Football fans in the UAE are preparing to spend up to Dh65,000 ($17,700) for a round trip to catch World Cup matches in the US next summer – if they can get their hands on tickets, which are expected to sell out in record time.
According to Football Supporters Europe, fans hoping to follow their team through all three group stage matches, then on to the final should expect to pay a minimum of $6,900 – almost five times the cost of watching the same number of games in Qatar in 2022.
While Fifa has introduced a small number of “more affordable” $60 tickets for all 104 matches following criticism of its pricing structure for the tournament, these will only be available to a certain number of “loyal fans” of the countries that have qualified.
These are also likely to be subject to dynamic ticket pricing, further increasing the cost of attending matches in the US, Mexico and Canada.
In 2022, football fans based in the Gulf were treated to a World Cup on their doorstep for the first time.
With its proximity to the UAE, airlines laid on extra flights to meet demand. Some fans were even able to watch two live games a day because of the distances within Qatar and efficient travel between stadiums.
The 2026 World Cup is a different proposition, with some venues almost 5,000km apart.
Monty Guhathakurta, 43, is a project manager in Dubai whose visit to the Qatar World Cup in 2022 inspired him to plan a trip to the US in 2026 – if he can buy a ticket.
“When the World Cup was in Qatar I was quite confident of getting there,” he said. “Logistics play an important role, and obviously the cost factor. Because of that, I may not go to USA, Mexico or Canada, as a lot will depend on the ticket prices which look very exp
Continue Reading on The National UAE
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.