Exorbitant ticket prices for England Supporters Travel Club members for the 2026 World Cup have sparked outrage. England fans will turn out in their thousands across the country in search of the cheapest tickets at just £164 for the Three Lions’ second and third group games against Ghana and Panama next summer. The cheapest seats in the Category 3 area, which FIFA calls “Supporter Value”, are priced at £197 ($265) for the opening game against Croatia.
By contrast, some England fans will have to pay £521 just to attend the Group L opener against Croatia at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This is the price for ‘Supporter Premier’ Category 1 seats and ‘Supporter Standard’ Category 2 viewing, costing £372 ($500). And those tickets aren’t as expensive as some finals tournaments.
If Thomas Tuchel’s side reach the quarter-finals, ESTC members will have to pay either 507 pounds (about 68,000 yen), 756 pounds (about $1,015) or 1,073 pounds (about $1,440) for seats in category 1, 2 or 3. The potential venue for the last eight match will not be confirmed until England progress to the knockout stages.
Things get even worse in the semifinals in Atlanta and Dallas. If England advance to the last four, the minimum ticket price will be a staggering £686 ($920), and the maximum ticket price will be more than three times that, at £2,364 ($3,170).
And Tuchel et al. To reach the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, near New York City, a Category 3 ticket costs £3,122 ($4,185), a Category 3 ticket costs £4,159 ($5,575) and a Category 1 ticket costs an astonishing £6,475 ($8,680). By contrast, the most expensive season ticket in the Premier League is at Fulham at £3,084, giving you access to 18 games across the campaign.
The average price of a Premier League season ticket is around £1,216. That’s 82% cheaper than the most expensive seats at the World Cup final.
And England fans will have to shell out thousands more in travel and accommodation costs if they want to travel across America with Tuchel’s team in the hopes of seeing them bring football home.
Prices are so high that some of England’s away regulars are planning to boycott the tournament. @simonryder11 wrote to X: “I haven’t missed a home game in the last 8 years and lost 9 consecutive away games. I can’t imagine going to America.” Meanwhile, @Tommy_Odlham1 replied: “Same bragging as so many others.”
The publication of the price was met with widespread outrage. @bowbrookshrew wrote, “Pricing beyond ridicule. When regular fans turn a blind eye to this, you know it’s bad. Totally scandalous!” @DylanPUFC posted: “Oh no thank you, that’s an absolutely shameful price. Play the Nations League and Euro 2028.”
The Free Lions, the Football Supporters Association’s fan embassy service for England away fans, said in a statement: “We have been concerned about pricing for participating countries in recent months and have raised these concerns with Football Supporters Europe and our FA.
“While the early developments were alarming, it is shocking to see those fears turn into reality with the announcement of England’s bid for a World Cup place. ESTC members have followed England faithfully throughout this campaign, from Barcelona to Belgrade, Riga to Tirana, multiple midweek trips to Wembley, and the cap built on the Euro 2024 campaign, all in support of the team’s bid for a World Cup place.
“This price is a slap in the face to supporters who support their team outside of the flagship tournament held once every four years. It’s laughable to call the cheapest Category 3 ticket available to ESTC members ‘Supporter Value Category 3’, which costs $7,020 if you want to follow England from start to finish.
“It’s a game for the supporters. Loyalty has been thrown out the window and the supporters of the participating countries have been completely let down.”
