Croatia‑England World Cup 2026 opener fuels ticket‑price backlash

Croatia faces England in its first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game, set for a 22:00 kickoff and broadcast on HRT 2, pits the two former semi‑finalists from 2018 against each other in Group A. Both sides arrived in good form, with Croatia having recorded two wins and a draw in recent friendlies, while England entered the tournament after a mixed series of results, including a win over New Zealand and a loss to Japan.

The match has reignited criticism over FIFA’s new dynamic ticket‑pricing model. Official prices start at $60 (≈ €50) and climb to $7 875 (≈ €6 800) for the final’s top seats. For the Croatia‑England game, tickets ranged from €305 for economy to €810 for premium, but resale platforms have seen them listed for as much as €8 670. Fans have denounced the costs as “a pure robbery” and “disgusting”, pointing to additional stadium expenses such as €15 beers and €8 bottled water. Consumer groups and legal authorities in New York and New Jersey have launched investigations into FIFA’s pricing practices.