England supporters are facing the prospect of paying out more than £2,400 to follow the national team at the World Cup next summer.
Ticket prices for the 2026 tournament have surged dramatically since the first batch was released two weeks ago, a significant increase compared to the previous event in Qatar.
The price inflation is being driven by a contentious 'dynamic pricing' system introduced by Fifa.
This model allows the cost of tickets to be adjusted in real-time based on the level of demand from fans.
English fans are facing extremely high prices to attend the World Cup next year
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Initial ticket prices for the tournament start at £45 but can reach as high as £5,078.
The Football Supporters’ Association’s Free Lions Fans’ Embassy team has sounded the alarm over the pricing structure.
The group, whose members follow England internationally, has warned that the tournament risks becoming the most expensive ever for supporters who attend matches. They argue that the costs could prevent ordinary fans from being able to attend.
Early analysis has revealed significant price hikes compared to the tournament held three years ago.
For instance, the cheapest seat for the opening match is anticipated to be £279, a substantial rise from £42 in Qatar. The group stated that the prices are "astonishing".
In a statement, the team said: "If the cheapest ticket turns out to be $2,000 for the final, that is an unbelievable outlay for a game you've no idea if you'll qualify for."
They calculated that a fan securing the lowest-priced ticket for every game from the start to the final could face a minimum bill of $3,180, which is "more than double what Qatar cost".
The supporters' group has called on the FA to press Fifa to make the tournament "financially accessible for match-going fans".
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England secured qualification for the World Cup in America with a win over Latvia on Tuesday
| REUTERSThey insist that football's governing body must set aside a fair number of the cheapest tickets that are not subject to dynamic pricing or variations based on the host city.
Adding to the controversy is Fifa's 'Right to Buy' token scheme, which has been criticised for favouring wealthier supporters by charging up to £751 to guarantee access to more expensive ticket categories.
Fifa has also authorised ticket resales for more than their face value on its platform, from which it takes a 15 per cent commission from both the buyer and the seller. On the first day the resale platform was active, some tickets were reportedly listed for tens of thousands of pounds.
In its defence, Fifa stated that its pricing model "generally reflects the existing and developing market practice in our co-hosts".
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The organisation said it is "focused on ensuring fair access" and confirmed it would "retain ring-fenced allocations at fixed prices".
However, the most dedicated England fans who are members of the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) will receive some protection from these price fluctuations.
They will be able to purchase tickets from a fixed allocation sold directly via the FA.
England fans will be hoping the performance from the qualifiers continues when they cross the pond
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While the exact number of seats will be confirmed following the draw in December, past tournaments indicate this allocation will likely be a few thousand per game.
ESTC members will be restricted to one ticket for each match, with priority given based on attendance caps.
Any supporters who are not part of this group and must buy tickets on Fifa's general sale website will face the full impact of the dynamic pricing model.