ENGLAND fans face a bill of at least £5,000 to watch group games as World Cup prices rocketed within minutes of Saturday’s match schedule announcement.
Thousands of Lionhearts are battling rip-off prices for flights, hotels and Fifa tickets for the most expensive World Cup in history.
Hotel prices hit an average of up to £437-a-night after Three Lions games were unveiled for Dallas, Boston and New York.
Flight prices also surged as fans rushed to snap up seats moments after England’s matches were revealed.
Fares had increased even before the draw to hub airport New York to £482 for a direct return spanning the June 11-27 group stages, according to travel firm Kayak.
Online booking Expedia said: “Demand for flights to the World Cup is soaring.”
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Flight site Skyscanner said: “Fans are buying quickly to secure their bookings before demand increases even more.”
Average double room prices hit £437 in New Jersey, £390 in Boston and £183-a-night and are expected to continue rising.
Hospitality analytics firm Lighthouse Intelligence said: “Average room rates were up before the booking rush even began.
“And now a major wave of bookings is due.”
Prices leapt by an average of 55 per cent in England’s group stage host cities – and doubled in potential last 16 venue Mexico City – and were still rising last night.
Ticket prices will be the most expensive ever – with the vast majority costing more £100 when the next round of applications opens on December 11.
But it remained unclear how many tickets would go on general sale – and at what cost – amid fears that Fifa would flood the resale market.
Soccer’s fatcats are raking in 30 per cent of very ticket transaction, profiting from “dynamic pricing” in the market where demand drives up price.
Black-market prices hit an incredible £33,000 for the World Cup Final on reseller website Vivid Seats as touts advertise some of the two million seats Fifa sold before the draw.
The Football Supporters’ Association said: “Combining astonishing ticket prices with the costs of travel to the Americas and accommodation, this will be the most expensive World Cup we’ve ever seen, by some distance.
“If a fan bought a category four ticket from the first game to the last, it would set you back £2,385, double what Qatar cost.
“We urge the FA to work with other nations to pressure FIFA to keep this World Cup financially accessible for fans.”
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