（CNN） With the start of the Men’s World Cup just around six months away, fans will be excited to travel to North America next summer to watch their national teams play.
But the latest ticket sales phase, which began this week, may mean the cost will be higher than expected. Ticket prices for the finals exceed $4,000 (623,320 yen).
These prices have sparked outrage from fans around the world, with some loyal supporters being barred from tournaments.
The wave of criticism came after the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) allotted tickets for participating teams to national soccer associations on the 11th. FIFA calls this the Participating Member Association (PMA) allocation.
This essentially allows associations to sell tickets to passionate fans in their home countries who qualify through supporter groups or loyalty schemes.
Many die-hard fans who have followed the national team for years are now faced with the dilemma of whether to reluctantly pay for tickets or save money by watching from home.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE), the group representing the interests of soccer fans, said it was “appalled by the exorbitant ticket prices” imposed by FIFA on dedicated supporters.
FSE has called on FIFA to suspend ticket sales “until a solution is found that respects the tradition, universality and cultural significance of the World Cup.”
According to FSE’s statement and information known to it, avid fans will need to pay at least $6,900 to follow their national team from the first group stage match to the final. This is said to be “nearly five times as many” as the previous tournament in Qatar.
What do the fans say?
It’s not just ticket costs that fans have to worry about, but also travel and accommodation costs.
The concern is that people who have followed the national team for many years will be unable to attend the tournament, losing out in the battle for tickets with those who can afford to pay. The atmosphere at next year’s games in Mexico, the United States and Canada may also be affected.
Take England fans for example.
The English Football Association (FA) shared its pricing structure with a group of passionate fans on the 11th. The cheapest ticket for the first game against Croatia was $265.
FIFA says this will be an affordable World Cup for fans/Dan Mullan/Getty Images
If England reach the final, tickets will cost as low as $4,185 and as high as $8,680.
Making matters even more difficult for fans, tickets are expected to be paid by early next year.
The Football Supporters Association (FSA), the organization representing football fans in England and Wales, said the prices were “excessive for many supporters”.
What is FIFA’s explanation?
FIFA has already conducted two ticket sales phases, both earlier this month before the brackets and match dates were finalized. This will be the first time fans will be able to view their country’s national team fixtures and then apply for tickets.
FIFA has long boasted that this year’s tournament will be an affordable World Cup for fans. Tickets will be divided into four categories, with the lowest price for the group stage being confirmed to be $60.
However, such cheap tickets are not available to national associations. This means the most passionate fans are forced to pay top dollar to ensure they can watch their team play.
CNN Sports has reached out to FIFA for comment, but has so far received no response.
Fans who do not qualify for a PMA quota can still apply for tickets to each game through a random lottery sale that began on the 11th.
However, for the first time in World Cup history, there is no set price for group stage matches, and the price of each match will fluctuate depending on demand. As a result, fans in each country pay different prices for matches at the same stage of the tournament.
“This is a gross betrayal of the World Cup tradition and ignores the contribution of supporters who have supported this great spectacle,” FSE added.
Fans are the lifeblood of soccer. Pressure is already mounting on FIFA to make next year’s World Cup more open to the public.
