World Cup ticket prices: Fans tell of ‘anger and disappointment’ at cost
“It’s a chance to qualify. It’s a chance to participate in a big event,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in January 2017. he said.
The FIFA Council had just unanimously decided to expand the World Cup to 48 teams. Hope was given to nations that had never or rarely reached the finals.
Infantino added: “Football is more than Europe and South America. Football is global.
“The football fever you have in a country qualifying for the World Cup is the most powerful tool you can have in the nine months before the qualifiers and the finals.”
However, after the ticket prices were announced, the “football fever” subsided a little.
While players will be there, ticket prices can exceed salaries.
Take Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world. The average wage in the Caribbean country is around $147 (£110) a month.
The cheapest tickets for Haiti’s first World Cup match against Scotland in 42 years were $180 (£135).
Attending all three matches (they also play Brazil and Morocco) will cost $625 (£467). This is more than four months’ salary for the average Haitian just to get into the land.
A similar situation exists in Ghana, where the average monthly salary is around $254 (£190).
Ghana fan Jojo Quansah told the BBC World Service that fans would have to cancel their plans.
“It’s a bit of a disappointment for those who have been trying to save some money for the last three and a half years in the hope that they can have their first World Cup experience,” he said.
“Fifa has moved to increase the number of teams so that many more smaller football nations will have the opportunity to represent themselves and their fans.
“This has been overshadowed by the fact that these same fans were denied the chance to watch their own country play in the World Cup.
“I have a feeling that in the next few months a lot of people will give up the desire to take part in the next World Cup. Unfortunately. Very sad.”
Other countries could see their fans priced out.
