Who is not going?

[dezmondo]

I'm 45 years old and like most folk my age, I haven't been to a World Cup to watch Scotland. I've been waiting and praying since France 98, and now that we've qualified, I can't believe I'm not going to go.

I went to all of the Euros matches, took my son, did a charity run around Munich, and had a great time. But this tournament just doesn't feel right.

Obviously the costs of travel and hotels is expensive, and that is what it is. There's just so much else that has really annoyed me.

- price of tickets is shocking.

- allowing tickets to be resold at stupid prices.

- low ticket allocation.

- teams potentially playing in three different cities and possibly 1500+ miles between them - no care for the fans at all, this doesn't normally happen and is just another method to get fans to spend more money.

- FIFA generally making the rules up as they go - the draw, Ronaldo ban etc.

- stadiums being in poor locations combined with poor public transport. I've been to a couple of events in the USA before and if you think getting back from Hampden to Glasgow is bad, you ain't seen nothing yet.

My friends and I have actually decided that we're going to go to a European city for a holiday and watch the games there instead.

So, yeah, despite having accommodation options with friends in USA it just doesn't sit right with me giving a corrupt organisation like FIFA my money. It's hard to justify spending potentially 5k to go to a football match. I'll just have to hope my FOMO isn't off the scale next summer!

[vanderark14]

I won't be going but will be heading up to Scotland to enjoy it with friends and family

 

[thesaint]

Won't be going either.Go to all home games and 80% of away games but this is quite literally " a diiferent ball game ".Absolutely detest the way football has been taken away from the average supporter and and sold to the highest bidder.The costs are crippling for most supporters.Really looking forward to hearing about all the celebrity  supporters telling us about their planned trips.Most of them don't even go to home games never mind away trips.Pub or in the house with mates for me.As of yet virtually nobody i knowi Is even contemplating going.

[GaryWood34]

I totally understand this view point and cannot criticise anyone for it.

I will likely attend a maximum of 2 group games but the cost is astronomical. If you’d told me I’d miss a Scotland match at a World Cup or a knockout game at a World Cup I’d have told you that you were mental! But it’s just not feasible for me to do 4/5 weeks over there.
 

I am only doing it as I have been here there and everywhere over the last 25 years waiting for a World Cup. 

 

If we make it to the last 8 (haha) I’d go back out but I will likely be watching 1/2 Scotland games at a World Cup on TV and that’s because of the ridiculous costs. 

[TDYER63]

Doubt we will be going. For all the reasons already mentioned its the least excited I have felt for a draw in a long time despite being a member of the supporters club for 20 years.

I will consider it if we draw games outside USA but wont be travelling to the USA . Dont expect anyone to understand my reasons but I have binned any travel to USA whilst Trump is in office. If my husband really wanted to go I would hold my nose and go, but he is pissed off too with the other stuff and isn’t too fussed . We have not long retired so could use pension lump sum to help with the cost, but it really sticks in ma craw to fork out the money for this . 

Appreciate everyone has different priorities and that this is a brilliant , exciting time for fans and are therefore willing to push the boat out. 

[AlfieMoon]

3 hours ago, dezmondo said:

I'm 45 years old and like most folk my age, I haven't been to a World Cup to watch Scotland. I've been waiting and praying since France 98, and now that we've qualified, I can't believe I'm not going to go.

I went to all of the Euros matches, took my son, did a charity run around Munich, and had a great time. But this tournament just doesn't feel right.

Obviously the costs of travel and hotels is expensive, and that is what it is. There's just so much else that has really annoyed me.

- price of tickets is shocking.

- allowing tickets to be resold at stupid prices.

- low ticket allocation.

- teams potentially playing in three different cities and possibly 1500+ miles between them - no care for the fans at all, this doesn't normally happen and is just another method to get fans to spend more money.

- FIFA generally making the rules up as they go - the draw, Ronaldo ban etc.

- stadiums being in poor locations combined with poor public transport. I've been to a couple of events in the USA before and if you think getting back from Hampden to Glasgow is bad, you ain't seen nothing yet.

My friends and I have actually decided that we're going to go to a European city for a holiday and watch the games there instead.

So, yeah, despite having accommodation options with friends in USA it just doesn't sit right with me giving a corrupt organisation like FIFA my money. It's hard to justify spending potentially 5k to go to a football match. I'll just have to hope my FOMO isn't off the scale next summer!

I think the majority of the complaints that folk have about this World Cup is unfortunately just the nature of the competition. It’s not going to change. 
 

FIFA will continue to rip the pish with pricing. Sure, it may be slightly cheaper in countries with lower living standards. 
 

Picking stadia with poor transport links. Don’t think they care tbh. 
 

As for the scramble of hotels, flights, and so on - it would be the same the world over to a large extent. 

 

I think we use our benchmark of Euros in Germany and all the qualifiers we play around Europe. It’s not a realistic comparison to a World Cup. 
 

If we’d played in Japan/Korea (2002), South Africa (2010), Brazil (2014), Qatar (2022) - none of these would have been particularly easy on a budget.  

 

 

[thesaint]

So many reasons from people why they will go or not go but in the end for me it comes down to the most basic one....lack of that sort of crazy money to throw about.Will be really interesting to see how many home based supporters actually manage to go.What does anybody else think...maybe 5000-6000 ?

[GaryWood34]

1 hour ago, AlfieMoon said:

I think the majority of the complaints that folk have about this World Cup is unfortunately just the nature of the competition. It’s not going to change. 
 

FIFA will continue to rip the pish with pricing. Sure, it may be slightly cheaper in countries with lower living standards. 
 

Picking stadia with poor transport links. Don’t think they care tbh. 
 

As for the scramble of hotels, flights, and so on - it would be the same the world over to a large extent. 

 

I think we use our benchmark of Euros in Germany and all the qualifiers we play around Europe. It’s not a realistic comparison to a World Cup. 
 

If we’d played in Japan/Korea (2002), South Africa (2010), Brazil (2014), Qatar (2022) - none of these would have been particularly easy on a budget.  

 

 

Good points 

[Derek]

Unless I win the Brechin City raffle I can't see me going.  Planning one of Spanish resorts for 4/5 nights, try get 1 or 2 games.  Watch rest in pub.

[vanderark14]

3 hours ago, thesaint said:

Won't be going either.Go to all home games and 80% of away games but this is quite literally " a diiferent ball game ".Absolutely detest the way football has been taken away from the average supporter and and sold to the highest bidder.The costs are crippling for most supporters.Really looking forward to hearing about all the celebrity  supporters telling us about their planned trips.Most of them don't even go to home games never mind away trips.Pub or in the house with mates for me.As of yet virtually nobody i knowi Is even contemplating going.

Have to agree, there is no valid reason to have this world cup in three Countries. The yanks could've done it on their own, no issues at all. 

The ticket prices are a complete and utter joke. Some one here said £100 is ok for a group game, if it was £100 across the board I would agree but its not. 

I am losing interest in football with every year that passes, sure the WC has reignited some passion but there is still a bitter taste because FIFA and UEFA are draining the life out of it for fans of smaller nations and smaller clubs.

[TDYER63]

1 hour ago, AlfieMoon said:

I think the majority of the complaints that folk have about this World Cup is unfortunately just the nature of the competition. It’s not going to change. 
 

FIFA will continue to rip the pish with pricing. Sure, it may be slightly cheaper in countries with lower living standards. 
 

Picking stadia with poor transport links. Don’t think they care tbh. 
 

As for the scramble of hotels, flights, and so on - it would be the same the world over to a large extent. 

 

I think we use our benchmark of Euros in Germany and all the qualifiers we play around Europe. It’s not a realistic comparison to a World Cup. 
 

If we’d played in Japan/Korea (2002), South Africa (2010), Brazil (2014), Qatar (2022) - none of these would have been particularly easy on a budget.  

 

 

None of these countries would require anything like the travelling that will be expected over 3 different countries. 

[TDYER63]

6 minutes ago, vanderark14 said:

Have to agree, there is no valid reason to have this world cup in three Countries. The yanks could've done it on their own, no issues at all. 

The ticket prices are a complete and utter joke. Some one here said £100 is ok for a group game, if it was £100 across the board I would agree but its not. 

I am losing interest in football with every year that passes, sure the WC has reignited some passion but there is still a bitter taste because FIFA and UEFA are draining the life out of it for fans of smaller nations and smaller clubs.

Its just the way of the world now, money controls everything.

In this particular situation, many real fans who have supported the team throughout numerous campaigns both at home and away and pumped their money into the Scottish game are struggling to find the cash to attend the competition we have been striving towards for 27 years. 

Whilst folk , who could probably not tell you name of any footballers other than Ronaldo or Messi,  buy their way to prestige. 

[Clyde1998]

I wonder if the SFA has a good opportunity to get some screens up at Hampden and sell tickets to our matches throughout the tournament. Ideally in sites outside Glasgow too.

Don't know how much doing this would cost, so couldn't say how much they would need to charge to break even (keeping in mind catering could be provided too), but having some sort of mass event for fans to gather in Scotland would be good.

[DoonTheSlope]

11 minutes ago, Clyde1998 said:

I wonder if the SFA has a good opportunity to get some screens up at Hampden and sell tickets to our matches throughout the tournament. Ideally in sites outside Glasgow too.

Don't know how much doing this would cost, so couldn't say how much they would need to charge to break even (keeping in mind catering could be provided too), but having some sort of mass event for fans to gather in Scotland would be good.

Good idea in theory but there’s been similar events at Easter Road and the problem is there’s a slight delay in the streams and inconsiderate fuckers  don’t turn off their betting app and score notifications defeating the purpose 

It could be an idea to lock your phone away like some artists request at their concerts 

[DoonTheSlope]

4 hours ago, TDYER63 said:

Doubt we will be going. For all the reasons already mentioned its the least excited I have felt for a draw in a long time despite being a member of the supporters club for 20 years.

I will consider it if we draw games outside USA but wont be travelling to the USA . Dont expect anyone to understand my reasons but I have binned any travel to USA whilst Trump is in office. If my husband really wanted to go I would hold my nose and go, but he is pissed off too with the other stuff and isn’t too fussed . We have not long retired so could use pension lump sum to help with the cost, but it really sticks in ma craw to fork out the money for this . 

Appreciate everyone has different priorities and that this is a brilliant , exciting time for fans and are therefore willing to push the boat out. 

I get you. Last year I had zero intentions of attending the USA leg of the World Cup if that maniac kiddy sniffer Biden or the unhinged bunny boiler took office

But by the grace of god the US election was too big to rig and the grown ups took charge in the Oval Office

I’m praying for the USA opener so I could be in the presence of greatness with President Donald J Trump at the US leg opening ceremony

[Clyde1998]

32 minutes ago, DoonTheSlope said:

Good idea in theory but there’s been similar events at Easter Road and the problem is there’s a slight delay in the streams and inconsiderate fuckers  don’t turn off their betting app and score notifications defeating the purpose 

It could be an idea to lock your phone away like some artists request at their concerts 

That's a point.

Don't quite know how you could logistically operate a lock case for tens of thousands of people. Apparently those cases which block out signals, but are held by the phone's owner, cause a lot of issues: folk use their phone to pay for things; some medical devices are controlled via apps; etc.

[McTeeko]

47 minutes ago, DoonTheSlope said:

I get you. Last year I had zero intentions of attending the USA leg of the World Cup if that maniac kiddy sniffer Biden or the unhinged bunny boiler took office

But by the grace of god the US election was too big to rig and the grown ups took charge in the Oval Office

I’m praying for the USA opener so I could be in the presence of greatness with President Donald J Trump at the US leg opening ceremony

I get you. For the Final in Moscow in 2018 we were in the stadium with Putin who walked onto the pitch carrying the WC trophy. It was an unforgettable moment and one I was grateful to share with my son 🇷🇺 

[ceudmilefailte]

This thread is too depressing even for me. 
 

[DoonTheSlope]

52 minutes ago, McTeeko said:

I get you. For the Final in Moscow in 2018 we were in the stadium with Putin who walked onto the pitch carrying the WC trophy. It was an unforgettable moment and one I was grateful to share with my son 🇷🇺 

I’m sure I remember that. It was pouring with rain and Vladimir Putin had 2 PAs holding brollies for him while Macron and the big Croatian honey took her jerkin off for the presentation 

[Orraloon]

2 minutes ago, DoonTheSlope said:

I’m sure I remember that. It was pouring with rain and Vladimir Putin had 2 PAs holding brollies for him while Macron and the big Croatian honey took her jerkin off for the presentation 

Aye?

[DoonTheSlope]

3 minutes ago, Orraloon said:

Aye?

Aye.

[Orraloon]

1 minute ago, DoonTheSlope said:

Aye.

Sorry, misread it. Thought it was a verb not a noun.

[fringo]

1 minute ago, Orraloon said:

Sorry, misread it. Thought it was a verb not a noun.

😄

[alfaetrin]

Well, I'm old enough and lucky enough to have attended many football tournaments in which Scotland have participated: Spain 1982, Mexico 1986, Italy 1990, Sweden Euros 1992, England Euros 1996, France 1998 and Germany 2024.

So, this time, I am seriously considering giving it a miss, and just enjoying the matches on the telly in the house or, more likely, down the local on the big screen. I actually really enjoyed watching the Denmark game in the house. I was completely sober, and I had a really great view of the action although, of course , I missed out on the atmosphere of the occasion.

The prices and logistics of travel and ticketing for World Cup 2026 are simply ridiculous, and perhaps I am now too old (67) to be subjecting myself to the usual stresses, challenges and expenses. Mates feel the same, as the usual pre-tourney discussions about road trips, accommodation options and chasing down tickets are not taking place.

Time, perhaps, to leave the experience of the occasion to the next generation, most of whom will never yet have savoured the incredible highs and lows of watching Scotland play at a World Cup.

If a younger fan were to ask me : "Will it all be worth it if I go?", my answer is an unequivocal YES. So, never mind the expense, just go for it, have fun, and go there and make some memories that will last you a lifetime.

[thesaint]

2 minutes ago, alfaetrin said:

Well, I'm old enough and lucky enough to have attended many football tournaments in which Scotland have participated: Spain 1982, Mexico 1986, Italy 1990, Sweden Euros 1992, England Euros 1996, France 1998 and Germany 2024.

So, this time, I am seriously considering giving it a miss, and just enjoying the matches on the telly in the house or, more likely, down the local on the big screen. I actually really enjoyed watching the Denmark game in the house. I was completely sober, and I had a really great view of the action although, of course , I missed out on the atmosphere of the occasion.

The prices and logistics of travel and ticketing for World Cup 2026 are simply ridiculous, and perhaps I am now too old (67) to be subjecting myself to the usual stresses, challenges and expenses. Mates feel the same, as the usual pre-tourney discussions about road trips, accommodation options and chasing down tickets are not taking place.

Time, perhaps, to leave the experience of the occasion to the next generation, most of whom will never yet have savoured the incredible highs and lows of watching Scotland play at a World Cup.

If a younger fan were to ask me : "Will it all be worth it if I go?", my answer is an unequivocal YES. So, never mind the expense, just go for it, have fun, and go there and make some memories that will last you a lifetime.

Agree with a lot of your points but if it was a case of never mind the expense then i would be there in a flash.However when you are talking about £5000 plus then i suggest many supporters would find themselves minding the expense when the old credit card bills started appearing.Serious money.