England could face playing first US match in front of 50,000 empty seats amid fresh ticket fears

England could begin their 2026 World Cup preparations in front of tens of thousands of empty seats after fresh concerns emerged over ticket sales for the team's opening warm-up match in the United States.

Despite the World Cup itself being expected to attract huge travelling support, early signs suggest supporters may be prioritising tournament fixtures rather than spending heavily on pre-competition friendlies.

England vs New Zealand tickets going unsold for first World Cup warm-up friendly

England's friendly against New Zealand at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium next week has reportedly sold only around 13,000 tickets so far, per the Telegraph.

The NFL venue holds approximately 69,000 supporters, meaning more than 50,000 seats could remain empty if sales do not significantly increase before kick-off.

Ticket prices for the fixture have reportedly started from around £54, which is considerably cheaper than prices many supporters are facing for the World Cup itself.

England's second warm-up match against Costa Rica in Orlando has also seen relatively modest demand, with around 12,000 tickets reportedly sold for the 25,000-capacity Inter&Co Stadium.

Many England supporters appear to be saving both money and energy for the World Cup tournament itself, which is widely expected to become the most expensive in football history for travelling fans.

England begin their World Cup group stage campaign against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Dallas before further matches against Ghana at Gillette Stadium in Boston, and Panama at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

While around 3,500 supporters are expected to travel officially with England allocations during the tournament, estimates suggest many more fans could attempt to secure tickets independently.

Reports have also suggested that only around 1,500 official England Supporters Travel Club members are expected to attend the New Zealand friendly.

FGG says: Empty seats may not tell the full story

At first glance, the idea of England playing in a half‑empty NFL stadium seems surprising, but as our World Cup betting guide highlights, the wider context around this summer’s tournament makes the picture far more nuanced.

Supporters travelling to a World Cup in North America are already facing enormous costs, including long‑haul flights, hotel prices at tournament levels, internal travel across vast distances, and match tickets that quickly add up. For many fans, adding expensive warm‑up friendlies on top simply isn’t realistic.

The Florida location is another factor. Tampa in June can be intensely hot and humid, and for supporters already budgeting for extensive travel during the tournament itself, prioritising the competitive fixtures over pre‑tournament friendlies is a logical choice.

If anything, the situation reflects the financial demands of modern international tournaments rather than any lack of enthusiasm for England. The empty seats risk says more about the strain on supporters than the strength of their support.