Up to 10,000 England fans are scrambling to fly to Russia for Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against Croatia, with direct flights costing at least £2,500. The surge follows England's quarter-final win over Sweden, which sparked celebrations across the country.
Limited tickets for the match at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium range from £350 to £1,550, while VIP box seats are priced at £11,000 per person. Fans have reported difficulties booking through the FIFA website due to high demand, with error messages and slow processing.
Some supporters are taking creative measures to cut costs. Chelsea fan Tim Rolls and friends paid between £350 and £700 for tickets and are flying via Germany, with no hotel booked—they plan to return to the airport after the game for a Thursday morning flight home. Rolls said: 'It would be really great to get there and see England in a World Cup semi.'
Flight prices have surged 83% overnight, according to booking site kiwi.com, with the largest increase from Yorkshire, home of goalscoring hero Harry Maguire. The cheapest option is a £326 flight via Warsaw, while direct Aeroflot flights cost around £1,200. Private jet charters from London City to Moscow start at £22,000 one-way.
Back home, England shirts have sold out in many shops. Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has vowed to give away over a million souvenir shirts to fans who register for the firm's app if England win the tournament. A spokesman said: 'The whole country is being swept up by the jubilant mood.'
