“Illogical to pay that much in to watch in empty stadium”, India vs Panama at risk of poor fans turnout? 

Bengaluru : With months of arrangements, big announcements by AIFF for 3 iconic friendlies of India against World Giants – The 25th September clash of India vs Panama might face a poor fans turn out at Bengaluru’s Kantareeva Stadium.

As per reports, AIFF has struggled to sell tickets for the game. According to the website of the official partner for ticket sales (District app) , only early bird tickets for select tiers have been sold out (it is unclear whether all of the tickets marked sold out had been made available in the first place). All the standard tiers (Rs 849, Rs 999, Rs 1,499, Rs 1,999, Rs 2,999, Rs 5,499, Rs 5,999, and Rs 12,999) are yet to be sold out, signalling an underwhelming sales performance 24 hours before the kickoff. Till now only 2 stands have been sold out.

Many say high ticket prices are a factor for low sales. Supporters who have bought tickets have started reselling them at purchase price as well, with many reluctant to be part of a prospective minority at the stadium whose maximum capacity is 25,810.

Bengaluru Football Club supporters have voiced the same concern, with the club releasing season passes for the 2026-2027 season, covering all 12 home games, starting at Rs 12,499 (Around Rs 1,041 per match, including perks).

“I bought two early bird tickets in West Block A for Rs 1,999 each, and I am trying to sell both of them with no success so far. It seems illogical to pay that much to watch the game in a conspicuously empty stadium,” said Rashmi Gautam, a BFC supporter and amateur footballer said to The New Indian Express.

In another friendly, India will play Brazil on October 3 at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata. “I would gladly pay more for a game with a solid side like Brazil. The current Brazil squad is stellar, with players like Vinícius Júnior and Cunha poised to play. Watching us play against Panama at these costs, although it participated in the World Cup this year, does not feel worth it,” said Avinash P, a BFC supporter to The New Indian Express.

Mainly the high cost has been the major talking point among the supporters. The West Block Blues, one of Bengaluru’s prominent fan groups, criticised the pricing on social media, saying that a Rs 2,999 ticket for the West Block could mean fewer fans in the stands.

Other fans also expressed their frustration over the pricing, with some questioning whether the cost was justified given the seating and the team’s recent performances.

One supporter said the pricing showed that the authorities were “disconnected” from the reality on the ground, while another said they would not pay a high price to sit on what they described as “dusty crippled chairs”.

Another fan argued that supporters were not willing to pay Rs 5,000-10,000 simply because the opposition was a World Cup team, adding that they would have been willing to spend that amount if the Indian team were performing better.

The team’s dire form has not helped justify the steep climb either, according to Haridas.

The last time the Blue Tigers won a competitive match at home was over three years ago, in the SAFF Championship final. Since then, the team has recorded just two more victories (both away from home), plummeting around 40 places down to 138th in the FIFA rankings.

“We don’t see any reason for it (ticket prices) to increase. None of the performances warrants that. We don’t exactly care if India has to pay an X amount to Panama. We have guys who have been selling tickets on roads over the years to raise awareness about India’s matches. So, it’s not right in any part,” Haridas asserted to NDTV.

Some supporters also pointed towards the prices of other stands. One fan said they would not be in the West Block for the match and questioned paying around Rs 1,000, including additional charges, for a North Lower seat.

Meanwhile, India’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier match against Singapore in Goa last October saw tickets being retailed for prices ranging from Rs.199 to Rs.1,999.

“It’s ridiculous pricing. No fan in Bengaluru should pay this much for a football match,” Rakesh Haridas, a long-standing member of the WBB, said to Sportstar.

“We have been wanting to talk (with the organisers) about favourable pricing and maybe finding means to acquire tickets and pass it on. But (this time), we’re not looking at that because that’s not what we stand for,” he added.

Recent fan discussions have also raised questions about what facilities and match-day experience supporters would get for the price being charged, with some arguing that the ticket rates appear high simply because a World Cup-bound team is visiting.

The Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru FC’s home ground with a capacity of around 26,000, is known for the atmosphere created by its passionate supporters, including the West Block Blues.

With the match approaching, the reaction from fans has put the focus on whether the ticket pricing could affect attendance and the atmosphere inside the stadium.

The backlash piles onto the already surfaced criticism regarding whether there is a need for high-profile clashes against Panama, Brazil (October 3) and Uruguay (October 6) in the upcoming international window.

These matches meant India chose against playing in the FIFA ASEAN Cup (September 21 to October 6), a decision that was not well-received by parts of the Indian football community.

Meanwhile, reacting to the warnings from the WBB, AIFF assured that it is open to discussion.

“We have been informed by team members (about the high prices), and we are definitely looking into it,” a senior AIFF official told Sportstar.

The official, however, added that the pedigree of the opponent should be taken into consideration as well.

“Tickets at the FIFA World Cup were around 700 dollars for multiple matches, which comes to around Rs. 60,000-70,000. And Panama is a team that played in the tournament,” the official noted.

“It costs (a lot) to bring a team like that. They don’t come cheap. So, for the fans, it’s also a chance to have a look at a World Cup team,” they added.