Scotland manager Steve Clarke has branded FIFA’s World Cup ticket allocation a “joke” and warned that supporters could drive themselves into debt just to attend games, as the tournament kicked off with empty seats visible in the stadium.
Clarke, who has led Scotland to their first World Cup since 1998, expressed shock at the limited number of tickets handed to the country’s fans – just 4,000 – for stadiums that hold up to 60,000 people. “The Scottish FA were only given 4,000 tickets. I think that’s a joke,” he told The Telegraph. “There’s nothing you can do about it, and it’s not right.”
“Scotland boss Steve Clarke calls FIFA's World Cup ticket allocation 'a joke' and fears fans may go into debt.”
The cost of following Scotland in the United States has been a growing concern, with tickets costing several hundred dollars and accommodation and travel also proving expensive. Clarke urged fans not to put themselves in financial peril. “The worst thing that people can do is put themselves into debt that they can’t get out of,” he said. “It shouldn’t be as expensive as it is. Some people may go into debt but, as long as they can pay for it, recover it and pay it back without putting themselves through too much trouble.”
His warning came as the second match of the tournament – South Korea’s win over the Czech Republic in Guadalajara – showed empty sections in the stands, particularly in VIP zones and areas opposite the main camera. The visible gaps undermined FIFA’s pricing strategy, which has drawn criticism from US politicians as well as fans.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the approach, arguing that tickets are priced for the US market where costs are typically high, and stressing that the governing body generates revenue only once every four years – money he says is reinvested into football. But Clarke warned the sport risked losing touch with its core audience. “Football needs to be careful that it doesn’t lose touch with the people that matter, and that’s the supporters,” he said.
Scotland open their campaign against Haiti, then face Morocco and Brazil in Group B. With only 4,000 tickets allocated for each game, many fans face tough choices about whether to travel. The ex-Scotland captain has also urged the squad not to repeat past mistakes and to seize the chance to make history, in a separate warning to Clarke’s men. The former captain detailed an unnamed player’s “bitter disappointment” at being left out of the squad, while calling on the team to avoid a World Cup error.