How Scotland’s Tartan Army Tackled World Cup Ticket Prices
Stateside readers of First Touch know full well about the price-gouging going on with tickets to this summer’s World Cup.
For New York/New Jersey residents—and visitors—matches here locally have minimum ticket prices north of $500 per, and round-trip train fare to the stadium at $150 per person.
Leave it to the Scots to come up with a solution.
The Full Scottish
Served by Brian P. Dunleavy
The Tartan Army has launched a fan-run ticket exchange website for supporters called, fittingly enough, Ticket Exchange. Described by its founder as an attempt at “taking back control” of escalating ticket prices from FIFA, Ticket Exchange allows Scotland fans to swap and sell World Cup tickets without “obnoxious” resale markups.
According to the BBC, a recent survey of the market reveals the cheapest tickets for Scotland’s opening match against Haiti in Massachusetts are currently priced at $380, with the most expensive coming in at more than $2,000.
FIFA has famously, or infamously, employed a dynamic pricing model for 2026 World Cup, in which ticket charges are adjusted in real-time based on, the governing body claims, demand.
Ticket Exchange isn’t free, and it won’t be, even for Tartan Army members. Supporters must pay a £5 fee to register. Proceeds are donated to the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal, which raises funds for children’s charities in every country in which the Scottish team plays matches (as opposed to lining Gianni Infantino’s pockets).
When asked by the BBC about schemes such as Ticket Exchange, FIFA responded: “Unlike the entities behind profit-driven third-party ticket marketplaces, FIFA is a not-for-profit organization.”
Right. And the Scottish Premiership title race has been decided.
See Kick off times, venues, and TV info for every game of the 2026 World Cup. Bookmark this essential page!