England defender Marc Guehi has become the first member of the Three Lions squad to publicly criticize FIFA over ticket prices at the World Cup. Following England's 6-4 victory over France in the third-place play-off in Miami, Guehi expressed his frustration with the cost of attending matches.
Guehi's Outburst After Bronze Medal Win
Speaking to reporters after the match, Guehi thanked the traveling fans but did not hold back his thoughts on FIFA's pricing. "We owe it to everyone who came and watched, especially here in Miami. Because ticket pricing was rubbish, I don't know what they were thinking, FIFA, to be honest. So at least they could enjoy a fairly entertaining game," said Guehi, as reported by Express Sport.
The match at Miami Stadium saw an official attendance of 64,478, well below the 71,000 maximum capacity. As of 10am on the Friday before the game, 7,000 tickets remained unsold, including 1,246 on general sale. Prices for those tickets ranged from £657 to £855.
England's World Cup Journey
Thomas Tuchel's side reached the semi-final, where they lost 2-1 to eventual runners-up Argentina in Atlanta. The defeat set up a third-place play-off against France in Miami, where England claimed a 6-4 victory. Spain later won the final, beating Argentina 1-0 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey with a goal from Ferran Torres in extra time.
Guehi, a Manchester City defender, acknowledged the disappointment of missing the final but stressed the importance of rewarding fans. "It's always hard, especially when you feel like you should have been in the final, so it was down to us to try to do the best that we could. We owe it to fans back home for the support," he added.
Ticket Price Controversy
The issue of ticket prices has been a recurring theme throughout the tournament, particularly for knockout stages. The third-place play-off match saw thousands of empty seats, highlighting the impact of pricing on attendance. Guehi's comments have sparked debate about FIFA's approach to making the World Cup accessible to fans.
