Football enthusiasts have expressed discontent over the high ticket prices for the upcoming 2026 World Cup matches. A recent survey conducted among nearly 2,000 individuals from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland revealed that two-thirds of respondents find the cost of attending the tournament in the US, Mexico, and Canada to be exorbitant. This sentiment aligns with recent reports by the Mirror highlighting FIFA’s perceived greed in setting inflated ticket rates.
Furthermore, the survey indicated strong backing for a collective bid from British nations to host a future World Cup. Despite England’s previous unsuccessful attempts to secure the tournament since 1966, 67% of participants expressed support for a joint bid involving England, Scotland, and Wales. Conversely, 11% opposed the idea.
The research, conducted by Deltapoll, involved 1,997 British adults surveyed online from December 16 to December 18, 2025. The results were weighted to ensure representation of the overall British adult population. Notably, passionate England fans Neal Weekes and Fil Sollof criticized the ticket prices, with Weekes describing the situation as “the mother of all rip-offs.”
Sollof, a property services business owner, condemned FIFA for what he perceived as excluding working-class football fans by setting unaffordable price levels. The discontent among fans was echoed by Ronan Evain, Director of Football Supporters Europe, who emphasized the financial burden the steep prices impose on fans worldwide.
With the tournament scheduled for June and July next year, featuring an expanded 48-team format for the first time, Spain leads as the bookmakers’ favorite, followed closely by England, France, and Brazil. The event’s timing coincides with concerns raised over the detrimental impact of the escalated ticket costs, prompting calls for FIFA to reconsider its pricing strategy for the sake of inclusivity and the overall success of the competition.