Chris Van Brockhoven had planned a trip to Vancouver last summer with hopes of attending a World Cup match, but the high ticket prices compelled his group to change their plans. “We were shocked by the expensive tickets and the prices people are willing to pay,” he mentioned during an interview. Despite all four men in his group entering the FIFA selection draws, when given the chance to purchase tickets about a month ago, they found the prices to be exorbitant. Van Brockhoven, a London resident, mentioned that tickets he came across on social media and resale platforms were priced at around $2,000 each, a cost he deemed unreasonable compared to top English club season tickets.
Jarrett Vaughan, an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, emphasized the issue of high costs faced by visitors in Vancouver. He particularly pointed out the expensive accommodation sector, which he believes is pricing out many potential visitors. According to Vaughan, hotel rates in Vancouver are already high, and the influx of visitors during events like the World Cup only serves to drive prices even higher.
Vancouver’s Destination Vancouver organization reported a 20% decrease in June hotel bookings compared to the same period in 2025, but they remain hopeful for a late surge closer to the event. They mentioned that air arrivals to Vancouver between June and August have increased by six percent from the previous year. The British Columbia Hotel Association did not provide immediate comments on the situation.
Van Brockhoven mentioned that his group managed to secure reasonably priced accommodations by booking almost a year in advance. He shared that their Airbnb costs amounted to approximately $125 per night per person for the group of four. Meanwhile, Shushan Vardanyan, a Vancouver mother, expressed her struggles in finding affordable youth tickets for her soccer enthusiast son, hoping to bring him to a match.
Both Vancouver and Toronto are among the host cities for the FIFA World Cup, with Vancouver offering various fan events and activities for those without tickets. The official FIFA Fan Festival at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver will include live match broadcasts, interactive activities, cultural programs, and live concerts featuring artists like Flo Rida, Simple Plan, and Arkells. Van Brockhoven mentioned that despite the high ticket prices, his group has planned to make the most out of their trip by purchasing tickets for the fan festival and remaining hopeful for potential last-minute ticket price drops.
In conclusion, while the high costs associated with attending the World Cup in Vancouver pose challenges for visitors, many are finding alternative ways to partake in the excitement of the event.