Being able to see the Canadian men’s national soccer team play a game on home soil at the FIFA World Cup will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — and it is being priced as such.
If you’re hoping to catch Canada’s World Cup opener in Toronto next year, you better be ready to pony up some serious coin for even the cheapest seats at an expanded BMO Field.
On Wednesday, the first allotment of tickets officially went on sale to some lucky winners from the Visa presale draw, which only was available to those who signed up on FIFA’s website and had an eligible credit. Those entering the draw also had no idea about how much tickets would cost when signing up — and some of the prices have left fans shocked.
According to a report by the Athletic’s Henry Bushnell, the cheapest seats in the house for Canada’s opener next June will cost almost $500 — a pretty penny considering that cost won’t include parking or concessions of any sort.
The outlet broke down the prices for each match at each venue, with ticket blocks in four categories ranging from 1 to 4 with the first tier being the best seats in the house.
For Canada’s opener at BMO Field, the top tickets will cost $2,443, the second group $1,736, the third $1,000 and Category 4 at $497.
Toronto also will host four group stage games with the teams yet to be determined. Despite not knowing either team that will take the field for these contests, the top-end tickets will cost $623, with the next tiers dropping to $469, $217 and then Category 4 ranging from $84 to 105.
It is one heck of a gamble when considering you could be treated to a contest featuring two powerhouse contenders or a meaningless matchup featuring low-ranked also-rans.
The game with the most interesting price range is for the Round of 32 knockout round matchup at BMO, which should feature at least one solid Cup contender. While tickets in Categories 1 to 3 are only marginally more expensive than the group-stage ducats ($672, $504 and $245), the cheapest seats more than double, rising to $189.
In Vancouver — which will host Canada’s two other group stage games — the prices to see the national team play range from $665 to $231.
BC Place also will host three other group stage games (tickets ranging from $574 to $82) and two knockout stage games – one Round of 32 matchup and one Round of 16 tilt.
While the Round of 32 game’s prices range from $616 to $175, the Round of 16 tickets will cost $826 to $238.
And, in case you were wondering, tickets to the World Cup final next July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., will range from $8,888 to the low, low price of $2,832.
While you should know by now if you won your chance at scoring some of these tickets through the Visa presale draw, there are more opportunities to secure your seat coming shortly.
Entries for a second lottery will take place from Oct. 27 to 31 and a final draw will take place after the World Cup draw on Dec. 5.
Should tickets not sell out by the end of the three draws, the remaining tickets will be available to the general public – as unlikely as that seems.
After that, buying World Cup tickets likely will come down to the resale market, where prices only will be further inflated as FIFA will not be limiting markups on their official platform.