Euro 2028 ticket prices to stay low compared to World Cup costs

By Martin Graham

UEFA is planning to keep ticket prices for Euro 2028 largely unchanged, ensuring that supporters can attend matches at significantly lower costs than those seen at the upcoming World Cup in North America. The tournament, hosted across England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland, will dedicate around 40% of all tickets to the most accessible “Fans First” categories.

At Euro 2024 in Germany, entry-level group-stage tickets were priced at 30 euros (£26) and 60 euros (£52). UEFA intends to maintain similar levels for 2028, aiming to keep these categories under £30 and £60. In addition to these tiers, there will be four main pricing levels, along with a limited number of premium VIP+ options designed to help subsidize lower-cost tickets for general supporters.

Higher-tier group-stage tickets at the previous Euros reached 150 euros (£130) and 200 euros (£174), though pricing for these categories in 2028 has not yet been finalized.

Contrast with World Cup pricing and policies

The pricing structure stands in sharp contrast to the approach taken for this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Initially, the cheapest group-stage tickets for England matches were set at $220 (£167), while the highest reached $700 (£523). Although Fifa later introduced a small allocation of $60 (£45) tickets across all 104 matches, availability remains limited.

Additional costs have also drawn criticism. Reports indicate that the average price for parking at World Cup venues in the United States is around $175 (£133), with spaces at MetLife Stadium near New York costing up to $225 (£171) for group games.

Ticket allocation has also been a point of difference. UEFA has pledged 10,000 tickets per nation for each group match at Euro 2028, while FIFA provided fewer than 4,000 per national association despite larger stadium capacities.

Furthermore, FIFA’s use of dynamic pricing has led to fluctuating and often higher ticket costs throughout sales phases. In contrast, Euro 2028 will not use this system, with UEFA committing to keep roughly half of all tickets at affordable levels.

Resale rules, accessibility and knockout pricing

Resale policies also differ significantly between the two competitions. Euro 2028 tickets will be resold strictly at face value, while World Cup tickets are traded on a secondary platform where prices can increase, with FIFA taking a 30% commission split between buyer and seller.

Accessibility provisions highlight another contrast. At the World Cup, disabled supporters must pay full price and do not receive a complimentary companion ticket. For Euro 2028, they will be eligible for the lowest-priced categories and can request a free ticket for an assistant.

Although prices for Euro 2028 will rise in later rounds, they are expected to remain far below World Cup levels. At MetLife Stadium, “supporter value” tickets for the World Cup semi-finals and final are priced at £3,119, whereas a comparable category at Euro 2024 costs 95 euros (£82.50).

Full ticket details for Euro 2028, including pricing and sales dates, will be released in autumn 2027, with the first sales window opening after the tournament draw in December.

Host venues across five nations

Matches at Euro 2028 will be staged across multiple cities. In England, venues include Everton Stadium, Manchester City Stadium, St. James’ Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, and Wembley Stadium. Scotland will host games at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Wales at the National Stadium in Cardiff, and the Republic of Ireland at Dublin Arena.