The most expensive tickets for Monday’s World Cup last-16 game between England and Mexico are being resold on Fifa’s official portal for $34,500 (£26,220) each – 57 times their face value – amid fears that Thomas Tuchel’s players will be serenaded to sleep by fireworks and revving engines outside their hotel.
Four tickets originally listed at $605 (£460) are now on sale at $30,000 (£22,800) apiece, with a 15% Fifa buyer fee pushing the total to $34,500. The seller, after paying Fifa a 15% fee of $4,500 (£3,420), would still pocket $25,500 (£19,380) per ticket. Even the cheapest available ticket has jumped from $295 (£224) to $3,448 (£2,620) – nearly 12 times the original price.
“England-Mexico tickets resell for up to £26k each, fans face hotel disruption, and minister warns against bunking off for 1am kick-off.”
The Football Association confirmed that all tickets were purchased through the England Supporters’ Travel Club (ESTC) ballot after December’s draw. ESTC members accrue “caps” by attending matches; those with 27 or more caps were guaranteed a face-value ticket. As of Friday morning, 76 tickets were listed in the “supporter” categories behind the goal in the England section. The ESTC allocation was 3,000 for the 80,824-capacity Azteca, and 4,373 members applied, leaving the match markedly oversubscribed.
While the FA cannot restrict resale under Fifa rules, the disruption planned by Mexican fans has prompted Fifa to green-light roadblocks around England’s hotel. The night before Mexico’s round-of-32 win over Ecuador, thousands of fans gathered outside the Ecuador hotel setting off fireworks, chanting and revving engines. Ecuador’s federation has since lodged a complaint to Fifa, calling it “far removed from the principles of fair play”. Tuchel, aware of the threat, said: “We will expect that of course, but what shall we do? We will bring stuff [like ear plugs] of course, but I expect everything.”
England were required to arrive within 24 hours of kick-off under Fifa tournament rules, so they will arrive one night early. Tuchel noted: “The recommendation is you either go ten days before – which is too long for us – or last minute, which is not allowed. We will go one night earlier. It makes sense.”
Back home, the government has issued a plea to fans not to bunk off work or school. Skills minister Baroness Smith said she would be taking a “disco nap” ahead of the 1am BST kick-off, which will be broadcast live on BBC One. The match at the Azteca kicks off at 8pm local time on Sunday.