2018 World Cup tickets: England fans stay away from Russia
Just 30,711 Three Lions tickets have been sold for this summer’s tournament

England supporters are staying away from this year’s World Cup with few fans heading to Russia.
According to a report in The Sun, the Three Lions “have fewer World Cup ticket sales than Peru and China” with just 30,711 tickets sold.
It’s an indication that England fans believe they will be targeted by the notorious Russian ‘ultras’, the trained hooligans who inflicted such devastation during the 2016 European Championships in France.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Several England fans were beaten unconscious during vicious attacks in Marseille and with relations between Britain and Russia at rock bottom there is a fear there will be similar assaults during the World Cup.
The Sun reports that England supporters’ websites have been issued with death threats and online football forums and social media in Russia “are awash with sinister threats and images showing thugs training for the blood-thirsty battle ahead”. One ‘ultra’ wrote: “You want a war, then you will have it. Fighting is in our blood - this June we will do more than just sing.”
That such talk has had an effect on England supporters and just 30,000 tickets have been sold with the start of the tournament seven weeks away. Four years ago more than 25,000 travelled to Brazil despite the cost and distance.
In contrast 796,875 tickets have been sold to Russia fans, while German supporters have snapped up 55,136 tickets. Interestingly, there is strong interest from the Central and South American nations with Colombia (60,199 tickets), Mexico (51,736) and Argentina (44,882) all guaranteed a good number of supporters.
Even Peru (38,544), China (36,841) and Australia (34,628) have all sold more tickets than England, as Three Lions supporters decide that discretion is the better part of valour.
But are some fans trying to sell their tickets through illegal avenues in the hope of making a profit?
The Sun claims that two tickets to watch England take on Tunisia on 18 June - which have a face value of £296 on Fifa’s website - are being touted for between £490 and £11,237.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Is Rachel Reeves going soft on non-doms?
Today's Big Question Chancellor is reportedly considering reversing controversial 40% inheritance tax on global assets of non-doms, after allegations of 'exodus' of rich people
-
Is the G7 still relevant?
Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
A disproven medical theory could be guiding RFK Jr.'s health policy
The Explainer The miasma theory is one of the oldest medical beliefs in history
-
World Cup 2026: uncertainty reigns with one year to go
In the Spotlight US-hosted Fifa tournament has to navigate Trump's travel bans, logistical headaches and an exhausting expanded format
-
The wit and wisdom of Sven-Göran Eriksson
In Depth The first foreign coach to manage England on football, life and death
-
Can England's Euros team hold their nerve?
Today's Big Question Three Lions' 'lopsided' opening win over Serbia raises more questions than it answers
-
The England kit: a furore over the flag
In the Spotlight Nike's redesign of the St George's Cross on the collar of the English national team's shirt has caused controversy
-
Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup: glitz, glamour and 'grimly inevitable'
Talking Point Critics claim country is guilty of sportswashing as it stands unopposed to host tournament
-
Lionesses will have regrets but their legacy can be ‘incredible’
feature England stars return home after heartbreaking Women’s World Cup final loss to Spain
-
How English women’s football could become a billion pound industry
feature Building on the success of the Lionesses won’t be easy but it is eminently possible
-
Lionesses dig deep after Lauren James’s ‘Beckham-esque’ red card
feature England reach the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals after a 4-2 win on penalties against Nigeria