FIFA World Cup 2026

[swaledale]

A thread to discuss all things world cup related.

As a starter for 10, the prices have been announced, though in addition to this group games have dynamic pricing apparently.

Members of England ?*Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) were also ?*astonished to hear of the prices from the Football Association on Thursday. The cheapest tickets for England’s opening match, against Croatia in Dallas, will cost $265 (£195) and are priced at a minimum of $220 (£165) when Thomas Tuchel’s side face Ghana in Boston and Panama in New Jersey in their other Group L games.

Whilst it has been reported that the cheapest tickets for next summer’s World Cup final will cost more than £3,000.

When one factors in the cost of getting to the US, hotels and internal travel etc. I wonder how many fans are actually going to be able to afford it?

[ramAnag]

Totally ridiculous.

Just for perspective, in 1966 a standing ticket for the final cost 10/- (50p) and a seat cost around 3/15 (3.75p) while you could also apparently buy a book of tickets for ten matches for 25.00.

[Geoff Parkstone]

equally for perspective the cheapest seat for the superbowl is around 3,800 in the nosebleeds. A field level seat at last year's superbowl was 40,000. So no surprises in WCF pricing then. I imagine, as with superbowl, there will be no shortage of demand and most "real" fans will be priced out of it.

Basic manual wages in 1966 was around ? 20 a week so ?3-15-0 was relatively cheap I suppose, which could explain by at least 250,000 fans remember being there!

[ramAnag]

equally for perspective the cheapest seat for the superbowl is around 3,800 in the nosebleeds. A field level seat at last year's superbowl was 40,000. So no surprises in WCF pricing then. I imagine, as with superbowl, there will be no shortage of demand and most "real" fans will be priced out of it.

Basic manual wages in 1966 was around ? 20 a week so ?3-15-0 was relatively cheap I suppose, which could explain by at least 250,000 fans remember being there!

Okay, a comparison with 1966 was maybe a bit of a stretch and just gave me an excuse to write in old money, but the best comparison may be with the last WC in Qatar and tickets for this year are said to cost 7(!) times more than 2022.

[Geoff Parkstone]

And still unaffordable by most locals who were let in free to fill the stadia as I recall

[SithHappens]

I used to get really excited for world cups but it's gradually been eroded over the years.

Probably get a bit more excited nearer the time.

Bet Don ensures AI is in place to make sure the stadiums look full.

[Geoff Parkstone]

rA "but the best comparison may be with the last WC in Qatar and tickets for this year are said to cost 7(!) times more than 2022."

The BBC says 'up to 3 times' and we know they are right....

[ramAnag]

rA "but the best comparison may be with the last WC in Qatar and tickets for this year are said to cost 7(!) times more than 2022."

The BBC says 'up to 3 times' and we know they are right....

Probably why I said ‘are said to cost…’. There are different estimates and I wouldn’t know. Possibly even you don’t either.

What I do know is that they’ll be beyond the reach of ordinary football fans and that’s the issue.

[swaledale]

rA "but the best comparison may be with the last WC in Qatar and tickets for this year are said to cost 7(!) times more than 2022."

The BBC says 'up to 3 times' and we know they are right....

Jeez, and you complain about rancour on this Forum and then indulge in petty nit picking FFS!

Can we please have a civilised thread where the topic is discussed politely without snide comments which do nothing to advance the debate?

Or has your sole contribution to this Forum become one where you attempt to ridicule or demean other posters contributions?

[Andy_Faber]

The oversubscription for the first ballot suggests the world has put its collective disgust to one side in favour of wanting to be there.

I note, although its only what I've read rather than being 'in the scrum' that dynamic pricing WASN'T used at this stage.

Regarding pricing, Americans (who will make up most of the neutrals) are used to high ticket prices, both sporting and music, and the vox pop on TV last night suggested that they just accepted World Cup pricing as following the same lines