Supporters eager to attend the final match of next year’s World Cup are confronted with steep ticket prices, with the cheapest options likely to cost around £3,119 ($9,165 Fijian dollars). The Football Supporters Europe group expressed their shock at what they describe as FIFA’s “extortionate” pricing strategy and has called for an immediate halt to ticket sales. The Football Supporters’ Association, representing fans from England, labeled the pricing as a “slap in the face” to supporters.
While FIFA has yet to comment on the pricing structure, reports indicate that ticket tiers for the final at MetLife Stadium in New York are significantly higher compared to previous tournaments. The most affordable tickets are more than seven times the cost of the lowest price during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which started from £450. Tickets are categorized into three tiers: the ‘Supporter value tier’ at £3,119, the ‘Supporter standard tier’ at £4,162, and the ‘Supporter premium tier’ at £6,615.
Adding to the frustration among fans, FIFA’s new pricing for group stage games varies based on the perceived popularity of the teams playing, rather than maintaining a flat rate as in the past. For instance, tickets for England matches are set to be more expensive than those for Scotland, although details on how this “popularity” is evaluated have not been disclosed.
This year’s prices for group matches are significantly higher than those at the Qatar World Cup, where fixed prices ranged from £68.50 to £219. In contrast, tickets for specific England matches will range between £164 and £523. In an apparent effort to stimulate attendance and enthusiasm, quarter-final tickets are set between £507 and £1,073, with semi-final prices higher still, ranging up to £2,363.
For the entirety of the tournament, a fan can expect to pay roughly £5,225 for one person to attend all eight matches, compared to about £1,466 for seven games during the last World Cup. The main ballot for tickets commenced recently, allowing national supporters’ clubs to enter a random draw for individual match tickets or follow their team to the final. Around 4,000 tickets per game are made available through official supporters groups, with other tickets distributed via a ballot, although FIFA retains a portion for corporate sponsors. Notably, dynamic pricing will not apply to these main or national association ballots.
This situation presents a challenge to football fans across the globe, as the rising costs by FIFA could limit access to the world’s most viewed sporting event. However, as supporters continue to rally for fairer prices, there remains hope that FIFA may reconsider its pricing strategy to make the tournament more accessible to fans.
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