It’s the World Cup of all madness and, above all, of all controversies. Even more than the last edition played in Qatar, the football world championship, notably with the political and security decisions of Donald Trump, is multiplying controversies. The latest one should not help the situation.
If the price of tickets for the tournament has always been a sensitive subject and has continued to grow exponentially for years, the next tournament will reach records. Attending matches will not be within everyone’s budget.
After seeing hotel room rates explode, the supporters, lucky winners of a draw, will have to break their savings plan to obtain the precious sesame. But that may not even be enough for most of them.
With the opening this Thursday, December 11 (and until January 13) of a new ticket purchasing campaign for the public, the prices of tickets for the 104 World Cup matches co-organized in Mexico, Canada and the United States are revealed and they are high.
High prices from the opening match
The first prices for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City would indeed start at 867 euros. The more the competition progresses, the more the matches decrease and the more the prices increase. The pinnacle is logically reached for the World Cup final, scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium near New York.
For this match the first tickets would cost, according to current data, a whopping 3,559 euros. For this price the spectator will obviously be located at the very top of the immense enclosure. A place in category 1, obviously better located, is priced at 7,383 euros. For the record, the highest price for the 2022 World Cup final, in Qatar, between France and Argentina was €1,460.
For fans of the French team, basic prices for the three matches in Group I are also available. For the match against Senegal, the price of seats in the 3rd category was set at 220 dollars (187 euros). This increases to 465 dollars (395 euros) in 2nd category and 620 dollars (527 euros) in 1st category. The match against Norway is even less affordable.
“A lot of fans on the sidelines”
According to Gilad Zilberman, CEO of SeatPick, a platform specializing in ticket resale, several reasons explain this high pricing which could increase. In a press release he ensures that “for the first time, the organizers are applying dynamic pricing: prices adjust in real time according to demand”. He explains: “the nominal value is therefore no longer fixed, which leads to a significant increase in prices. Furthermore, the United States has large, high-end arenas with quality facilities, and the fact that the competition is organized by three countries naturally contributes to driving up costs. Organizers also allow the resale market to freely set prices, which represents a significant financial burden for supporters.
For the manager, this practice will logically lead to the exclusion of most football lovers. “There is a real risk that the tournament will become more of a commercial showcase than an event designed for supporters,” he worries. Although high prices were expected due to the huge demand and global appeal of the World Cup, dynamic pricing risks sidelining many fans. »
However, on its site, Fifa denies such a practice. To justify how it determines ticket prices for the next World Cup, it states: “FIFA’s approach to ticketing aligns with industry trends across different sports and entertainment sectors, where price adjustments are made to optimize sales, attendance and ensure fair market value. FIFA applies variable pricing and may adjust ticket prices during sales phases based on demand and availability for each game. However, the FIFA does not apply a dynamic pricing model for the World Cup, as prices are not automatically changed.”
“Review ticket prices”
This clarification will not be likely to calm the anger of supporters who have already expressed their discontent. The Football Supporters Europe (FSE) association was outraged this Thursday at the “exorbitant prices” announced. FSE is “stunned” by the “astronomical prices (…) imposed by Fifa on the most loyal supporters”, those who can buy their place through their federation to follow their team through tickets called PMA (Participating Member Association allowance).
The supporters’ association asks Fifa to “immediately suspend PMA ticket sales”, “initiate a consultation” and “review ticket prices” until finding “a solution respecting the tradition, universality and cultural significance of the World Cup”.
“To add insult to injury,” continued the supporters’ association, “the lowest price category will not be accessible” to PMA tickets because these places will be reserved “for general sale, subject to dynamic pricing. This is a gigantic betrayal of World Cup tradition, which ignores the fans’ contribution to the spectacle,” concluded FSE.
The application file published in 2018 promised tickets starting at 21 dollars (18 euros). “Where are these tickets today?” » asked the association.
Worth a look
