THE FA has been urged not to sell World Cup tickets ahead of next summer due to their “scandalous” prices
A member of the England Supporters Travel Club sent a letter to the FA‘s chair and chief executive demanding the FA take action.
Prices for the World Cup tournament across Mexico, USA and Canada have shocked fans.
England fans could end up forking out over £5,000 for tickets while the cheapest ones for the final are a staggering £3,128.
The Telegraph has reported that the FA is expected to contact tournament chiefs but it is yet to publicly call out the pricing.
The author of the letter has not been named but his anger is shared by many travelling England fans.
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It was written that Fifa would have to “think again” about its pricing if governing bodies threatened not to sell ticket allocations.
They wrote: “I see this as the only action that could work.
“It pains me, as a dedicated England supporter, to quote a Scotsman to make a valid point, however Jock Stein was and is right – ‘football is nothing without its fans’.
“And right now, the lack of action and communication on your part, towards and on behalf of England fans, is troubling.”
The letter continued: “Family trips next summer [have been] put into jeopardy.
“Members contemplating ways to take on debt in order to follow the team they love.
“In many cases, dedication to the England cause/ESTC being brought into question.
“We have heard nothing from you so far,” the letter tells the FA. “Why can’t you talk to us directly?
“The lack of direct contact increasingly raises the suspicion that any raising of concerns next week with Fifa will be short and benign.
“Perhaps this is how you intend it to be, what with being in the running to host the Women’s World Cup in 2035.”
England Supporters Travel Club letter
Here is the letter sent by the fan at the England Supporters Travel Club to the FA in full…
I write to you as member of the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) in the hope of eliciting a response and a communication to the loyal members about FIFA’s announcement this week on supporters’ ticket pricing for next year’s World Cup.
I won’t waste time regurgitating the numbers – I expect you know them by now.
What you might not know are, although can probably guess, are the details of the outrage which has been ignited by this announcement – family trips next summer put into jeopardy, members contemplating ways to take on debt in order to follow the team they love, and in many cases dedication to the England cause/ESTC being brought into question.
We have heard nothing from you so far.
The only hint is via a reporter who has written that the FA supposedly know of our concerns and they are planning to be raised at a meeting next week in Doha.
Why can’t you talk to us directly?
The lack of direct contact increasingly raises the suspicion that any raising of concerns next week with FIFA will be short and benign. Perhaps this is how you intend it to be, what with being in the running to host the Women’s World Cup in 2035.
There has been much discussion in Facebook groups, web forums and WhatsApp group chats about how to respond to this.
Do we individually take decisions to boycott the tournament/certain games, knowing that FIFA will sell the tickets elsewhere?
Do we protest at Wembley in March, by which time this could be old news and won’t even register with FIFA, and perhaps even yourselves?
If true leadership was shown, and support for the fans who fuel the game with their passion, commitment and, yes, their money (with no FFP laws protecting us), the FA and other Football Associations participating next year would refuse their ticketing allocations, in order to make FIFA think again. I see this as the only action that could work.
It pains me, as a dedicated England supporter, to quote a Scotsman to make a valid point, however Jock Stein was and is right – “football is nothing without its fans.” And right now, the lack of action and communication on your part, towards and on behalf of England fans, is troubling.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has already been accused of exploiting fan loyalty by the Football Supporters’ Association.
A FSA statement read: “The prices set for the 2026 World Cup are scandalous, a step too far for many supporters who passionately and loyally follow their national sides at home and abroad.
“Everything we feared about the direction in which Fifa wants to take the game was confirmed.
“Gianni Infantino only sees supporter loyalty as something to be exploited for profit.”
England were drawn against Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L of the tournament.
The Three Lions face a potential horror route to the final if they top the group.
Thomas Tuchel‘s side could come up against host nation Mexico as well as Brazil, Argentina and France in order to lift the famous trophy.
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