OFFSET YOUR WORLD CUP TRAVEL WITH GREENERTRAVEL
Date: 16th December 2025
Ian
You will be well aware of the reaction to FIFA’s announcement on ticket pricing and allocations for the upcoming World Cup. The response from supporters has been not merely negative, but unprecedented in its consistency and intensity across countries and confederations.
The SFSA has been inundated with correspondence from members seeking answers as to how this position was reached. Supporters are asking whether FIFA consulted member associations, engaged with recognised supporter organisations, or carried out any meaningful assessment of the impact on fans before implementing this model. At present, it is difficult to conclude that any such engagement took place or, if it did, it was ignored.
The scale of the increases in prices compared to the Qatar tournament, severely restricted allocations to supporter groups, the introduction of a FIFA-controlled resale platform extracting additional fees and the adoption of a form of dynamic pricing represent a fundamental shift away from the principle that World Cups are events for every supporter, not merely premium commercial products where “the market”
should be left to set prices.
I am a qualified chartered accountant and fully understand commercial imperatives and FIFA’s role in promoting the game on a global stage.
However, this ticketing model is entirely detached from the economic reality facing ordinary supporters. More troubling still is the impression that FIFA is knowingly exploiting the emotional investment of fans, particularly in nations such as Scotland, where qualification represents a once-in-a-generation moment. That approach risks serious and lasting damage to trust in the governance of the game.
We recognise that the SFA may have limited direct influence over FIFA’s pricing strategy. That does not, however, absolve national associations of the responsibility to represent the views of their supporters. Having qualified for the first time in 28 years, many Scotland’s supporters are now being effectively priced out of attending the tournament they helped their team reach.
We believe the SFA should formally and robustly convey to FIFA the depth of anger and alienation this has caused. Silence, or a purely passive stance, will be interpreted by supporters as acceptance of a model that prioritises revenue maximisation over accessibility and fairness.
While we appreciate the sensitivities involved in challenging FIFA publicly, we are equally clear that this is an issue on which collective action by national associations and supporter organisations is both justified and necessary. The current pricing and allocation framework is not merely unpopular; it is fundamentally misjudged.
The SFSA stands ready to engage constructively, but firmly, in any dialogue with FIFA on this matter and would expect the SFA to support that position in the interests of its Scottish supporters.
As you’d expect, our members have encouraged us to reach out to the SFA, so we will look to share this correspondence on our social media channels.
Yours sincerely,
John Maclean
Chief Executive
Scottish Football Supporters Association
Posted in: Latest News, Review of the Game
Tags: FIFA, Ian Maxwell, SFA, World Cup