The wait is over, and it's time to break out the wallet – England fans who want to witness the Three Lions take on Mexico in the World Cup last-16 are facing a financial firestorm. With resale prices skyrocketing, a single ticket on FIFA's official platform is now priced at an eye-watering minimum of £2,622. This is nearly 12 times the original 'supporter value' category price tag of around £224 – and it's enough to make even the most ardent supporter think twice about splashing out.
The highly anticipated match follows England's pulsating 2-1 victory over DR Congo on Wednesday, which secured their place in the knockout stage. The game is set to take place at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with its deafening atmosphere and staggering 80,824-capacity crowd, while kick-off time is confirmed as 01:00 BST on Monday. For those unable to attend, don't worry – the action will be broadcast live on BBC One.
Demand for tickets has driven resale prices through the roof throughout the tournament, particularly for matches involving the host nation in Mexico City. Prior to the World Cup draw in December, the England Supporters' Travel Club was allocated a healthy 3,000 tickets for this specific fixture – but these were all snapped up during the ballot stage in January. FIFA has since confirmed that no further allocations will be released, leaving the resale market as the only avenue for fans to secure entry.
The scarcity of tickets is evident, with only 250 listings on the FIFA resale site before England's match against DR Congo. This number rose slightly to 273 post-match, before increasing to a staggering 429 overnight. Many of these newly listed tickets fall into the 'supporter value' categories – typically located behind one of the goals – but don't be fooled: prices are still eye-wateringly high. A Category Four ticket, originally priced at around £129, is now listed for approximately £3,933 – a staggering 30 times its face value. Similarly, a Category Three ticket, with an original price of £266, is now being offered for around £3,146 after FIFA's purchase fee.
And if you thought that was steep, think again! Some Category One tickets, initially costing £1,212, are now listed at approximately £4,488. We've even spotted a Category One lower bowl ticket, originally £809, appearing on the resale site for an astonishing £24,101 – plus an additional FIFA fee of £3,615. Even independent marketplaces like SeatGeek reflect these inflated prices, with the cheapest ticket available there priced at around £2,954, inclusive of fees.
But while ticket prices are going through the roof, accommodation in Mexico City presents a welcome respite for fans' wallets. Hotel rates around the fixture date remain relatively affordable compared to options in the United States – and you can bag a room for under £80 for two nights.