FIFA needs to reconsider the ticket pricing for supporters of competing teams and suspend the planned sale of tickets until it has done so.

The prices that filtered out from each of the national associations yesterday confirmed our worst fears. To buy tickets to follow your team all the way will cost around $7000, a disgraceful and disgusting cost that cannot be justified. FIFA are selling tickets and banking money for the final 48 times over, but only two tickets can realistically be sold. All this cash will be resting in FIFA’s Swiss bank accounts until they grudgingly have to refund it to fans after the tournament ends. Refunds will be subject to a fee to ensure FIFA bleeds the last cent from disillusioned supporters.

The cheapest tickets for our three home matches come in at a total of $665 – £500 to watch three games of football in the cheap seats. Or “Supporters Value” tickets in FIFA’s world. Around 25% of our tickets are in the Premier allocation – Only $1,800 for these three tickets. £1,345 worth of FIFA greed.

This is going to price out many of our fans. FIFA have killed the dream of our young fans, desperate to get to a World Cup. The SFA must stand up to FIFA, together with other associations, to get FIFA to halt this sale and reconsider the prices for our supporters.

Johnny (©️ POTUS) Infantino promised to rid FIFA of greed and corruption, but he has taken it to new levels since he deposed Sepp Blatter. Blatter now looks like Santa Claus by comparison.

This is our one and only chance to confront and change these scandalous prices. The SFA hold positions on various FIFA committees, and we call on them to use those positions of influence to support the Tartan Army.

Likewise, our SFA Board needs to unite with other European Associations to apply pressure on FIFA over these unacceptable prices and push for positive change.

Graeme Baxter from ATAC commented:

“The World Cup is meant to be a global festival of football, bringing together supporters from every nation. For supporters my age, this is the first opportunity we’ve had to support Scotland at one.”

“Instead, FIFA has chosen to prioritise wealth and exclusivity and those with deep pockets, sidelining the hard‑working fans who travel thousands of miles to back their teams who don’t have the level of cash FIFA are demanding”

“ATAC stands firmly alongside Football Supporters Europe and supporters associations across Europe, calling for a rethink of these astronomical and unjustifiable prices”

No Fans = No Game

Tomorrow should be a day of pure joy for Scotland supporters. After 10,027 long days—yes, some of us have counted as carefully as a contestant crunching numbers on Countdown – we finally return to the World Cup stage. Scotland back at the big show. Flags flying. Songs echoing. Optimism rising suspiciously high for a nation that’s never progressed beyond the group stage.

But instead of celebration, an uncomfortable truth is creeping in: many of the Tartan Army are already being priced out of the trip of a lifetime.

A World Cup Return… at a World-Class Cost

Back in France ’98, tickets cost £38 for the best seats, £27 for mid-range, and £16 if you fancied the behind-the-goals experience—affordable, accessible, and designed for real supporters rather than corporate day-trippers who think “offside” is a motorway junction.

Last summer in Germany, our Euros allocation put 10,000 Scotland fans where they belong: behind the goals, together, colourful, boisterous, and gloriously loud. It was a spectacle for those in the ground and millions watching around the world.

This time? We still have no idea how many tickets we’ll receive, where we’ll be seated, or how much we’ll have to cough up. What we do know is that prices are spiralling into the absurd—and that many fans will simply be locked out.

Rumours, Requirements and Ridiculousness

Whispers that fans may be forced to pay for tickets all the way to the final just to secure group stage seats have only added to the outrage. It’s a bold move, given that Scotland have a tournament record that makes our national weather look reliable.

Requiring our supporters to stump up thousands for knockout rounds we’ve never reached would be more than unreasonable—it would be exploitative. And let’s be honest: FIFA will happily resell any unclaimed tickets to sponsors and VIP guests at premium prices, sipping sparkling water while fans wrestle with refund fees. It’s corporate greed dressed up as “fan engagement”.

A Welcome That Rings Hollow

FIFA have publicly said they’re delighted to see Scotland return to the world stage. Lovely sentiment. Unfortunately, their pricing and allocation behaviour makes the words sound as genuine as a politician’s apology video.

The Tartan Army travel everywhere. Rain, shine, or particularly heavy shine. We bring colour, humour, bagpipes, and a sense of camaraderie unmatched anywhere in world football. Yet a huge portion of this support risks being left behind—not because they don’t want to go, but because they simply can’t afford to go.

Infantino’s Forgotten Promise

Gianni Infantino once attended a Scotland strip launch at Stirling Castle back in 2008, smiling for photos and shaking hands with the fans. He promised football would be returned to its supporters.

Fast-forward to today, and you’d be forgiven for thinking he’d misplaced that promise down the back of the world’s most expensive sofa.

It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way

By all means, reserve a sensible percentage of tickets for later-stage fixtures. But don’t force the cost of those empty seats onto ordinary fans. Don’t limit allocations to the point of scattering supporters around stadiums. And don’t pretend football is “for everyone” if the price of entry is a month’s salary.

FIFA don’t need to do this. They simply choose to. And that’s the problem.

Because in the end, the truth remains painfully simple:

No Fans = No Game.

Sons of Scotland Tartan Army won the ATAC Sevens in Edinburgh today, defeating Doonhamers in the final. WEBATA and ETA made the semi-finals. We were delighted that Scotland legend Colin Hendry presented the trophy, after a very successful day. Thank you to all clubs and players for taking part and to ETA and Loony Alba for hosting.

In the Walking football WEBATA made it 3 out of 3, not conceding once in their 6 games.

In the True Story Trophy played in memory of Diane Doig NETA got the better of ETA, Diane’s step daughter Jane starred for NETA in their 2-1 victory.

See full results

The Doonhamers TA hit three in a row at the 2024 ATAC 7s (Sunday 4th August), that continues their 100% record in the competition since they joined ATAC in 2022. They won 6 games and drew 1 in another dominant performance. Hosts Carnoustie TA were runners up in an 8 team competition with newest ATAC members Sons of Scotland TA (SOSTA) 3rd. NETA, ETA, WESTA, WEBATA ad DTA were the other clubs that contributed to a great day. Massive thanks to Carnoustie TA and the Stags Head bar for their hospitality and another very successful day.

WEBATA successfully defended the walking football trophy with ETA second and WESTA 3rd.

Doonhamers on 3 wins are now closing in Perthshire TA with the most 7 wins since the competition was first played for in 2001.

Most Sevens Wins

Competiton History