RECORD-BREAKING World Cup prize money demonstrates there is no need for Fifa to charge “extortionate” prices for tickets, a fans’ chief has said.

Tom Greatrex, the chair of the Football Supporters Association, said Fifa risked “killing” what is special about its prized commercial asset if it does not act now on ticket prices.

Fifa confirmed today that $727 million (£545m) has been set aside for competing nations, with the World Cup winners in line to receive $50m (£37.5m). The total prize fund is up 50 per cent compared to the last finals in Qatar in 2022.

That announcement comes amid an ongoing row over ticket prices, with fan groups accusing Fifa of failing to go anywhere near far enough to price tickets to the most loyal supporters at a reasonable level.

On Tuesday evening Fifa announced some $60 (£45) tickets would be available to fans who were part of their national association’s travel club or loyalty schemes for every match, but these amount to just 10 per cent of a country’s allocation per match, which itself stands at just 8 per cent of each stadium’s capacity.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on Fifa to go further, saying today on X: “I welcome Fifa’s announcement of some lower priced supporters tickets.

“But as someone who used to save up for England tickets, I encourage Fifa to do more to make tickets more affordable so that the World Cup doesn’t lose touch with the genuine supporters who make the game so special.”

FSA chair Greatrex, who on Tuesday urged Fifa to stop “playing PR games” over ticket pricing, said today: “The record prize fund demonstrates there is no shortage of money associated with the World Cup.

“More teams, bigger stadia, greater number of commercial partners — which all underlines that there is no need to charge extortionate ticket prices to the supporters who bring the vibrancy to the World Cup finals.

“Unless they reconsider the ticket pricing model, Fifa are in danger of undermining the spectacle of the finals by pricing out those who bring colour, atmosphere and emotion to games — ironically devaluing the ‘product’ to their commercial partners.

“It is not too late for Fifa to avoid the catastrophic error of all but killing what is special about the World Cup. They should act now.”

Football Supporters Europe said “the revisions do not go far enough” and pointed to the absence of a pricing structure for disabled fans or complementary companion tickets.

A statement added: “For the moment we are looking at the Fifa announcement as nothing more than an appeasement tactic due to the global negative backlash.

“We call upon Fifa to engage in a proper dialogue to arrive at a solution that respects the contribution of fans and the dignity of fans with disabilities.”

Only around 400 England fans would benefit from the £45 tickets for the opening game against Croatia, with the remaining fans buying through the England Supporters Travel Club paying at least £198 per ticket.

Beyond the £45 tickets, fans will pay at least $4,185 (£3,140) for a final ticket.

Under the prize money plan unveiled today, Fifa said each nation will receive $1.5m (£1.1m) from Fifa in preparation costs and at least a further $9m (£6.7m) just for competing in the group stage.