How to get tickets for England's World Cup semi-final against Croatia in Moscow

As England’s World Cup roadshow returns to Moscow, Three Lions fans are scrambling for tickets to their biggest game in decades.

Here’s what fans need to know:

  • Who are England playing next and when?

Sweden beat Switzerland to make it to the quarter finals. Credit: PA

England will now face Croatia on Wednesday at 7pm BST at Luzhniki Stadium in the Russian capital, which is easier to get to from the UK than previous venues.

Should Southgate's side make history in beating Croatia and reach the World Cup finals, they would face the winner of France v Belgium.

  • Tickets

A fan in need at the World Cup in Russia Credit: PA

If you haven't already managed to secure tickets, you can try your luck on the Fifa website. You first need to register on the Fifa World Cup website - they are now only available on a first come first serve basis.

The FA says it has not been allocated extra tickets from Fifa, but if it does get more, those on the FA's waiting list will be in with a chance.

The face value of tickets ranges from 750 US dollars (£567) for category one, to 480 US dollars (£363) for category two and 285 US dollars (£215) for category three.

But some fans could face trying to buy tickets from unauthorised sellers for well over the official price – with hundreds apparently available online at sites including viagogo.com and stubhub.com for £1,000 or more for category one, £815 for category two, and £802 for category three.

  • Flights

England's plane before it took the Three Lions to Russia Credit: PA

Make sure there is at least six months remaining on your passport before trying to enter Russia.

Prices for flights have soared during the tournament, with direct return flights, lasting around four hours each way, costing around £532 on Monday according to TravelSupermarket.

Fans who do not mind taking an indirect route can save money but the cheapest listed on the comparison site for Monday (£319) involved flying from London Stansted, a 21-hour stopover in Munich on the way there and then a six-and-a-half hour layover in Frankfurt on the return to London Heathrow.

Moscow has two international airports with direct flights to and from the UK, including Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo with national carriers Aeroflot and British Airways.

Indirect flights are also possible to a third international airport, Vnukovo.

Ms Coulthurst said: “Since the whistle blew, TravelSupermarket’s site has seen a big spike in interest from fans searching for ways to get out to Moscow for the semi-final and even the final.

"There will be a rush to book before prices increase even more on Monday. As bums on seats increase on the planes, so will prices.”

  • Hotels

Package deals could be more cost-effective Credit: PA

Hotel rooms have become available as fans from nations that have been dumped out of the World Cup have headed home.

But fans can still expect to pay more than £100 for a room overnight based on two people sharing, according to TravelSupermarket.

Ms Coulthurst suggested package deals could be more cost-effective, with deals setting off on Monday and returning on Monday after the final starting from £688 per person including flights from London Stansted and three star bed and breakfast for seven nights.

Fans will be expected to register at their hotels when they arrive, meaning they must show their immigration card given when they pass through passport control at the airport.

Meanwhile, rooms in Moscow city centre ranged from around 1,000 Russian rubles (£12) a night for a bed in a shared hostel, 4,000 rubles (£48) per night for a basic apartment for four people and 116,000 rubles (£1,387) per night for a modern two-bed apartment in the business district.

  • Visa info

Fans need to have a Fan-ID on them at all times Credit: PA

Usually visitors to Russia from the UK would need a visa.

However those with a valid ticket to a game can apply for a Fan ID, which allows visa-free travel.

The Fan ID takes 72 hours to process, and should be kept on you at all times in Russia.

There have also been reports of a loophole which allows those with a ticket reference number to obtain a Fan ID - even if that reference number had already been used by somebody else with the actual ticket.

  • Watch live coverage of England v Croatia on ITV on Wednesday from 6.15pm