FIFA Adopts SFA’s Loyalty System to Prioritize Die-Hard Fans for Ticket Allocation
The Tartan Army’s most dedicated followers are poised to receive priority access to the highly coveted World Cup tickets.
A collaboration between the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and FIFA will ensure that Scottish fans with the highest loyalty points will have the first opportunity to purchase the most affordable tickets.
While all supporters can participate in FIFA’s worldwide lottery for tickets starting Thursday, December 11, members of the Scotland Supporters Club will enjoy early access to a select number of tickets from Monday, thanks to their accumulated loyalty points from consistent support during various matches.
This unique ticketing strategy will integrate data collected by the SFA into FIFA’s ticketing system. On Monday, December 15, up to 20,000 members of the SSC are expected to apply for tickets, each receiving a special access code from the SFA based on their loyalty points, with priority given to those with the highest points.
An SFA insider revealed that initially, FIFA intended to allow anyone worldwide to apply for tickets to any game and notify applicants of their outcome by February. However, the SFA, along with other associations with robust supporter clubs like England and the Netherlands, negotiated for a dedicated 8% ticket allocation for their members, which FIFA agreed to manage using the SFA’s loyalty points system.
Concerns about price gouging and unfair distribution have been significant, with FIFA facing criticism for high ticket prices and unregulated resale, where official tickets have been listed for upwards of £20,000.
Tartan Army member Brian Roy from Larkhall shared his hopes for a smoother system this time around, recalling the challenges during the Euros in Germany where the ticket system struggled under the demand from 12,000 Scottish fans, often incorrectly indicating tickets were sold out.
With the policy change, FIFA has set aside eight percent of the ticket inventory for Scotland’s matches against Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil, which means over 10,000 tickets will be sold based on loyalty. The first two matches will take place in Boston, and the last one in Miami.
FIFA has been accused of pricing ordinary fans out, especially with the steep travel costs to the USA. However, the SFA has stood firm on running a conventional loyalty system to ensure that the most dedicated fans, particularly those with extensive away game attendance, get first access to tickets.
Earlier this week, the SFA conducted a survey to assess interest, which received a strong response, indicating that over half of the 38,000 SSC members are interested in traveling to the USA for the tournament next June. The SSC hopes to notify members by January if their ticket applications have been successful.
Despite the controversy over ticket pricing, the SFA remains committed to ensuring that its most loyal supporters have the best chance to witness the matches live. FIFA’s ticket pricing remains undisclosed, complicating the SFA’s efforts to inform national associations about the cost of the three ticket categories they will receive, with the cheapest reserved for local fans.
Scotland is scheduled to play Haiti and Morocco at the Gillette Stadium near Boston, with a capacity of 66,000, and will face Brazil at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
An official SFA spokesperson expressed delight at returning to the World Cup and emphasized ongoing efforts with FIFA and other qualified nations to maximize the opportunities for SSC members to attend the games in the USA, advocating for priority access for those with the highest loyalty points in the official ticket allocation.
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Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
