Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has advised supporters to be financially cautious as they plan to follow the national team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, urging them not to overstretch themselves just to attend the tournament.
Clarke made the appeal as members of Scotland’s supporters’ club began applying for tickets to the team’s group matches against Haiti and Morocco in Boston, as well as their final group fixture against Brazil in Miami.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, the coach acknowledged growing concerns over ticket prices, with FIFA facing criticism that the cost of World Cup tickets could run into thousands of pounds for fans.
“It’s going to be expensive,” Clarke admitted. “Travelling to America is already costly, and the tickets are also expensive.”
Scotland supporters are currently expected to receive about eight per cent of the available seats for their group games, although the Scottish Football Association is hopeful that this allocation could improve in the coming months.
Clarke stressed that while he appreciates the passion of travelling fans, financial wellbeing should come first. “If you can get there and you can afford it, that’s fantastic,” he said. “But don’t push yourself too far into debt trying to be there.”
He added that ticket pricing decisions ultimately rest with FIFA, noting that the Scottish FA has already taken up its full allocation.
Scotland are scheduled to face five-time world champions Brazil in Miami on June 24, with 3,736 tickets set aside for Scottish fans. Prices for that match range from £198 to £523.
Clarke expressed hope that long-suffering supporters who regularly follow the team across distant destinations would still be able to attend at a reasonable cost, saying they “deserve to be there.”
In a light-hearted moment, he revealed that even close friends are feeling the pressure. “A friend of mine has already booked his flights and is asking me for tickets,” Clarke said. “But he’ll have to wait for now because I don’t have any at the moment.”
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