Up to 15,000 England fans head to Dallas for World Cup opener
England fans have arrived in Dallas for the 2026 World Cup opener against Croatia; between 12,000 and 15,000 are expected per group match, but ticket prices have soared, drawing criticism.
After a longer wait than most teams, England will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign on Wednesday against Croatia at the Dallas Stadium.
While exact numbers are uncertain, the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) estimates that between 12,000 and 15,000 England fans will attend each group stage match. The official England Supporters' Travel Club (ESTC) has sold its allocation of 4,022 tickets, though some appear on FIFA's resale site at inflated prices.
A total of 89,000 World Cup tickets have been purchased by fans from England, covering all matches, but many fans have traveled to the US without securing tickets. In comparison, around 350,000 England fans traveled to Germany in 2006, while only 4,000 went to Qatar four years ago.
Ticket prices have been a major point of controversy. For the England–Croatia match, initial prices were £198, £373, or £523 per category. However, on the resale market, prices have skyrocketed. On Friday, there were 984 tickets listed; by Tuesday, only 293 remained. The cheapest category one resale ticket is around £1,310, while category two tickets rose from £874 in April to £1,254. Some tickets originally allocated to ESTC members are now being resold for up to £3,192 (plus fees), nearly ten times their face value.
Fans have expressed frustration over costs. Michael, a fan who paid £850 per ticket, said that amount could buy a season ticket. Others noted that flights, accommodation, and ticket prices have deterred many from traveling. Some supporters arrived without tickets, hoping to buy them locally, but chances are slim.
While England fans are soaking up the atmosphere in Dallas, many worry that such high costs could become the new norm and limit access to future World Cups.
