FIFA forced into ticket U turn as England fans slash World Cup costs

Early anger over soaring prices

According to reporting by Jerry Lawton in the Daily Star, frustration among England supporters had been building months before the World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Fans discovered they would need to pay at least £198 to attend England’s opening group match against Croatia in Dallas on June 17. Supporters quickly calculated that following the national team through the entire tournament, using the cheapest available tickets, could have exceeded £5,000.

The lowest priced seat for the final alone was listed at £3,200, figures that prompted many fans to label the pricing structure as extortionate and disconnected from traditional match going supporters.

Protest plans take shape at Wembley

According to the Daily Star, anger soon shifted into organised protest planning. Supporters discussed coordinated walkouts during England’s upcoming friendly matches at Wembley against Uruguay and Japan.

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The proposed protest involved fans leaving their seats in the 26th minute, a symbolic reference to England’s 1966 World Cup triumph. Messages circulated on social media pages linked to members of the England Supporters Travel Club, calling for a mass walkout from the home end to make the protest visible on television and in photographs.

One message shared online stated that football risked losing its identity if ordinary supporters were priced out, urging fans to act collectively.

Supporters groups increase pressure

The Football Supporters’ Association also intervened, calling for World Cup ticket sales to be paused until pricing was reviewed. According to the organisation, FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino were exploiting supporter loyalty by prioritising revenue over accessibility.

The growing backlash placed additional pressure on national associations, including the Football Association, which raised concerns directly with FIFA about the impact on England supporters.

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FIFA announces cheaper ticket category

Hours after details of the planned protests became public, FIFA confirmed a significant policy change. According to FIFA officials quoted by the Daily Star, ten percent of each team’s official ticket allocation for every match will now be sold at a new supporter entry tier price of $60, just under £45.

A FIFA spokesperson said fans of qualified national teams would benefit from a dedicated pricing tier, with tickets distributed exclusively through national associations rather than FIFA’s public ticketing platform. The aim, FIFA said, was to ensure the tickets reached the most loyal supporters.

What the change means for England fans

The Football Association is expected to receive approximately 4,500 tickets for England’s opening match, with around 500 available at the new minimum price. The remaining tickets will be split across higher pricing categories.

FIFA sources told the Daily Star that the revised approach was a direct response to sustained criticism from supporters and fan organisations.

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For many England fans, the reversal has been interpreted as evidence that organised supporter action can still influence decisions at the highest levels of the sport.

Sources, Daily Star, FIFA statements

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