FOOTBALL fans are set to take an almighty hit to their wallets after prices for 2026 World Cup tickets were leaked.
Fifa had announced on Wednesday that tickets would start from as low as £45, but did not reveal a comprehensive round-by-round breakdown.
However, The Athletic have now published a full breakdown of the ticket prices fans are facing for next summer’s tournament – being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
And should Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions – who currently have a 100 per cent win record in qualifying – make it to the tournament across the pond, travelling supporters are facing a hefty bill for tickets.
The cheapest tickets in the group stage will cost a digestible $60 (£45) for a Category 4 ticket.
But that spikes as high as $620 (£420) for the most expensive Category 1 games.
Ticket pricing throughout the tournament changes depending on whether one of the host nations are playing and depending on the venue.
For example, a Category 1 ticket the USA’s Group Stage opener in LA will cost $2,735 (£1,768), while Canada’s in Toronto will be $1,745 (£1,230).
These extreme prices only get more expensive as the tournament goes on.
In the last 32, the most expensive Category 1 ticket will set fans back $665 ($495), which then goes up to $890 (£663) in the last 16.
A major jump comes in at the quarter-final stage, with the most expensive ticket category being priced at $1,690 (£1,258).
In the semi-finals, the Category 1 comes in at $2,780 (£2,069), while Category 4 tickets start from $420 (£312).
However, the final being held at the MetLife Stadium sees the minimum price for ticket bands more than double.
Category 1 tickets will cost $6,370 (£4,740), while Category 4 comes in at $2,030(£1,510).
It should also be noted that, according to The Athletic’s report, Category 1 tickets encompass the lower bowl and most or all of the second deck.
Category 2 at most grounds will be the upper deck along the sidelines with Category 3 being the upper deck above either goal and Category 4 the upper third of one upper-deck section at each corner of most stadiums.
That means an England fan going to all the knockout games across next summer’s World Cup could pay an eye-watering $3,000 (£2,232) for Category 4 tickets.
At the other end of the scale, the cost of Category 1 tickets across all the knockout games works out at $12,395 (£9,224).
This ticketing revelation comes after it was also suggested by Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani, that some games could be played after midnight due to weather concerns.
He said: “It’s always an issue in our region – summers are hot in Canada as well as the US. But it’s important we learn from those things.
“We’re in conversations daily with the European broadcasters in terms of what stadiums you can play in at 3pm, the likes of Atlanta for instance.
“Obviously what we’re trying to do, once the schedule does come out after the draw in December, is our best to ensure that all that’s taken into consideration.
“Now, will there be every game that’ll be absolutely perfect from a kick-off time from a TV perspective?
“I don’t know, because there’s a lot of games, but that’s all taken into consideration.”
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