India vs Panama: Soaring ticket prices threaten poor fan turnout in international friendly at Bengaluru

India is scheduled to play Panama at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, returning to the venue after more than three years. | Photo Credit: AIFF Media

The India vs Panama international friendly is about a week away, on September 25, but the match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru is already under pressure from the local support due to soaring ticket prices.

Fans of Indian Super League side Bengaluru FC — which plays its home matches at the venue — called out the high costs on Thursday, with the fan club, West Block Blues (WBB), especially for the West Block A stand, warning that they “can’t promise the atmosphere.”

Replying to an All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) social media post, where India national Akash Mishra is promoting the sale of the tickets and asking fans to turn up, WBB said that the defender “might have to be disappointed.”

“At Rs. 2,999 for the West Block, we can’t promise the atmosphere. Can’t promise the banners. Can’t promise the chant,” it said in a post on social media. “At these prices, we can probably promise an empty stadium.

— West Block Blues (@WestBlockBlues) September 17, 2026

Comparing the prices to the last time India played at the stadium – during the SAFF Championship final against Kuwait — the prices were around Rs. 699 for the West Block A stand, while the minimum amount for entry this time is Rs. 499, going up to Rs. 12,999 for the VVIP box.

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.

“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.

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.

India’s full-back Akash Mishra had requested for fans to turn up in numbers for the Panama match, but fans expressed their discontent on the high ticket prices. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

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.