and daily expenses in North America are already high. For many fans, the ticket price is only one part of a much larger cost that makes attending late stage matches unrealistic, even for those who planned to travel months in advance.
While Fifa points to record demand figures, fan organisations stress that raw request numbers do not tell the full story. Many applications come from corporate buyers, hospitality clients, or one off spectators, rather than dedicated supporters. They believe this creates a tournament that feels less connected to the fan culture that helped build the World Cup’s global reputation.
As discussions continue, supporters are calling for a review of ticket pricing structures ahead of future tournaments. They argue that preserving access for loyal fans is essential to maintaining the spirit of the competition. Without meaningful change, they fear that the World Cup risks becoming an event watched mainly by those who can afford premium prices, rather than those who have followed their teams for decades.
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