By Andrew Georgy
Over 5 billion people watched the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while 3.4 million attended it physically. For the average fan, attending a World Cup match is the only chance they get to cheer on and see their national team in-person. Yet, recently, World Cup ticket finals prices have been seen to reach almost $2 million. While obviously not a realistic resale offer, the tickets do represent a concerning trend with World Cup tickets.
Premium tickets have been officially set at just under $33,000, while the average resale ticket cost in the group stages (which are before the knockout stages) can cost upwards of $1000. While not everyone will buy premium tickets, $1000 for a single ticket is out of many people’s budgets. It begs the question: what’s happened to ticket prices, and what could possibly have caused this?
Compared to previous years, the tournament has been held in less-populated and less touristic countries. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for example, had a ticket price of $620 for the first group stage matches, almost half of what they cost now. However, Qatar is a distant country from where most soccer fans reside (Europe and South America) and has a weaker tourism industry compared to the U.S.; in contrast, the U.S. is only a short flight from many Latin American and South American countries and one of the biggest tourism hubs.
You also have to consider World Cup ticket prices in relation to other sports here in the U.S. While MLS tickets cost on average around $50, other sports, especially in the knockout stages, also have exorbitant ticket prices. Consider tickets for the ongoing NBA Finals, for example. Some of the get-in (which are the least expensive) tickets are reaching Super Bowl prices, with the average cost to attend a Madison Square Garden game being upwards of $7000. There are underlying contexts in these prices (the New York Knicks haven’t made the finals since 1999), but the reasoning stays; sporting events, especially the more popular they get, become more expensive here in the U.S. The World Cup, being the biggest sporting event in the entire world, is no exception.
Well, what about the fans?
Many fans feel priced out of supporting their home team (even U.S. fans who don’t have to worry about the travel costs). With these increasing prices, how could one possibly cheer on their team? Well, while you may not be able to support in-person, you can still watch the games from home for much more affordable prices. You can also visit free watch parties where you get to experience the atmosphere of a soccer match without spending anything. No matter where you are, you can still enjoy the magic of soccer anywhere in the world, even if you aren’t in the stadium.
