FIFA Pricing for World Cup Draws Fury From Fans

[PeterRS]

For decades, FIFA the governing body for world soccer which organises the World Cup every four years, has been the subject of way more than a fair share of scandals - nepotism, corruption on a massie scale, working with alleged and virtually certain crooks, and so on.  All coalesce around the World Cup if only because it generates humungous sums of cash. Next year's Cup will be no exception. Someone, somewhere, decided it would be a good idea to split the matches between the USA, Canada and Mexico. Such a good idea did this seem that in 2030 the countries will be Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Well, for the hundreds of thousands of fans from all over the world, commuting between the 2030 countries will be relatively easy. For 2026 it will be hugely costly. But that doesn't worry FIFA one iota. Inspired no doubt by President Trump, it has litte concern for the cost of getting to North America from as far away as Australia and Chile, it has raised ticket prices to astronomcal levels. For Qatar's Final Match in 2022, the lowest ticket price was US$420. When the final is held in New York's MetLife Stadium next year, there will be just three price categories -US$3,119, US$4,162 and US$6,615. These are shocking in the extreme and have been met with outrage all over the world. But as the draw was being made, there ws the utterly ridiculous sight of Trump being presented with FIFA's first ever FIFA Peace Prize - Football Unites the World. As the near idiot President of FIFA stated when handing over the Prize,

“This is what we want from a leader; A leader that cares about the people. We want to live in a safe world, in a safe environment. We want to unite – that’s what we do here today, that’s what we’ll do at the (FIFA) World Cup."

Whoever would have thought that FIFA would inaugrate a Peace prize when it has nothing to do with Peace? Mind you, FIFA has become almost a Donald Duck operation over the years and few have much faith in it.

For years foortball enthusiasts used to berate the President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, for the organisation, cost and corruption involved in World Cups. After all they made FIFA a gazillian $$s, some finding its way into pockets of Blatter and his cronies of the Executive Committee when it should have gone to soccer federations around the world. Blatter had been an odd coice for President. Once a salesman for ladies underwear, he had eventually become involved in sports management. His election and re-elections to the top job were beset by corruption allegations. He was investigated by FIFA's Ethics Committee and amazingly - but perhaps not surprisingly since the members were basically in his pocket - cleared of wrong-doing in 2013. He finally had to resign as President. His misdeeds then caught up with him in 2020/21, however, when he ws investigated by the Swiss police and FIFA finally filed a criminal complaint against him. This ended the influence of the deeply unpopular and highly corrupt Blatter.

In his place FIFA elected its present President, Giovanni Infantino. involved with its European arm UEFA since 2000, initially in the legal department and eventually as President. He was aso on FIFA's Reform Committee. When elected to succeed Blatter he was regarded as Mr. Clean. But then that did not last long. That same year UEFA was involved in the Panama Papers for dealng with idividuals indicted in some FIFA countries. Of his many indiscretions since then, perhaps the most ifamous was his doing absolutely nothing as migrant workers from the Indian sub-continent were dying in their hundreds from desperate working conditions then buiding the stadiums for the 2002 Qatar Word Cup. Infantino's defence of Qatar was risible.

Next he limited the number of possible applicants for the 2034 World Cup and awarded it to Saudi Arabia. He had frequently been involved with Saudi leaders and apearing at Saudi events. That he is in league with the Saudis is almost certain. Infantino - a worthy seccessor to Blatter!

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c80x38e04yro

[Riobard]

I agree that $6000 is a bit steep to watch from a substantial stadium distance a bunch of ants repeatedly hurl themselves onto the turf, writhe in agonizing pain as if clobbered over the head with a cast iron frying pan, get up limping, and continue as if nothing had warranted such overwrought display. I prefer to tape and toggle to the play and score highlights. It’s in my TV package. 

[vinapu]

6 hours ago, Riobard said:

I agree that $6000 is a bit steep to watch from a substantial stadium distance a bunch of ants repeatedly hurl themselves onto the turf, writhe in agonizing pain as if clobbered over the head with a cast iron frying pan, get up limping, and continue as if nothing had warranted such overwrought display.

you summarized it nicely and I  mean it. But my guess audience likes those theatricals

[zoomomancs]

I'm not that bothered about football but these prices are outrageous.

2018 FIFA World Cup 2026 bid (United 2026) proposed in terms of ticket pricing (as captured in bid documentation and analyses)

Proposed bid prices (2018):

Group stage

Category 3 (mid‑range) suggested ~ $174 for non‑opener games

Category 3 suggested ~ $320 for the opening match

Round of 16 and beyond

Suggested prices increased proportionally (e.g., ~ $160–$170 for Cat 3 Round of 16)

Final suggested ~ $550–$600 for Cat 3, ~ $990 for Cat 1

So current 2026 ticket pricing diverges sharply from the 2018 bid estimates.

[vinapu]

8 minutes ago, zoomomancs said:

but these prices are outrageous.

 

I agree but treat them the same like boy asking firm 7500 for short time, one can easily dismiss proposal or,  if has hots for him , grind the teeth and pay. 

FIFA is outrageously corrupt body and salaries  of top players are equally outrageous so perhaps it's time for public to start developing healthy dose  of disinterest in World Cup, it's market economy after all.

[PeterRS]

One of the expensive seated tickets for the 1966 World Cup Final in England (where stadia also had much cheaper standing areas) cost of all £3.15. In tody's money that is probably around £500-£600. In those days the highest weekly wage for a soccer player in England was typically £100. Today Erling Haaland who plays for Manchester City earns £525,000 per week.

[Keithambrose]

10 hours ago, PeterRS said:

One of the expensive seated tickets for the 1966 World Cup Final in England (where stadia also had much cheaper standing areas) cost of all £3.15. In tody's money that is probably around £500-£600. In those days the highest weekly wage for a soccer player in England was typically £100. Today Erling Haaland who plays for Manchester City earns £525,000 per week.

The web suggests that the value of that ticket today is around £90. The max wage of £20pw per player was abolished in 1961, and Johnny Haynes was paid £100pw. Statistics are a little unclear, but George Best was paid £1,000pw in 1968. I was paid £1,000pa in 1971, as a trainee Solicitor,  my firm now pays £60,000pa!

[Suckrates]

Well, Constantino has to recoup the COST of that disgusting trophy and ugly medal they had made to bribe and appease Trump....  As always,  the "people" have to pay for it !  

[unicorn]

FIFA just seems like a criminal enterprise, from my understanding.

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, unicorn said:

FIFA just seems like a criminal enterprise, from my understanding.

you not alone

[Suckrates]

Trump is always on board with ANYTHING he sees as a "money grab".....  I guess he and Constantino have some scheme worked out ?    I enjoy rimming, but that thirsty bald bitch had his tongue WAY up Trumps anus. 

[PeterRS]

5 hours ago, unicorn said:

FIFA just seems like a criminal enterprise, from my understanding.

It has been so for decades since the days of its President Joao Havelange in the mid-1970s. From being a worldwide event to be celebrated by the ordinary man in the street who loved the game, the arrival of money - vast sums of it - corrupted both FIFA and the World Cup. He resigned as President in 1998. A Swiss Prosecutor's Report (the HQ of FIFA is based in Switzerland) found that during his time at FIFA Hevelange and his son-in-law had syphoned off 41 million Swiss francs in bribes related to the awarding of World Cup marketing rights.

By Havelange's time, big sporting corporations and others appealing to a mass market had realised the marketing potential of the World Cup. It then became a monster fund raising outfit where it had to turn down more sponsors that it could ultimately be seen to accept. That money and the profits from the World Cups were supposed to go to the development of soccer around the world. Some did, but a lot went to individual's pockets. Sepp Blatter was elected President after Havelange but only because he had courted the African and Asian delegates on the Executive Committee, non-entities as far as the European and South American delegates were concerned. He promised more exposure for their Federations. And at least he fulfilled that promise. The 2002 World Cup went to Asia for the first time with matches in Japan and Korea. He steered it to South Africa, again the first time on that continent, in 2010.

By then, though, power and cash had long gone to his head. When he was twice re-elected, it was all but known he had bought off the opposition. One had been Michel Platini, a distinguished and highlly respected former footballer who headed UEFA. It was widely assumed he would win. Then he withdrew his candidacy. Later it was discovered Blatter had paid him US$1 million - "for services rendered"! Both claimed it was for genuine advice. Then tor the first time ever in 2010 he announced the next two World Cups at the same time. 2018 would go to Russia and 2022 to Qatar. The soccer world was aghast. Less about Russia and far more about Qatar. Qatar was not a footballing nation. It had hardly any stadia (and about 8 are required for World Cups). Worse, the World Cup had always been held in the west's summer months when most western countries have a long break. The heat in Qatar would, according to Blatter and the Qatari authorities, be minimised by special cooliing systems spraying water on to the fans. It was of course nonsense, and the dates ultimately had to be moved to November. Qatar ended up having import immigrant labour to build eight special stadia. The country promised they would be fully utilised after the Cup. Another broken promise. Most remain unused, just sitting gathering desert dust and are effectively white elephants.

But Blatter's corruption really came to the fore with a company named ISL. Since around 1990 FIFA had engaged ISL to manage its highly lucrative corporate sponsorship deals and the sale of worldwide TV rights. Inevitably it is a long murky story, the essence of which is that ISL was managed by none other then Blatter's nephew. Worse, he had little marketing knowledge. In 2001 ISL filed for bankruptcy. A later Swiss investigation found that ISL had paid out hundreds of millions of Euros in bribes and was left with €150 million in debt. FIFA then took it over and put - surprise, surprise - Sepp Blater in charge.

It doesn't end there! At the end of May 2015, seven FIFA officials were arrested outside a hotel in Zurich and US authorities charged a further 39 football officials with bribery. Swiss officials also stated they had opened investigations into the award of the World Cups to Russia and Qatar. The Swiss Attorney General's Office stated executives were being questioned on suspicion of "criminal mismanagement" and money laundering. FIFA's North American regional body known as CONCACAF was discovered not to have paid taxes for several years. Its former Sevrtary General Chuck Blazer was then found to be an FBI informant who had worn a wire in discussions with other Executive Committee members.

FIFA then was a den of thieves. Under Infantino, it seems to be as bad, if not worse.

https://yle.fi/a/3-8540226

[PeterRS]

14 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

The web suggests that the value of that ticket today is around £90. The max wage of £20pw per player was abolished in 1961, and Johnny Haynes was paid £100pw. Statistics are a little unclear, but George Best was paid £1,000pw in 1968. I was paid £1,000pa in 1971, as a trainee Solicitor,  my firm now pays £60,000pa!

The web has many indices. Factual figures illustrate that over the 60 years from 1965 and today £100 then is now the equivalent of £2,474.45. That accounts for average inflation at 5.34% per annum. Considering that actual inflation in 1975 was 25% and the average actual total for the 1970s more than 13% per annum, my earlier figures were an underestimate. We are too used to the low inflation following the 2008 financial crisis and it tends to skew our perception. £1 in 1965 is worth just over 4 pence today. 

My starting salary was £19.90 per week. The equivalent now would be roughly £500 per week - and that's pretty much about average in my line of work.

https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/1965?amount=100

[PeterRS]

Well, Infantino's arse-licking of Trump is paying off. Four days ago Federal prosecutors moved to drop charges against certain FIFA officials for corruption. It would end years of investigation! 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-moves-drop-charges-hernan-lopez-fox-full-play-group-soccer-corruption-case/

[Suckrates]

5 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Well, Infantino's arse-licking of Trump is paying off. Four days ago Federal prosecutors moved to drop charges against certain FIFA officials for corruption. It would end years of investigation! 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-moves-drop-charges-hernan-lopez-fox-full-play-group-soccer-corruption-case/

Sorry guys, I kept calling the guy Constantino in my posts.   But you are all smart enough to know I was wrong...  Next time, please call me out on my mistakes. 👍