tag

From almost $900 for the opening game to over $8,000 for the final, match tickets are far from cheap for the World Cup which begins in North America in 100 days. AFP Sport assesses the cost of attending games at the tournament: How many tickets, how much demand?According to world football's governing body FIFA, almost 7mn tickets have been made available in total. Each person can buy a maximum of four tickets per match and a total of 40 for the whole competition.Around 2mn tickets were sold during an initial lottery in October. A second sales phase in December and January was also a lottery and attracted a record 508mn requests, according to FIFA. It has not said how many tickets have been attributed but the matches in highest demand were the Group K finale between Colombia and Portugal in Miami on June 27, co-hosts Mexico against South Korea in Guadalajara on June 18, and the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. Prices skyrocketThere will be a total of 104 matches played at this expanded World Cup, the first ever to feature 48 teams, and ticket prices have soared for the most in-demand games. Fan group Football Supporters Europe said the North American bid had initially promised tickets would be available from as little as $21, but instead the cheapest tickets to go on sale have been for $60, for example for the Group J opener between Austria and Jordan at the Levi's Stadium in California.Most tickets cost at least $200 for matches involving leading nations, while the cheapest tickets for the final cost $2,000 and the best seats $8,680 – that is before taking into account FIFA's official resale site, where one category three seat for the game at the MetLife Stadium on July 19 was being advertised for an eye-watering $143,750, over 41 times its original face value of $3,450.FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists ticket prices are simply a consequence of the huge demand. "In the US in particular there is this thing called dynamic pricing, meaning the prices will go up or down", depending on the match in question, he said.Having faced sustained criticism over prices, FIFA announced a cheaper category of tickets, but those seats available for $60 were reserved for fans of qualified teams and would make up just 10 percent of each national federation's allotment.FIFA has also put on sale packages combining match tickets with access to VIP lounges. For France against Senegal in New Jersey on June 16, those packages cost between $2,900 and $4,500.FIFA is keeping aside an unspecified number of tickets which it will make available from April until the end of the tournament "on a first come, first served basis".Then there are the resale platforms, including FIFA's own official site. But this controversial fan-to-fan market allows resellers to determine prices themselves, hence the huge price advertised for a final ticket.The resale market is unregulated in the United States and Canada. In Mexico, reselling a ticket above face value is prohibited, but only when the ticket is purchased in Mexico using the local currency. A "category three" seat – the highest section of the stands – for the tournament's opening game between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on June 11 was recently listed at $5,324, compared to an original price of $895. Other sites such as SeatGeek and StubHub were selling tickets at slightly lower prices.Extra costs-It is not just the ticket prices that travelling supporters need to consider. The price of parking is also through the roof at many World Cup stadiums, which are often situated well away from the downtown areas of host cities. A space in a parking lot for a group game in Atlanta costs $100, while the price is $300 in Los Angeles.An alternative for visiting fans who do not have match tickets is to go to one of the Fan Festivals in and around the 16 host cities. The Fan Fest in Kansas City will be able to welcome up to 25,000 people. In New York, the US Open tennis venue at Flushing Meadows will be transformed into a fan zone holding up to 10,000 paying visitors, albeit only from June 17 to 28. 

The opportunity will be available for fans holding Arab Cup tickets to use Doha Metro for free for all ticket holders during the days of the matches, in an effort to enhance the experience of visitors and residents in the State of Qatar. Fans will be able to access all six stadiums of the tournament via a modern transportation network that includes Doha Metro, public buses, trams, and taxis. The organizing committee has prepared an integrated plan for transportation during the tournament in coordination with the relevant authorities. the opening match will be held today, and the final match scheduled for December 18 at Lusail iconic stadium. The other stadiums hosting the matches include Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Education City Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium and Stadium 974. The accompanying events will include a variety of cultural and entertainment activities that will take place across fan zones located throughout the country in all stadiums. The tournament’s official mascot “Juha” embodies an iconic figure in Arab heritage, considered one of the symbols of literary and folk imagination in the region.

Ticket sales for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will begin today, 3pm, Doha time at www.roadtoqatar.qa, with an exclusive presale opportunity for Visa cardholders. General sales will begin on 7 October 2025, 8am, Doha time. Tickets for the tournament will be available as a Day Pass, which will enable fans to attend multiple matches a day as well as cultural and entertainment activities taking place around matches, in what will be an electrifying football festival-like atmosphere. The price of a Day Pass is QAR 20. A maximum of 6 tickets per person can be purchased per match day. The tournament, taking place at the state-of-the-art Competition Complex at Aspire Zone from 3-27 November, will see as many as eight matches a day, for a total of 104 matches. Fans can also purchase a Prime Pass, which will enable them to reserve seats for high demand matches. Supporters of the Qatar national team can avail the Follow My Team ticket, which will enable them to attend all matches of the Qatari U-17 team during the group stage. All tickets will be digital and will include wheelchair accessible seating options for disabled fans. Accessible tickets will also include a parking pass to enable easy access to tournament venues. Disabled fans can request accessible seats by sending an e-mail to: [email protected]. Hosts Qatar have been drawn into Group A, alongside Italy, South Africa and Bolivia, and will play their first match against Italy on 3 November, 6:45pm. The Final will take place on 27 November, 7pm, at Khalifa International Stadium. Tickets for the Final are available in two categories, with prices starting from QAR 15, and also include accessible seating options. The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 is the first of five consecutive editions that Qatar will be hosting. As the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams, this will be the biggest-ever edition of the youth tournament that saw the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Luis Figo, Xavi Hernandez, Eden Hazard, Andres Iniesta, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Son Heung-min and Francesco Totti appear on the world stage for the first time. Qatar’s spectacular line-up of mega-sporting events will kick off with the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 from 3-27 November, followed by the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 from 1-18 December. In addition, the country is also set to host the second edition of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025, which will take place on 10, 13 and 17 December.

Ticket sales for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ will begin today, 3pm, Doha time, at www.roadtoqatar.qa.Fans can purchase tickets in three categories, with prices starting from QAR 25. Supporters can also purchase a Follow My Team ticket, which will enable them to attend all matches of their team of choice during the group stage. Throughout the competition, fans will also be treated to a variety of entertainment and cultural activities. All tickets will be digital and will include accessible seating options for disabled fans. A maximum of 6 tickets per person can be purchased at one time. Disabled fans wishing to request accessible seats can do so by sending an e-mail to [email protected] opening match will take place on 1 December, 7:30pm, at Al Bayt Stadium featuring hosts Qatar and the winner of Palestine v Libya. The Final will be held on 18 December, 7pm, at the iconic Lusail Stadium. Other stadiums that will host matches during the tournament are Ahmad Bin Ali, Education City, Khalifa International and Stadium 974. A total of 16 teams will have a chance to lift the coveted FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ trophy. Nine of the highest FIFA ranked teams have qualified automatically, while 14 teams will vie for the remaining 7 spots in a series of qualifiers. The qualifying matches will be held ahead of the tournament on 25-26 November in Qatar, with ticket prices starting from QAR 15.Qatar’s spectacular line-up of mega-sporting events will kick off with the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ from 3-27 November, followed by the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ from 1-18 December. In addition, the country is also set to host the second edition of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025™, which will take place on 10, 13 and 17 December.For the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ match schedule, visit: www.roadtoqatar.qa.For all tournament updates, follow @arabcupqa on all major social media platforms.