ENGLAND’S GO SLOW
BY ALAN MARSHALL ENGLAND fans have been slow to snap up World Cup tickets with almost 400,000 sold worldwide in the latest FIFA allocation.
Three Lions supporters have bought just 3064 from a total of 394,433 in the sales window that opened on March 13.
Hosts Russia accounted for the vast majority as 216,134 went to home fans.
The USA, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil represented the top five overseas nations in terms of sales with Peru, China, Australia and India completing the top 10.
India did not qualify for the finals but sales there accounted for 4509 – still more than this phase of English uptake.
FIFA said 30,711 tickets in total had been sold to English fans since sales started in September 2017.
But that is well down on recent tournament numbers with business particularly sluggish for Gareth Southgate’s team’s opening game against Tunisia in Volgograd.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued updated travel advice after the Salisbury poisonings and subsequent diplomatic expulsions by the government and Russia.
That advice said: “Due to heightened political tensions between the UK and Russia you should be aware of the possibility of anti-British sentiment or harassment at this time.”
Last-minute ticket sales will open on April 18 and will still be available on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the competition.