Thursday, December 05, 2013
FA fear lowest turnout at tournament in years
The FA believe England will be cheered on in Brazil by the smallest number of official supporters seen at a tournament for years.
Foreign Office officials were told at their last briefing with the FA that it is estimated only around 1,100 members of the official fan club, the same number who travelled to Rio for the 2-2 draw against Brazil in the Maracana in June, would make the World Cup trip next summer.
England have been allocated eight per cent of the tickets available for their games. But the take-up is expected to be so low that the FA are offering fan club membership, which includes immediate access to World Cup tickets, at £37.50 - half the normal price.
This contrasts with previous tournaments when the demand for tickets was such that England fans had to have a certain number of points from attending previous England games to guarantee their allocation.
And the FA believe more than 2,000 supporters will choose to watch the friendly warm-up match in Miami rather than follow Roy Hodgson's team to Brazil.
England fans have been put off by the complicated logistics of following the team, not to mention the price tag of £7,000 just for travel and accommodation.
FIFA said yesterday that 27,000 World Cup tickets had been bought from England in the general sale, though many of those would have been multiple purchases.
Foreign Office officials were told at their last briefing with the FA that it is estimated only around 1,100 members of the official fan club, the same number who travelled to Rio for the 2-2 draw against Brazil in the Maracana in June, would make the World Cup trip next summer.
England have been allocated eight per cent of the tickets available for their games. But the take-up is expected to be so low that the FA are offering fan club membership, which includes immediate access to World Cup tickets, at £37.50 - half the normal price.
This contrasts with previous tournaments when the demand for tickets was such that England fans had to have a certain number of points from attending previous England games to guarantee their allocation.
And the FA believe more than 2,000 supporters will choose to watch the friendly warm-up match in Miami rather than follow Roy Hodgson's team to Brazil.
England fans have been put off by the complicated logistics of following the team, not to mention the price tag of £7,000 just for travel and accommodation.
FIFA said yesterday that 27,000 World Cup tickets had been bought from England in the general sale, though many of those would have been multiple purchases.
