AP – The cost of attending the World Cup final is up to 46 per cent higher in Qatar than the previous tournament in Russia, fans discovered yesterday as tickets went on sale.
The steep rise in the prices for the FIFA showpiece match contrasts with the group stage seeing a reduction in the cost of some tickets, which fans can apply for online.
The most expensive tickets on general sale for the December 18 final at Lusail Stadium are QR5,850 (USD1,607), up 46 per cent from the USD1,100 for the 2018 final won by France.
Category-two tickets are QR3,650 (USD1,003), up 41 per cent from USD710 for the final four years ago. Category-three tickets – the cheapest available for international fans – are QR2,200 (USD604), one-third more expensive than the USD455 last time. The category-four final tickets for local residents soars from the equivalent of USD110 in Russia to QR750 Qatari riyals (USD206).
The cheapest seats on general sale internationally to watch the host nation open the World Cup on November 21 soar 37 per cent to USD302 (QR1,100) from USD220 in Russia. There’s a rise of 13 per cent for category-two tickets to USD440 (QR1,600) from USD390 and a similar jump from USD550 in Russia to USD618 (QR2,250) for the most expensive opening-game tickets.
For other matches in the group stage, Qatari residents can buy tickets for QR40 (USD11) – the cheapest for locals since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. The cheapest tickets on international sale are the lowest prices since the 2006 World Cup in Germany at QR250 (USD69). Category-one tickets have risen marginally from USD210 to USD220 (QR800) while the category two will remain at USD165.
Supporters requesting to attend matches at the Middle East’s first World Cup will only discover if they are successful based on a random draw at the conclusion of the first application phase which runs through February 8.
The ticket process is beginning with only 13 of the 32 slots at the tournament filled and qualifying not concluding until the intercontinental playoffs in June.
Applications in the first phase of ticket sales can be made on the FIFA website until February 8 with fans notified if they have been successful in the random draw selection by March 8.
As well as applying for tickets for individual games, fans can register to follow their team throughout and to watch four matches in four different stadiums.
FIFA aims to generate USD500 million from hospitality rights and ticket sales from across the eight stadiums in Qatar which are within a 30-mile radius of Doha.
