Football enthusiasts are finding themselves financially strained by World Cup ticket prices, a stark contrast to the commitments made during the host countries’ initial bid.

Initially, fans were assured they could secure tickets for as low as $21 (£15.69). However, FIFA has announced that the least expensive tickets for England’s games against Ghana and Panama are now set at $220 (£164).

The projected ticket prices were first introduced in the 2018 bid book by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, intended merely as estimates.

While Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand stated that FIFA was striving to make the tournament “accessible,” current ticket pricing suggests otherwise. It is important to note that Ferdinand does not influence ticket pricing, and any dissatisfaction from fans stems solely from his association with FIFA during the draw.

The fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has labeled FIFA’s pricing strategy as a “monumental betrayal.”

Rio Ferdinand’s comment that FIFA want make World Cup tickets ‘accessible’ has fallen flat 

FIFA’s dynamic pricing model has seen ticket costs soar beyond those initially mooted 

These are the prices that were projected back in 2018 as part of the hosts’ bid 

And this is how the prices have turned out for now; some tickets cost thousands of pounds 

FSE have even called on FIFA to halt ticket sales, which they say are priced ‘extortionately’.

Daily Mail Sport has contacted FIFA for comment.  

For the first World Cup ever, FIFA have introduced a dynamic pricing policy rather than set costs across games. 

That means that the ticket prices can be changed by FIFA depending on the demand there is for a particular game.

Ferdinand explained: ‘FIFA are conscious, the powers that be there [of making things affordable].

‘We can look at every industry, every sector, and have that conversation about things. It’s more about making sure that there’s a product there that’s super-elite that matches what’s on the pitch, so everyone can feel that it’s justified, taking the time out, working hard to go ad get my tickets.

‘I’m a man of the people. I’m from a place where we were always hoping for things to be accessible. The people behind the scenes at FIFA are working towards something like that. Whether they get there remains to be seen.’ 

Ferdinand grew up on a council estate in Peckham, south London. 

Many England fans will not be on their way after it emerged that prices have increased tenfold 

There are fears around empty seats at the tournament due to the ‘extortionate’ prices 

Clearly his words have done little to soothe fans, with one asking on X: ‘Rio, is $4185 for the cheapest final ticket available to the England travel club members “accessible”?’ 

Another said: ‘It’s become a corporate gig. For the few, not the many.’ 

For England fans, the pricing is bad news. Currently, the cheapest way to watch all eight of their possible games would be by spending $6,822 (£5,100) – around five times as much as it did for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Taking the most expensive regular seats on the way to the final, fans would have to spend a colossal $16,590 (£12,403).

The tier category of tickets, category four, is not available to England supporters travelling over. These are typically reserved for residents of the host nation. 

Due to the limited number of tickets, fans may find themselves forced to spend in a  higher category than they would ideally like. 

The cheapest seats England fans can get at the final are now $4,185 (£3,127). Back in 2018, it looked like the least expensive final tickets would be $128 (£95.66).

‘Football Supporters Europe is astonished by the extortionate ticket prices imposed by FIFA on the most dedicated supporters for next year’s Fifa World Cup,’ FSE said in a statement.

‘This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is.

‘We call on FIFA to immediately halt PMA ticket sales, engage in a consultation with all impacted parties, and review ticket prices and category distribution until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found.’