England fans are taking “one hell of a beating” at the checkouts with Three Lions replica shirts costing £10 more than those of rivals Wales days ahead of their World Cup showdown.
Travel money specialists No 1 Currency analysed the cost of buying a replica shirt in all 32 nations sending a team to this month’s World Cup, and found a massive gulf in prices.1
At just under £75, England’s official, Nike-manufactured jersey costs £10 more than that of their Group B opponents Wales, who they play on 29th November. On the plus side, buying an England shirt will cost you £4 less than German fans must pay for their jersey, and £14 less than the Argentines have to shell out for their iconic blue and white-striped kit.
Elsewhere in Group B, unfancied Iran have a poor history in World Cup tournaments with just two wins from 15 matches since first qualifying in 1978. Their shirts are no steal either priced at £78, though that’s a touch cheaper than the £92 their arch-rivals the United States charge American fans.
If you’re a cost-conscious neutral looking for a team to adopt, you could try sporting a jersey from one of the African nations. Tunisia may be 750-1 long-shots to win the World Cup, but at least their official shirt has been crowned the tournament’s cheapest at just £24.
Cameroon too are rank outsiders at 250-1, despite being tipped by former star Samuel Eto’o to go all the way. But the Indomitable Lions have always enjoyed strong support from English fans looking for a second team to cheer on. Their jersey sells for £43 on home soil, around half the price of a Three Lions top.
Past form is no predictor of price, with five-time winners Brazil’s legendary yellow jersey selling for just £52 on the streets of Rio. That’s less than half the £111 price tag of a Qatar jersey, despite the wealthy Gulf state never having qualified for a World Cup before and only receiving its place in this year’s tournament because it is the host.
There may be no love lost between England and Argentina fans, but spare a thought for the football-mad Argentines this year. At £89, the Argentina shirt is one of the 2022 World Cup’s most expensive.
The South American nation is enduring runaway inflation, with the latest shirt costing 17,000 pesos2 on the streets of Buenos Aires – that’s 931% more than the 2018 shirt did four years ago. Over the last four World Cups the cost of the famous blue and white shirt, once worn by England’s nemesis Diego Maradona, has gone up 6,727%.
Simon Phillips, Managing Director at No1 Currency commented: “This may be Wales’ first trip to the World Cup finals in over six decades, but Welsh fans already have an advantage over their Group B rivals England – their shirts cost 15% less.
“While few England fans would consider switching loyalties to save money, they can at least console themselves that they’re already beating both Argentina and Germany when it comes to the cost of a shirt.
“If you’re heading to Qatar to soak up the World Cup spectacle, and whoever you’re cheering for, make sure to take some local currency with you to pay for taxi fares and everyday expenses like food and drink. Cash remains king in many destinations outside the EU, and not everywhere accepts card or mobile payments.
“Ordering your foreign currency before you leave also gives you a chance to shop around for the best deal, helping your pounds go further when you arrive. That way you can beat the poor exchange rates typically offered by airport bureaux de change.”
PRICE OF WORLD CUP 2022 REPLICA SHIRTS AROUND THE WORLD
| Rank | Team | Home currency | Cost in home currency | Cost in pounds |
| 1. | Qatar | Qatari Riyal | 465 | £111 |
| 2. | Canada | Canadian Dollar | 155 | £101 |
| 3. | USA | US Dollar | 105 | £92 |
| 4. | Argentina | Argentine Peso | 17,000 | £89 |
| 5. | Morocco | Dirham | 1,005 | £81 |
| 6= | Costa Rica | Colón | 56,500 | £80 |
| 6= | Mexico | Mexican Peso | 1,800 | £80 |
| 6= | Croatia | Kuna | 684 | £80 |
| 9= | Portugal | Euro | 90 | £79 |
| 9= | Netherlands | Euro | 90 | £79 |
| 9= | Germany | Euro | 90 | £79 |
| 9= | Belgium | Euro | 90 | £79 |
| 9= | France | Euro | 90 | £79 |
| 9= | Spain | Euro | 90 | £79 |
| 9= | Serbia | Dinar | 10,590 | £79 |
| 16. | Iran | Rial | 3,950,000 | £78 |
| 17. | South Korea | Won | 119,000 | £76 |
| 18. | England | Pound | 75 | £75 |
| 19. | Poland | Złoty | 390 | £73 |
| 20. | Switzerland | Swiss Franc | 80 | £71 |
| 21. | Japan | Japanese Yen | 11,000 | £66 |
| 22= | Australia | Australian Dollar | 115 | £65 |
| 22= | Wales | Pound | 65 | £65 |
| 22= | Ecuador | US Dollar | 75 | £65 |
| 25. | Denmark | Krone | 549 | £64 |
| 26. | Saudi Arabia | Saudi Riyal | 269 | £63 |
| 27. | Senegal | CFA Franc | 45,000 | £60 |
| 28. | Uruguay | Uruguayan Peso | 2590 | £57 |
| 29. | Brazil | Real | 330 | £52 |
| 30. | Cameroon | CFA Franc | 32,800 | £43 |
| 31. | Ghana | Cedi | 750 | £42 |
| 32. | Tunisia | Tunisian Dinar | 89 | £24 |
