England players and staff claim 1,000 tickets per World Cup group game for family and friends

England’s travelling party of around 90 to 100 players and staff have claimed approximately 1,000 tickets per match for family and friends at each of the Three Lions’ three FIFA World Cup 2026 group games, the National Police Chiefs Council’s football lead has revealed.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts disclosed the figures while outlining policing plans for the tournament. For England’s opening group fixture against Croatia, he confirmed “up to 1,000 friends and family with the FA” alongside 3,315 members of the England Supporters Travel Club and a total of 7,618 tickets purchased online by people identifying as England supporters — broken down as 4,169 from the UK, 2,800 from the United States, 209 from Canada, 36 from Mexico and 401 from elsewhere.

For England v Ghana, Roberts said 3,553 official travel club members would attend, with total wider ticket sales reaching 10,171 plus the 1,000 friends-and-family allocation. For England v Panama in New York, the figures stood at 3,971 official members and 10,721 in total ticket sales, again alongside the 1,000-ticket FA block.

The England party, which includes players, coaches, analysts, press officers, dieticians, masseurs and chefs, is understood to number between 90 and 100 people. Tickets purchased directly through FIFA for the Croatia group game are priced at £520 (Category 1), £370 (Category 2), £195 (Category 3) and £45 (Category 4).

The scale of the allocation has divided supporters. Cambridge United fan Dave Ryan, 55, a teacher, said: “I completely understand that England players and FA staff should have access to tickets so their family and friends can watch them play — but 1,000 tickets for every game. That’s just madness and not very fair. England fans are struggling to get tickets and so many are going to those with FA connections. There’s only 26 players in the squad so 1,000 tickets is an awful lot to go to ‘family and friends’.”

Others were more sympathetic. Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter David Bamford, 63, said: “It’s a lot of tickets but it’s great so many have been bought. England players and staff are backing the lads. It’s good to see.”