Editorial | Pricing out most fans harmful to World Cup’s football festival

The ticket prices are much higher than for the last World Cup in Qatar, with prices for the final set at between US$4,185 and US$8,860. In response to the criticism, Fifa released a relatively small number of tickets priced at US$60 for all matches, including the final. These are intended for fans “closely connected” to their national teams.

It is a step in the right direction, but fan groups say the move does not go far enough. Even Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on Fifa to do more to make tickets affordable so as not to “lose touch with genuine supporters”.

A balance needs to be struck. This is a complex issue. Fifa points to the high demand for tickets, with five million applications from 200 countries received in the first 24 hours of the latest ticket release. It is not surprising that prices rise when demand greatly outstrips supply. The governing body also argues that the proceeds it makes from the World Cup, expected to reach US$10 billion, will be ploughed back into the sport.

Many sports have seen the cost of staging elite events increase as they become more commercial and their global appeal grows. Broadcast deals attract huge sums, and the pay for the stars of some sports has spiralled. But there remains a need to ensure dedicated, passionate fans who travel far and wide to support their team and create a vibrant atmosphere are not priced out of the market. Elite sporting events must not become the exclusive preserve of the privileged. Fifa should further explore ways of providing fans who have proved their loyalty to their national teams with more affordable options. More also needs to be done to curb scalping.

The success of the World Cup, with its potential to bring nations together through a shared love of football, depends on the presence of the fans who make sport special.