When the 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket prices were revealed in December, there was widespread outrage at the price points FIFA had settled on.
The cheapest group stage matches initially started at £104, while the most expensive will cost fans over £2,000. Meanwhile, for the final in New Jersey on 19 July, the cheapest tickets are priced at £3,119, which is seven times more expensive than the same price band for the 2022 final in Qatar.
Although FIFA have since come out and created a new price point of £45 for a very small number of tickets for each match, the average cost of a ticket at the tournament is way beyond anything that has come before.
Now, it has been revealed that England fans are rejecting the chance to apply for the knockout stages.
ESTC confirm England applications are undersubscribed
As far as European representation at World Cups goes, England are typically one of the most well-supported nations. While this has often come with negativity due to the bad behaviour of a minority, the overall support has always been acknowledged and appreciated by England squads.
In recent days, the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) has revealed that ticket applications for England matches at the tournament from the quarter-finals are undersubscribed.
While applications for tickets for the Three Lions' three group stage matches and first two knockout round matches have a healthy number of applications, the lack of interest in the quarter-finals onwards is a major indication that FIFA have got its pricing structure horribly wrong.
FIFA’s promise to offer $60 tickets to World Cup matches is hilarious when you realize what seats they are discounting pic.twitter.com/vyGC5q52KL
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) December 18, 2025
‘Alarm bells should be ringing'
As things stand, everyone who has applied for England quarter-final, semi-final and final tickets is guaranteed a ticket, something that has never been seen before at a World Cup.
Commenting on the situation, the Free Lions supporters group said:
“The football mentality is that if tickets sell, there isn’t a problem. We see this all the time. But the numbers are reflective of a fan base that has been priced out, and some of the most loyal supporters of the international game feel completely let down.
“Alarm bells should be ringing whenever participating member allocations, meant for the most loyal fans, are not sold out for any game at a World Cup. “This is especially concerning when the allocations for games are so low, and England have a membership of over 30,000. This isn’t acceptable.”
FGG says: The only way to force change
The only way for these sorts of ticket prices to be banished from the game is for fans to reject them and not buy them. If fans were to still apply for tickets in droves, then FIFA would be emboldened to continue with rises in the coming years. Perhaps now there will be a rethink instead.