Concerns Rise Over England Fans’ Ticket Allocation for World Cup

A supporters’ group has expressed significant concern regarding FIFA’s management of ticket allocations for the upcoming World Cup, particularly as England’s most devoted fans have not fully utilized their allocated tickets for the final and semifinal matches.

Approximately 90% of the tickets available to members of the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) for the final are priced at a minimum of $4,185 (£3,094), with some exceeding £6,400 for the premium seats. An update shared with ESTC members indicated that the number of tickets allocated for the final and semifinal currently surpasses the applications received, ensuring that all who applied are guaranteed a ticket as of now.

The application period will conclude on January 13. Complaints regarding FIFA’s initial pricing strategy led to the introduction of a limited number of tickets priced at $60 (£44), which constitutes around 10% of the total allocation.

The Football Supporters’ Association’s Fans’ Embassy has highlighted that England’s allocation of 4,500 tickets for the final being undersubscribed is a matter of serious concern for FIFA. “While it is unsurprising that group games are oversubscribed, the figures for the semifinal and final are telling,” the group stated via their Free Lions X account.

“These numbers reflect a fan base that feels priced out, leaving many loyal supporters of the international game feeling disappointed. Alarm bells should ring when allocations for participating members, intended for the most dedicated fans, are not sold out during a World Cup. Given England’s membership exceeds 30,000, this situation is unacceptable.”

The ESTC informed its members on Tuesday that they have until 5 p.m. on Friday to apply for the $60 tickets available for any match, after which they will be ineligible regardless of their loyalty points accrued through previous attendance.

Top-tier members of the loyalty scheme, denoted as ‘top cappers’ with 62 active caps, will be guaranteed a $60 ticket for all of England’s matches leading up to the final, based on current applications.

Additionally, disabled England fans have been informed that tickets for a carer or companion will incur a fee. This deviates from previous tournaments, where such tickets were often provided at no charge alongside accessible seating options.

The ESTC is currently awaiting final allocations and pricing details for wheelchair or easy-access seating, with an expectation of providing further guidance shortly.

The Disability and Fan Inclusion Network of Football Supporters Europe (FSE) reached out to FIFA earlier this month to voice concerns regarding the inadequate availability of accessible tickets in the budget $60 category and the absence of free companion tickets. The network also noted that accessible tickets are being resold at significantly inflated prices on FIFA’s ticket resale platform, without adequate checks to ensure they are being sold to disabled fans. As of now, no response to the FSE’s correspondence has been received.

FIFA has been approached for comment, and in a recent media release, the organization claimed to have received over 150 million applications for World Cup tickets in its random selection draw. FIFA President Gianni Infantino asserted that the tournament will be the “greatest and most inclusive show on the planet.”