Chris Van Brockhoven, a London-based fan, booked a trip to Vancouver last summer hoping to see a World Cup match. However, after learning the ticket prices, his group had to change their plans. Brockhoven said all four members of his group participated in the International Football Federation (FIFA) ticket lottery. However, when they had the chance to buy tickets about a month ago, they found the prices "too high." He also searched on social media and ticket resale sites, but most tickets were priced at around 2,000 Canadian dollars (CAD) per ticket (approximately 38 million Vietnamese dong).
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For Mr. Van Brockhoven, this price was equivalent to the cost of a season ticket to a top English club, and his team could not accept such an expense.
According to Jarrett Vaughan, a lecturer at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, one of the biggest challenges for tourists visiting Vancouver is the cost. He argues that hotel room prices, already high in Vancouver, are now under even more pressure due to the increased number of visitors during the World Cup.
In addition, regulations regarding short-term rentals also limit the supply of accommodation. To rent out on Airbnb in Vancouver, the apartment must be the primary residence of the owner, and they must have a short-term rental business license from the city and be registered with the provincial government.
Mr. Vaughan noted that this registration process could discourage many people, as it costs around CAD 1,200 per year and still carries the risk of not being able to rent out the property. Therefore, it is not surprising that many people are advertising their apartments for rent in Facebook groups about the World Cup, possibly outside of official channels.
Mr. Vaughan argued that local and provincial authorities may have made a mistake by continuing to maintain restrictions instead of expanding accommodation supply during the event. This contributed to high hotel prices and could have reduced the number of visitors to Vancouver compared to its potential.
Vancouver is one of 16 cities in Canada, the United States, and Mexico that will host the 2026 World Cup, a tournament featuring 48 teams and a total of 104 matches, taking place from June 11 to July 19.
Not only international tourists, but also some locals are having difficulty finding tickets at reasonable prices. Shushan Vardanyan, a mother with a 9-year-old son who loves football, said she tried to find discounted tickets for children to take him to a match but was unsuccessful.
Ms. Vardanyan said that football is an accessible sport and a source of inspiration for young athletes, but the current ticket prices are too high. She still hopes that ticket prices will decrease as the tournament approaches. If they can't buy tickets, she and her son will find other ways to enjoy the World Cup atmosphere.
Both Canadian host cities have announced events for fans without tickets. In Vancouver, the FIFA Fan Festival – the main event outside the stadium – will be held at the Pacifi National Exhibition Centre, featuring live match broadcasts, interactive activities, cultural programs, and music performances by artists such as Flo Rida, Simple Plan, and Arkells.
Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/canada-gia-ve-world-cup-khien-nhieu-nguoi-ham-mo-choang-vang--postid446470.bbg
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