England Fans Face Sky-High Ticket Prices for World Cup Clash Against Mexico The World Cup 2026 match between England and Mexico has sparked controversy over the exorbitant resale prices of tickets allocated to England supporters. The Football Association confirmed that 3,000 tickets for the last-16 game at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City were purchased through the England Supporters' Travel Club (ESTC) ballot following the draw in December. These tickets, originally priced at $605 (£460) for the most expensive category, are now being listed on Fifa’s official resale portal at prices up to $30,000 (£22,800) each. After accounting for a 15% Fifa fee for both buyer and seller, the total cost for the most expensive tickets reaches $34,500 (£26,220), which is 57 times their face value. Even the cheapest tickets, priced at $3,448 (£2,620), are nearly 12 times their original value. The ESTC, a membership-based program that grants priority access to matches, operates on a "caps" system where fans earn points by attending games. Those with the highest caps are guaranteed the best seats and lowest prices. However, the resale market has turned this system upside down. Tickets in the "supporter" categories, which include prime seats behind the England goal, are now being sold at inflated prices. As of Friday, 76 tickets were listed in these categories, though it remains unclear whether they were originally purchased by ESTC members or resold by third parties. Fifa’s resale platform allows sellers to set prices, which are not binding on buyers. This has led to a surge in demand, with prices for the most expensive tickets reaching $17,250 (£13,110) and some listings exceeding $34,500 (£26,220).#football_association #england #fifa #estc #fifa_resale_portal
