Football fans reacted with outrage last night after a 2026 World Cup semi-final ticket went on sale for £161,000 on an official FIFA resale platform.

Just days before the eagerly awaited tournament draw which takes place on Friday supporters were furious at the revelation. England superfan Neal Weekessaid: “These are just scandalous prices.

"How can a ticket on an official FIFA re-sale site be available for over £160,000. That’s wrong. It’s a disgrace.” Later this week Englandand Scotland supporters will be watching excitedly to see who their countries draw and where they will play the matches in the US, Canada and Mexico next summer.

READ MORE: Joshua Zirkzee now has new Manchester United role that nobody saw coming

READ MORE: South Africa's Eben Etzebeth facing lengthy ban after horrific eye gouge vs Wales

But those keeping an eye on FIFA's resale platform for ticket availability are shocked at the huge prices. Football’s world governing body operates an official ticket resale platform to capture the secondary market, charging both sellers and buyers a 15% fee.

A single Category 2 ticket for the tournament’s second semi-final in Atlanta on 15 July is currently priced at £161,000 excluding the ‘facilitation fee’ of £24,355. The total cost would be a small fortune of £185,485.

The first semi-final - a day earlier in Dallas - is available for a total of £34,029. Those prices are currently even higher than the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which is just a short way from New York City.

Weekes went on: “And if it sells for that price FIFA will profit by £24,000 from the buyer and seller. This is what’s wrong with football today. I appreciate that the ticket won’t sell for that price - but you never know in the US - but the simple fact that’s it’s possible and available and on a FIFA website is just wrong.”

Former non-league football players Weekes 60, an auctioneer, from Greenwich, south east London, and friend property services owner Fil Sollof, 60, from Loughton, Essex, plan to be at their seventh World Cup together.

In Qatar they visited all eight of the tournament’s stadiums in and around the capital Doha. It’s no secret that football fans will have to splash out to watch World Cup matches next year after FIFA shocked supporters with ticket prices on the primary market ranging from £45.37 in the group phase to £4,817 for the final.

That was a steep rise from what fans paid at the 2022 finals in Qatar, one of football’s most controversial tournaments. The opening match of the US men’s national team in Los Angeles costs £423 to £2,068 and Mexico’s opener in Mexico City is slightly cheaper with prices from £280 to £1,380.

The tournament features 48 teams for the first time and will take place in June and July next year. Wales and Northern Ireland face play-off games and could also join England and Scotland in the summer.

Friday's draw takes place in the US capital Washington DC and starts at 5pm UK time. US President Donald Trump is expected to attend and participate.

England and Scotland could face matches against first time finalists Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Jordan or Curacao. The cheapest ticket for the 2026 final costs £1,535 and the most expensive ticket is £5,089.

In Qatar, a Category 1 ticket for the showpiece match went for £1,214, and fans certainly got value for money.

Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi played out a thrilling 3–3 draw before the Argentinians prevailed from the penalty spot. FIFA were approached for comment about the ticket prices.