England fans continue to shun high-priced tickets for the 2026 World Cup semi-final and final, despite FIFA citing record global demand of 150 million requests. President Gianni Infantino defends the costs amid backlash from supporters priced out of later stages.
Following initial reports of undersubscribed allocations for England's potential quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (June 11-July 19 across the US, Canada, and Mexico), new details highlight FIFA's perspective on the pricing controversy.
The England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) confirmed all applicants for the 3,500 semi-final and 4,500 final seats will receive tickets, as demand falls short—contrasting with oversubscription for group stage matches in Group L (Croatia, Panama, Ghana) and a potential round-of-16 in Mexico City. Participating Member Association (PMA) prices start at £506 for quarter-finals, £685 for semi-finals, and £3,117 for the final, up to five times higher than 2022 in Qatar. Only 10% of allocations offer affordable £44.70 ($60) supporter tickets.
Fan groups like the Football Supporters' Association's Free Lions warned: "Alarm bells should be ringing whenever participating member allocations... are not sold out for any game at a World Cup," decrying loyal fans being priced out.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino countered at the World Sports Summit in Dubai, noting "six to seven million tickets on sale" drew 150 million requests in 15 days from over 200 nations, with random selection ongoing until January 13. He stressed revenues reinvest in football across 150 countries, underscoring the tournament's global appeal despite criticism.