FA Wembley Hospitality Spending Rises 25% to £564,400

The Football Association (FA) increased its spending on Wembley Stadium hospitality and complimentary tickets for FA Council members by 25% during the 2025-26 season, according to its latest accounts. Expenditure on tickets and hospitality rose from £452,300 in 2024-25 to £564,400 in 2025-26, as the governing body upgraded the hospitality provided to football officials and other invited guests.

The increase comes at a time when football supporters across England continue to express concerns about rising ticket prices and the growing cost of attending matches. While fans have staged protests and walkouts over affordability, FA Council members continue to receive complimentary access to England internationals and major FA competitions at Wembley, including the FA Cup semi-finals and final.

The FA says the increased expenditure reflects changes to its hospitality arrangements, which were updated to better match the services offered by football clubs and other stakeholders. However, the accounts also indicate that costs could rise further as more former council members qualify for continued benefits under an honorary membership scheme.

FA Wembley Hospitality Spending Reaches £564,400 in 2025-26

The FA’s latest financial accounts show that expenditure on tickets and hospitality for FA Council members increased by £112,100 between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

Spending rose from £452,300 to £564,400, representing an increase of approximately 25%. The additional expenditure reflects the cost of providing complimentary match tickets, premium seating, meals, drinks and hospitality to eligible council members and their guests.

The increase is significant because it comes amid wider debate about the affordability of professional football. Supporters have increasingly challenged ticket price rises, arguing that attending matches is becoming more expensive at a time when households are already facing pressure from the cost of living.

The FA’s accounts show that its hospitality expenditure moved in the opposite direction to the financial concerns being raised by many ordinary supporters. While fans must pay to attend matches, eligible FA Council members are invited to major fixtures as guests of the governing body.

The figures do not, by themselves, establish how much individual council members cost the FA or how the total expenditure is distributed among different categories of guests. They do, however, show that the overall cost of tickets and hospitality increased considerably in the latest reporting period.

Why Is the FA Facing Scrutiny Over Free Wembley Tickets?

The spending increase has attracted attention because of the contrast between complimentary benefits for football officials and the affordability challenges faced by supporters.

Across the country, fans have staged protests and walkouts in recent years over rising ticket prices. The issue has become particularly contentious as supporters question whether football remains accessible to the people who sustain clubs through regular attendance and long-standing loyalty.

Liverpool, for example, abandoned plans to increase ticket prices over three successive seasons following widespread unrest among supporters towards the end of the previous season.

That episode illustrates the pressure clubs face when proposed price increases are perceived as placing an additional burden on fans. Supporters have argued that match attendance should not become an increasingly expensive experience reserved for those with greater disposable income.

Against this backdrop, the FA’s increased hospitality spending raises questions about how football’s governing body balances benefits for officials with the concerns of the wider supporter community.

There is an important distinction, however, between the cost of hosting invited guests and the prices charged to ordinary ticket buyers. The reported increase does not establish that council hospitality spending directly caused higher ticket prices. Instead, it highlights a broader tension within football over spending priorities, access to matches and the different arrangements available to influential figures and paying supporters.

Who Are the FA Council Members Receiving Complimentary Tickets?

The FA Council has more than 120 members, including influential figures from different parts of English football. Its membership includes representatives and senior officials who play important roles in the administration and organisation of the sport.

Among the prominent figures mentioned in connection with the council are English Football League chairman Rick Parry, Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Maheta Molango and senior Premier League executives.

FA Council members can attend England matches and FA competitions held at Wembley Stadium. These events include major fixtures such as the FA Cup semi-finals and final.

The benefits extend beyond access to the match itself. Council members can bring one guest free of charge, receive complimentary meals and drinks, and sit in premium seats.

These arrangements mean that the hospitality package covers several elements of the matchday experience. Consequently, changes to the quality or scope of the hospitality offering can affect the overall cost of hosting eligible guests.

The council’s size is also relevant when considering the scale of the programme. With more than 120 members, the FA must account for a substantial group of potential recipients, although the available figures do not specify how many members attended particular matches during the season.

FA Explains Why Hospitality Costs Have Increased

The FA has defended the increase by explaining that its hospitality offering was updated during the past year. According to the organisation, the changes were intended to bring the experience offered to council members more closely into line with hospitality provided by football clubs and other stakeholders.

An FA spokesperson said: “FA Council members are invited as our guests to the England matches and FA competitions that we host.”

The spokesperson also emphasised that council members are not the only group invited to these fixtures. Other guests include competing clubs and visiting national associations.

Explaining the financial impact of the changes, the spokesperson said the hospitality offering had been updated to better reflect arrangements used by clubs and other football stakeholders, resulting in increased expenditure in this area.

The explanation suggests that the spending increase was linked to the revised hospitality arrangements rather than simply a larger number of council members attending matches. However, the information provided does not break down the £564,400 total into individual categories, making it difficult to determine precisely how much of the increase came from food, drinks, tickets, seating or other hospitality services.

The FA’s response places the spending within its wider programme of hosting invited guests at major football events. Nevertheless, the increase is likely to remain a point of interest for supporters concerned about the financial priorities of football organisations.

Fellowship of Council Scheme Could Push Costs Higher

The FA’s accounts indicate that expenditure on tickets and hospitality could increase further because of the Fellowship of Council, an honorary membership scheme introduced in 2017.

The scheme allows people who have served on the FA Council for at least nine years to continue receiving certain benefits after leaving the council. These include complimentary match tickets, food and drinks.

As more former members qualify for the scheme, the number of people eligible for hospitality benefits is expected to grow. That could increase the overall cost of providing tickets and refreshments at Wembley fixtures, even if the active council membership remains relatively stable.

The accounts explicitly acknowledge this potential pressure on spending. FA company secretary Richard McDermott wrote that the number of Fellowship members increases annually and that the associated costs of match tickets and hospitality are therefore likely to rise.

He also indicated that the FA intends to change the benefits associated with Fellowship membership in an effort to reduce expenditure in the coming years.

McDermott wrote: “We propose to introduce changes to the benefits that go with membership of the Fellowship so that from 2027 these costs will start to reduce.”

The planned changes suggest that the FA recognises the need to manage the programme’s long-term financial impact. However, the accounts do not specify exactly which benefits will change, how the revised arrangements will work or how much the organisation expects to save.

The proposed 2027 changes will therefore be an important development to watch. Their eventual impact will depend on the details of the revised benefits and the number of people who remain eligible for the scheme.

What Is the Fellowship of Council?

The Fellowship of Council is an honorary membership scheme established by the FA in 2017. It recognises individuals who have served on the FA Council for at least nine years by allowing them to retain certain privileges after stepping down.

Under the arrangements described in the accounts, eligible former members can continue receiving complimentary tickets, food and drinks at relevant fixtures. This means that leaving the council does not necessarily end access to the hospitality benefits associated with membership.

The scheme creates a continuing financial commitment for the FA because the number of eligible former members can grow over time. Each additional member may add to the potential demand for tickets and hospitality at matches hosted by the governing body.

The FA has acknowledged that this expansion could push costs higher. Its proposed changes to Fellowship benefits from 2027 are intended to reverse that trend and help bring expenditure down.

FA Council Meeting Costs Also Nearly Double

The increase in Wembley ticket and hospitality spending was not the only rise recorded in the accounts. The cost of hosting FA Council meetings also climbed significantly during the reporting period.

Expenditure on council meetings increased from £18,600 to £33,200, meaning the total rose by £14,600. That represents an increase of approximately 78.5%, with much of the rise attributed to higher hospitality expenditure.

Although the overall amount spent on meetings is smaller than the Wembley hospitality total, the increase adds to the broader picture of rising costs associated with hosting council members and providing hospitality.

The figures also underline the importance of distinguishing between different categories of expenditure. The £564,400 figure relates to tickets and hospitality, while the separate £33,200 figure covers the cost of hosting FA Council meetings.

The accounts do not provide a complete breakdown of every expense within these categories, so it is not possible to establish from the reported figures alone precisely which individual services accounted for the increases.

What the Spending Increase Means for Football Supporters

The FA’s increased hospitality spending comes amid continuing concerns about the cost of attending live football. For many supporters, tickets are only one part of the expense, with travel, food and other matchday costs adding to the total.

Complimentary access to premium seating and hospitality creates a clear difference between the experience available to eligible council members and that of supporters who must purchase their own tickets.

That difference does not automatically mean the hospitality programme is inappropriate. Football organisations regularly host officials, representatives, partners and other invited guests at major competitions. The FA has also said that council members are only one group among several invited to its fixtures.

However, increased expenditure can invite scrutiny when fans are being asked to pay more to attend matches or are campaigning to keep football affordable. Supporters may reasonably want greater clarity about how governing bodies allocate their resources and whether hospitality programmes deliver sufficient value to justify their costs.

The FA’s planned changes to Fellowship benefits could help reduce some future expenditure, but their effectiveness remains to be seen. Greater detail about the changes and their financial impact would provide a clearer picture of how the organisation intends to control costs.

Key Figures Behind the FA Hospitality Spending Increase

• 2024-25 ticket and hospitality spending: £452,300.
• 2025-26 ticket and hospitality spending: £564,400.
• Year-on-year increase: £112,100, or approximately 25%.
• FA Council membership: More than 120 members.
• FA Council meeting costs in 2024-25: £18,600.
• FA Council meeting costs in 2025-26: £33,200.
• Fellowship of Council: Introduced in 2017 for qualifying former council members who served for at least nine years.
• Planned changes to Fellowship benefits: The FA proposes changes from 2027 to help reduce associated costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did the FA spend on Wembley hospitality in 2025-26?

The Football Association spent £564,400 on tickets and hospitality in the 2025-26 season, up from £452,300 in 2024-25. The £112,100 increase represents approximately 25% year on year.

Why did FA hospitality spending increase?

The FA said it updated its hospitality offering over the past year to better reflect the hospitality provided by football clubs and other stakeholders. According to its spokesperson, these changes resulted in higher expenditure.

Do FA Council members receive free Wembley tickets?

Yes. FA Council members are invited to England matches and FA competitions hosted at Wembley, including FA Cup semi-finals and finals. They can bring one guest free of charge and receive complimentary meals and drinks, alongside premium seating.

What is the Fellowship of Council scheme?

Introduced in 2017, the Fellowship of Council allows people who have served on the FA Council for at least nine years to retain certain benefits after stepping down. These include complimentary tickets, food and drinks.

Will FA hospitality costs decrease in 2027?

The FA’s accounts propose changes to Fellowship benefits from 2027 with the aim of reducing costs. However, the precise changes and the amount of any future savings have not been specified in the information provided.

How much did the cost of hosting FA Council meetings increase?

The cost rose from £18,600 in 2024-25 to £33,200 in 2025-26. This represents an increase of £14,600, or approximately 78.5%, with much of the rise attributed to higher hospitality expenditure.

Conclusion

The Football Association’s spending on Wembley tickets and hospitality for FA Council members increased by 25% to £564,400 in the 2025-26 season. The FA attributes the rise to upgraded hospitality arrangements designed to bring its offering more closely into line with those provided by football clubs and other stakeholders.

The increase comes at a sensitive time for English football, with supporters continuing to challenge rising ticket prices and the growing cost of attending matches. Meanwhile, the Fellowship of Council scheme could create further financial pressure as more former members become eligible for complimentary hospitality.

The FA has proposed changes to Fellowship benefits from 2027 in an effort to reduce future expenditure. Until those changes are detailed and their effects become clear, questions about hospitality costs, financial accountability and football’s affordability for ordinary supporters are likely to remain part of the wider debate.