Football Ramble Mailbag: What is going on with ticket prices for the World Cup?
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Dec 16, 2025 Ticket prices for the upcoming World Cup are through the roof, spurring debates about the impact on game atmosphere and fan access. The hosts challenge the justification for high costs and discuss whether FIFA's pricing is exploitative. They also compare managerial talents, posing the question of Unai Emery's place among the Premier League's best. Other topics include the most challenging records to break, and a humorous take on prioritizing football over love. Expect passionate discussions and listener anecdotes that highlight the quirks of fandom.
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Ticket Prices Have Jumped Sharply
- FIFA priced World Cup tickets far higher than Qatar, in some cases four to five times more.
- Marcus Speller argues FIFA simply believes it can extract more money and therefore will do so.
FIFA's Custodian Role Masks Exploitation
- FIFA presents itself as a non-profit yet behaves like a profit-seeking monopoly on the World Cup.
- Marcus says FIFA uses custodianship as cover while exploiting fans globally.
Consider Boycotting To Make A Point
- David Cartlidge urges fans to boycott high-priced tickets as a protest against exploitation.
- He explicitly encourages England fans not to travel to make a principled stand.