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What Is the Cheapest Way to Buy Football Tickets?

What Is the Cheapest Way to Buy Football Tickets?← Back to all articles
Updated 26 October 2026By Love1Ticket Team9 min read

The cheapest way to buy football tickets is a query searched by thousands of football fans, since getting directly from the club is almost impossible to the masses. For the biggest English clubs, the cheapest way in to the stands is a domestic competition. Cup ties at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham cost far less than their league games, and the cheapest seats can start at £20.

You can see the gap this week. Manchester City's Carabao Cup tie with Brighton has official adult tickets from £20 and under-18 tickets for £1. Chelsea's away tickets for the Anfield tie were priced from £32.25 to £36.50 for adults. Compare that with a typical cheapest Premier League seat of around £130 at Liverpool or £240 at Arsenal.

This guide explains the cheapest ways to buy football tickets, why Carabao Cup and FA Cup games are the best value tickets for the top six Premier League Clubs. At Love1Ticket we list cup ties for every round, with no hidden fees.

Browse Carabao Cup tickets on Love1Ticket →

Browse FA Cup tickets on Love1Ticket →

Why Are Cup Games the Cheapest Tickets for the Top Six Clubs?

Clubs price cup ties lower than league games, and demand is lower too. Many fans skip a midweek tie against a mid-table side, squads are rotated, and clubs use the games to fill grounds with families and young supporters. That is why official adult prices at the biggest clubs can sit at £20 to £40 while a league game costs several times more.

Cups are not cheap everywhere, though. When a top six club travels to a small ground, capacity is tiny and demand is high. Arsenal's Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood Town's Highbury Stadium is a good example. The cheapest cup tickets are usually at the big club's home stadium.

How Can You Buy Cheap Football Tickets? 3 Options

1. Buy Official Face-Value Tickets From the Club

This is the cheapest route when you can get in.

2. Buy From a Resale Marketplace: Love1Ticket

If a tie has sold out, you have no membership or you are visiting from abroad, resale is the practical way in. Fans and season ticket holders who can't go sell their seats, and you buy them.

  • No membership needed: you don't need a club account, loyalty points or luck in a sale window.
  • Cup prices are low: on 25 October, Carabao Cup tickets on Love1Ticket started from £44 for Manchester City v Brighton, and the typical average price paid across the five listed ties was around £71.
  • Prices include fees: the price on the listing is the price at checkout, shown in your own currency.
  • See where you sit: listings show the seat on the stadium map before you buy.
  • Every order is protected: buyer protection means you receive valid tickets in time for the event, or your money back.

Resale tickets can cost more than face value, especially for a tie against a big name. A cup game is still the cheapest top six market you can find.

3. Pick a Lower-Demand Round or Fixture

If you are flexible, you will pay less. A midweek tie against Brighton or Fulham costs less than a derby or a Liverpool v Chelsea night. In the FA Cup, an early round without a stronger opposition is cheaper than the same club's third round draw against a Premier League giant. Check the price on the League Cup tickets and FA Cup tickets pages and go for the tie with the lowest starting price.

How to Buy Cheap Cup Tickets, Step by Step

  1. Check the fixtures as they are announced on LOVE1TICKET. Cup ties are confirmed round by round, so the fixture and date can appear only a few weeks ahead.
  2. Find the fixture you want yo go watch.
  3. Choose how many tickets you need, and switch on "Sit together" if you want multiple seats to ensure you're sat together.
  4. Pick an area on the stadium map, or scroll the listings from cheapest seat to premium view seats that cost more.
  5. Pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your tickets arrive on your phone before the game. International fans have even more payment options at the checkout.
  6. The whole process is done swiftly and securely online where your digital tickets are issued within a few days of the match.

How Much Do Top Six Cup Tickets Cost?

These are the prices on Love1Ticket when we checked on 25 October 2026, fees included. League Cup figures show the lowest listing for each club's current tie. Premier League figures show the typical cheapest seat, so you can see how much a cup tie saves. Each link opens that club's ticket price page with the price of every game and a price trend.

Compare ticket prices for every club →

When Do the Top Six Enter the FA Cup?

All 20 Premier League clubs join the FA Cup in the third round, played on the weekend of 9 and 10 January 2027. The draw follows the second round weekend in early December, and the final is at Wembley on 22 May 2027.

Prices climb round by round. Early rounds are cheap, the third round is where the top six appear, and semi-finals and the final sit in a different price bracket. Because ties are drawn one round at a time, prices can move fast once a pairing is known, so check the price as soon as the draw is made. Away tickets at a top six ground can be cheaper than home tickets, so compare both ends of the tie.

Browse every fixture on the FA Cup tickets page, or follow your club through the rounds.

Top 6 Clubs Ticket buying Guides for any match

Every club sells cup tickets a little differently. Our club guides cover the rules for each ground.

Digital Tickets: What Happens After You Buy

Most football tickets are now digital. You either get a mobile transfer, where the ticket is sent to the club's app or your phone's wallet, or an e-ticket you show on your phone. The listing tells you which type you are buying and when it will arrive.

Tip: accept your tickets as soon as they arrive, add them to your phone's wallet the day before and make sure your battery is full. Everyone in your group needs their own ticket to get through the turnstile.

Matchday Tips for Cup Ties

Kick-off times can change

Cup ties are picked for TV, and kick-offs can move. Both of this week's Carabao Cup ties at the Etihad and Anfield are live on Sky Sports. Your ticket stays valid, but book travel and hotels you can change.

Extra time and penalties

Cup ties are knockout games, so a draw can mean extra time and penalties, and a late finish. Check the last train or coach home before you commit to a midweek trip.

Bags and getting there

Most grounds only allow small bags. Leave luggage at your hotel, and arrive early, because stations near the big grounds are very busy before a midweek kick-off.

Staying safe

Buy from a marketplace with verified sellers and buyer protection. Avoid sellers on social media, WhatsApp groups and touts outside the ground. Fake and duplicate tickets are common, and you can't get your money back.

Cheapest Football Tickets: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to buy football tickets?

Buy at face value from the club. For the top six, Carabao Cup ties are usually the cheapest, with official adult tickets from around £20 to £40. Most fans are locked out due to memberships and availibility, that's why thousands of fans turn to LOVE1TICKET to source verified tickets.

Are Carabao Cup tickets cheaper than Premier League tickets?

Usually, yes. On Love1Ticket in October 2026, Carabao Cup tickets started from £44, while the typical cheapest Premier League seat at Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea was between £258 and £296. Away ties at small grounds can cost more.

Do I need a membership for a cup game?

Not on Love1Ticket. Many clubs prioritise members and season ticket holders for cup ties, but resale tickets need no membership, no loyalty points and no UK address requirements.

When do Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd and Spurs enter the FA Cup?

All Premier League clubs enter in the third round in January.

How much do FA Cup tickets cost for the top six?

It depends on the round and the ground. Prices rise with each round and inventory, and a top six club playing away at a small ground can cost more than a home tie. Check the live price on the FA Cup page once the draw is made.

Is it safe to buy football tickets on the resale market?

At LOVE1TICKET, our priority as football fans is you. That's why every football ticket purchase for FA Cup and League cup comes with our award-winning buyer protection.

Final Thoughts

The cheapest football ticket is a face-value ticket to a cup game. When the official sale is not an option, a Carabao Cup or FA Cup tie is still the best-value way to see Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United or Tottenham. Check the official sale, compare the live price, book early and keep your travel flexible in case the kick-off moves.

Browse Carabao Cup tickets on Love1Ticket →

Related:

The cheapest way to buy sold-out Premier League tickets

Premier League Ticket Price Index: October 2026

How can a tourist buy football tickets?

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