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Scotland midfielder John McGinn has spoken out strongly against the extortionate ticket prices fans are being forced to pay to attend the World Cup.
The Aston Villa star, aged 31, warned that football’s governing bodies risk permanently alienating supporters if costs continue to spiral out of control.
Scotland are returning to the World Cup stage for the first time in 28 years, and fans have spent thousands per head on tickets, travel, and accommodation.
McGinn made his remarks during filming for a new BBC documentary alongside comedian Kevin Bridges, recorded in their shared hometown of Clydebank.
“It’s too expensive for a lot of people to come,” McGinn said plainly, leaving little doubt about where he stands on the matter.
He also raised concerns about FIFA’s official ticket resale operation, saying, “FIFA are officially reselling tickets and I have never heard of that in my life.”
McGinn further criticised authorities in Massachusetts over inflated train fares for supporters travelling to the Gillette Stadium, which will host Scotland’s matches against Haiti and Morocco.
“What I don’t like is it’s even train tickets to get to the ground. I think a train is normally $12 from Boston to the stadium and for a fan it’s $100,” he said.
The Europa League winner stressed that loyal supporters deserve far better treatment, saying, “They deserve to be there as much as we do. They have put in the hard yards to earn that ticket at a reasonable price.”
McGinn also warned of long-term consequences for the sport, stating, “Football without fans is nothing is the famous quote but once they go too far people will be that disillusioned that they just won’t come back and then they will have their tails between their legs definitely.”
Unsold tickets for Scotland’s matches have appeared on unofficial third-party resale sites for as much as £2,000, prompting the Tartan Army to brand the tournament the “rip-off World Cup.”
Comedian Kevin Bridges, 39, echoed McGinn’s concerns, saying he had grown increasingly disillusioned with the direction football is heading.
Bridges said, “The obscene World Cup ticket prices felt like a moment where we decide to try and wrestle back control of the game or cede it entirely to corruption, greed and let what was a working-class passion turn in to an upper class pass time.”
He added that the documentary aimed to reconnect with football’s grassroots spirit, from park kickabouts to supporters’ bus trips with family and friends.
The documentary, Kevin Bridges: In Search of the Beautiful Game, is available now on BBC iPlayer and airs on BBC Scotland at 9pm, exploring whether the game Bridges fell in love with as a child still exists today.
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