England’s World Cup warm-up match faces empty stadium challenge
England is poised to play their World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand at the 69,000-seat Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, with over 50,000 seats expected to remain unoccupied. Only 13,000 tickets have been sold for the contest, raising concerns about attendance ahead of the tournament, reports BritPanorama.
Ticket prices start at £54, notably lower than those for the World Cup, which is set to begin on June 11. A similar scenario is anticipated for the subsequent friendly against Costa Rica, where only 12,000 of the 25,000 available tickets have been purchased, confirming a trend of low sales.
The England Supporters Travel Club is expected to see about 1,500 members cheering from the stands during the match against New Zealand. The Three Lions will commence their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17, facing Ghana six days later and Panama on June 27.
Last week, manager Thomas Tuchel revealed a 26-man squad for the tournament, notably excluding several prominent players, including Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Harry Maguire. As the excitement surrounding the World Cup grows, the team aims to build momentum despite the current attendance challenges.
For the match, the goalkeeping line-up includes Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), and James Trafford (Manchester City), with a defensive roster featuring players from top clubs in the Premier League.
As the countdown to the tournament continues, England will head to Florida in early June for pre-World Cup training. All group stage matches are set to take place in the United States, which is co-hosting the event alongside Canada and Mexico.
In football, crowds often reflect the passion of the game. Yet, whether through ticket pricing or other factors, this alarming dip in interest poses questions about the current state of fan engagement as the World Cup looms closer.
