Despite the steep resale prices, tickets for the FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver and Toronto next summer remain highly sought after. The tournament, featuring 104 games across Canada, the United States, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, has already sold over two million tickets.
The tickets for the seven Vancouver and six Toronto games have been quickly snapped up even before the teams for the matches are revealed after the final draw on Friday. The exact percentage of ticket sales is undisclosed as organizers are still processing ticket requests from participating federations, according to Peter Montopoli, Canada’s chief tournament officer.
Montopoli confirmed that all tickets allocated for the Visa pre-sale and the early ticket draw have been sold out, indicating a strong demand. The availability of future tickets will depend on allocations to participating member associations like Canada Soccer.
Excitement is high as fans from 212 countries and territories have purchased tickets, with the U.S., Canada, and Mexico leading in sales. The ticket prices range from $60 for group stage matches to $6,730 for premium seats at the championship game in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 19.
For Canadian fans, the cost of attending matches, especially the first group-stage game in Toronto on June 12, has been a point of concern. Prices for this game started at $500 in the initial sales phase, leading to some fans finding the tickets too expensive, as indicated by a recent poll.
FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani addressed the pricing concerns, stating that ticket prices are market-driven and essential for generating funds that benefit member countries. The profits from the World Cup are crucial for supporting and growing soccer globally, with 85% of the funds going back to member countries for development programs and infrastructure.
For fans who have not secured tickets through the lottery system, the secondary market offers tickets at significantly higher prices. Resale sites have listed tickets for matches in Vancouver and Toronto at exorbitant rates, with some fans willing to sell their tickets for a profit.
As the ticket sales process continues, FIFA will initiate the next phase of ticket sales with a random selection draw from December 11 to January 13, providing another opportunity for fans to secure their seats for the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup games.